Community Choices $250k funding pool now open

07th Jun 2023

Essential Energy’s fifth Community Choices Program has opened for nominations, with community groups encouraged to nominate their chance to win part of a $250k funding pool.
Essential Energy Community Relations Manager, Bronya Pressler, said Essential Energy is proud to support grassroot organisations across 95% of NSW, and parts of southern QLD through the Community Choices program.
“The Community Choices program is open to registered charities, not-for-profit and community groups such as CWAs, community halls, community centres, school P&Cs and sporting clubs with full criteria available on the Essential Energy website.
“This year we have increased funding to a total of $250,000 to be shared between eligible groups across 20 zones in our network footprint. This means $5,000 is now available to groups that get the most votes in their region, with the amounts for second and third place also increasing to $3,500 and $2,750 respectively,” Bronya said.
Groups from small communities with populations less than 10,000 will also again be able to nominate and get their community voting to help them access $1,250 funding for the group with the most votes.
“Anyone can nominate a group to allow them to take part in the community-led voting for a share of the $250,000. Once verified, the group can rally their supporters to vote for them from Monday, 3 July,” said Bronya.
“We know there are many organisations across our footprint who have done it tough these past few years – with natural disasters and COVID all impacting on their ability to raise invaluable funds – so we’re asking the community to choose a cause that counts and nominate them by Monday, 26 June.”
Nominations are open through to 5pm on 26 June 2023. Community voting opens Monday, 3 July and closes Monday, 17 July 2023 at 5pm AEST.
You can find out more at
essentialenergy.com.au/choices to learn more or register to make a nomination.