PORT of Brisbane and Port of Townsville have opened applications for their community grant programs.

These programs are a way for ports to support non-profit organisations and schools in the communities in which they operate.

Port of Brisbane’s program this year is worth a total of $100,000. Individual, eligible projects can apply for up to $15,000 in grant funding, with applications closing on Sunday 30 April. The program is open to eligible organisations from the Bayside through to the Lockyer Valley and the Darling Downs.

Port of Brisbane CEO Neil Stephens, aid the port was delighted to celebrate 10 years of its Community Grant Program.

“Since 2013, the Port of Brisbane Community Grant Program has supported 137 community organisations both close to the Port and in the regions where our customers and supply chain partners operate,” Mr Stephens said.

“This year’s grant funding (2023/24) will take our total contribution to over $1,000,000 – that’s one million dollars that is supporting organisations who are giving back so much to local communities.”

One of last year’s recipients of Brisbane’s program was the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, which received funding to contribute to improving the facilities at its Manly base.

Port of Townville’s program is in its third year. The port is calling on organisations, community groups and schools to apply for a share of the $50,000 program.

Port of Townsville CEO Ranee Crosby said the Community Fund seeks to support a variety of local initiatives that align with the Port’s strategic vision to create improved sustainability in four key areas: planet, community, people and prosperity.

“We are proud to have funded a broad range of projects through previous rounds of the Community Fund,” Ms Crosby said.

“Past projects have ranged from the purchase of gardening tools for the Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare’s sites and a new stove for the Burdekin Trailerable Yacht Club up to larger activities like the installation of a new rehabilitation tank at the Turtle Hospital run by the Magnetic Island Network for Turtles.”

Ms Crosby said the port was calling for applications from groups right across North Queensland.

“While our port is based in Townsville, we are mindful that our operations take in Hinchinbrook, the Burdekin, Charters Towers and the North West and we want to ensure that the Community Fund also touches communities in these regions,” said Ms Crosby.

“We invite groups from all of these communities to apply for the Community Fund, if they have a project that could benefit from in-kind or monetary support.”

Jane Wild from the Townsville Toy Library said the port’s Community Fund had helped them to purchase a range of high-quality STEM toys and soft play to add to our toy borrowing collection.

“Adding a range of STEM toys to our collection allows the community to engage with science and engineering,” said Ms Wild.

“STEM toys help children to develop essential skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and spatial reasoning. By introducing STEM concepts through play, children can develop an interest in STEM fields and prepare themselves for future academic and career success.”

More than 320 local families have access to the toys purchased by the Townsville Toy Library via the Port’s Community Fund.