Expressions of interest (EOIs) are officially open for the NSW’s Government’s Community Building Partnership (CBP) program, with $450,000 available for the Electorate of Cessnock.
The $41 million program ensures local organisations and councils across the state have the facilities to support more vibrant and inclusive communities.
Not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are invited to complete an EOI for grants between $10,000 and $100,000 to bring local projects to life.
In the Electorate of Cessnock we are looking for projects that will help us to uplift and support the community across a diverse geographical area. Priorities for the Cessnock Electorate include applications that may have been written with best wishes but without technical quality, applications that reflect a limited ability for community groups to otherwise raise funds through commercial or fundraising terms and applications that have a clear awareness of small-large community groups that will be served.
In keeping with this, successful grants would most likely be asking for modest amount of funding, closer to $10,000 than $100,000, and be prioritised for community groups that may not have received NSW Government grant funding in recent years – in balance with the desire for a good geographical spread of grants.
Previous projects funded in the Cessnock Electorate include:
- Kurri Kurri & District Preschool Kindergarten secured $26,104 for innovative learning spaces – update indoor furniture.
- Bellbird Park Bowling Club secured $21,720 for bowling green maintenance machine.
- Cessnock Motorcross Club Inc secured $29,995 for a medical ATV.
- Upper Yango Landholders Association Inc secured $22,500 for Upper Yango Bush Fire Crew Community Fire Trailer.
- Mount Sugarloaf Croquet Club Inc secured $17,975 for line marking machine and paint.
- NSW RFSA on behalf of Mulbring Fire Brigade secured $11,223 for station storage lockers.
- Weston Public School P&C Association secured $37,000 for Hydrobank water fountains.
- Edgeworth Community Preschool Inc. secured $5,884 for outdoor gross motor equipment, including cargo net, cocoon swings, climbing frame and pull up ladders.
- Cardiff/Edgeworth District Men’s Shed secured $25,000 for motor vehicle acquisition.
This year, the 2026 CBP grants round will use a two-stage application process, beginning with an expression of interest.
Interested organisations and councils are encouraged to apply before EOIs close at 5pm on Friday, 8 May.
Shortlisted EOIs will be contacted by the end of June 2026, with successful grants to be awarded in early 2027.
State Member for the Electorate of Cessnock, Clayton Barr MP said:
“The Community Building Partnership program is designed to fund meaningful local projects in our community – things like refurbishing sports grounds and clubhouses, making community halls more accessible, or improving our public spaces.”
“With $450,000 available across the Electorate of Cessnock this funding can help with facility upgrades, building works or new equipment that strengthens our local community.”
“I encourage not-for-profit community organisations with an idea to improve their community infrastructure to submit an expression of interest before 8 May.”
About the Community Building Partnership Program
Since 2009, the CBP program has awarded more than $505 million to over 22,400 community projects across NSW.
Local not-for-profit community organisations and councils are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, with up to $450,000 allocated per electorate.
For more information, visit the Community Building Partnership website: nsw.gov.au/cbp