Kempsey Tennis Club a winner with Kempsey Shire Council's sporting grants

Grants totalling $72,579 were awarded to 20 organisations across six categories of environmental, community, sporting, youth, safety and bushfire recovery.

$1294 was awarded to the club to go with a $2,266 council grant last year as well as recent government funding.

"We've received a couple of community grants and then a government one to work on our fencing," KTC vice-president Sue Melville said.

Treasurer Narelle Fuller hopes the funding can improve the standards of tennis in Kempsey.

"We want to get the club going, build it up and open up to people again," she said.

"We'd like fencing, lighting, resurfacing - we've got heaps to do.

"This recent grant from council will go towards equipment, a barbeque, flooring, and general maintenance."

Mrs Fuller recently brought up 40 years of membership with the club and is looking forward to much-needed improvements.

"I've been a member for 40 years, nothing has been replaced and it's well over due for refurbishment, people will get more of an impression of the club if it looks new and exciting," she explained.

"We're trying to get our junior members up and continue building.

"We have schools come in for sports; Melville, Kempsey High, St Paul's, and we're hoping to continue that."

These grants have come after council successfully re-launched an updated Community Grants Program last financial year.

"The 2021-22 program has built upon that success," Kempsey Shire mayor, Liz Campbell, said.

"These grants re-enforce our belief that some of the best work for the community is done by the community and the best thing council can do is support them."

Recommendations for funding are made through a competitive application process with applicants required to meet the Community Grant Program's eligibility criteria.

The community grant process was competitive with 22 applications received across six grant categories. Of these, 20 organisations were identified as having met the Community Grant Program's eligibility criteria and chosen to receive grants.

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