The Southern Shoalhaven area in NSW was devastated by the Black Summer bushfires in early 2020. With COVID following soon after, the Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber sought ways to support business, community and tourism in the region aligned to the local priorities developed through the IRCF Milton-Ulladulla community roadmap.
Community Connect Southern Shoalhaven (CCSS) was subsequently set up as a vehicle to coordinate activities and deliver on community-identified roadmap priorities. It is run by volunteers, for volunteers, helping them better connect, communicate and collaborate, under the auspice of the Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber.
Five grants totalling $81,690 (funded by The Snow Foundation) have supported the launch and resourcing of CCSS and early outcomes are showing a stronger, more connected, coordinated and vibrant volunteering community in Ulladulla.
“The multi-year IRCF program, with roadmapping and year- on-year capacity building grants has been wonderful. It has supported further community networking and collaborative project planning to support other grant applications. The capacity funding supports the core areas that are not always part of traditional grants.”
Matt Dell, Volunteer with Community Connect Southern Shoalhaven and President of the Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber.