KEPCO Australia’s chief operating officer, Bill Vatovec, said that Round 1 of the CIF had provided close to $30,000 for a range of community events, educational programs and community infrastructure, such as the popular Mudgee Readers’ Festival, Kandos Country Womens’ Association’s Garden to Kitchen project, facility upgrades and equipment for Mudgee High School’s PHDPE faculty and the Henbury Golf Open 2017.

“I congratulate the ten successful applicants who received funding in Round 1,” he said.

“We recognise the huge contribution that community organisations make to our regional communities and we are very pleased to support their efforts.

“The CIF has distributed more than $330,000 for local projects and initiatives and we look forward to supporting more of these in the years ahead.”

A grant to Mudgee Readers’ Festival allowed organisers to help expand its offering for children and young adults.

Readers’ Festival general manager, Portia Lindsay, said the funds would be used to bring two authors to Mudgee to visit local schools, and host a book swap for teens and younger readers and a Sunday Storytime session featuring local performers and visiting authors.

“This grant allows the Mudgee Readers’ Festival to greatly expand our youth programming – sharing literacy and a love of books with local schools and community – for which we are most grateful,” Ms Lindsay said.

Mr Vatovec added the company is allocating a further $60,000 to community causes in 2017, with two more funding rounds to be held in June and October.

Applications for Round 2 funding will open on Friday, June 2, 2017, and community organisations may apply for a grant of up to $3,000 for a specific project or purpose, using the application form available on the project website www.bylongproject.com.au.