Business and community members can have their share in $20,000 and take their great idea to the next level with Lake Macquarie City Council’s inaugural Innovator Support Program.

Council is offering grants from $500 up to $5,000 for innovative ideas that will help to address a local community challenge or problem.

Council’s Smart Cities Lead, Claire Chaikin-Bryan said the program invests in nurturing, retaining, and attracting the innovators of today and tomorrow.

“This initiative is giving Lake Macquarie businesses and residents with clever ideas the opportunity to develop them further, with the potential to create products, programs, or initiatives that will benefit the community,” Claire said.

“This is an opportunity for anyone, of any age, including young people and children, to submit their innovative ideas and solutions for potential challenges we as a community will face in the years to come.”

Lake Macquarie Mayor, Cr Kay Fraser urged anyone in Lake Macquarie with an innovative idea, prototype, or project to apply.

“We believe the greatest opportunity for our region’s future lies in our people; their ideas, skills, experience and enterprise to drive growth,” Kay said.

“This program is another example of the Council working with our community to develop solutions to important challenges we face as a City.”

There are two categories of funding available: creation of a prototype or minimum viable product, and implementation of an innovative project in the Lake Macquarie community.

Further details about the funding criteria and how to apply can be found via the Lake Macquarie City Council website. Applications will close Monday 3 May 2021.

This program is part of a suite of activities Council is running as part of the 2021 Hunter Innovation Festival.

IMAGE | Innovative ideas encouraged with new Innovator Support Program grants.