By Paul Hemsley

Victorian multicultural community groups will receive funds from the Victorian Government through the Building and Facility Improvement grants program.

Community owned buildings and facilities will receive support for maintenance work or repair for 32 projects for $300000.

The funding is distributed from the Victorian Government’s Community Grants Program of $5.6 million.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras said many of these buildings were purchased years ago and show signs of ageing.

“These grants provide support to community groups and organisations and acknowledge the significant costs of up-keep to buildings for not-for-profit organisations,” Mr Kotsiras said.

Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship community strengthening officer Michael van Vliet said the renovations are minor with each community group grant totalling up to $20000.

“Most of them have quotes from private building and maintenance contractors already, so they needed to provide quotes with their applications from the builders they have already chosen,” Mr Vliet said.

He said the grants are available on the department website and were mailed out to the 2000 groups in the department database.

A Department of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship spokesperson said the groups applied through the Victorian Multicultural Commission, where their eligibility was assessed as having to be a constituted organisation, not-for-profit and serve a community purpose.

“They have a need for repairs to existing infrastructure, many of these ethnic communities have established properties from the 50s and 60s, which need upkeep,” the spokesperson said.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@governmentnews.com.au.  

Sign up to the Government News newsletter