> CSU launches its $100,000 Community-University Partnerships grants program for 2018. > Up to $20,000 available across five different categories to support our regions.> Launch at CSU in Port Macquarie today. Online applications here. > Grants for projects across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous and discretionary grants for community initiatives. Grant money totalling $100,000 is now on offer from Charles Sturt University (CSU) for local communities following the launch of the 2018 Community-University Partnerships (CUP) grant program.Acting Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie Mr Peter Fraser said, “The University is offering $100,000 in grants as an investment in the development of our regions.“Members of our local community on the NSW Mid North Coast are encouraged to apply for the funding to support their local community groups and activities.“There’s funding from hundreds of dollars, up to a maximum amount of $20,000 in each grant category,” Mr Fraser said.CUP grants are across five separate categories across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous, as well as discretionary grants to support small community initiatives.Launching in Port Macquarie today, CSU also welcomed successful recipients from last year’s program to congratulate them on their success and for them to share with the community how they spent the grant they received.Among the groups to receive funding in last year’s CUP grant program was the Nautilus Senior College in Port Macquarie. They used funding from the CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program to purchase a set of African djembes for the purpose of providing drumbeat workshops to engage students.Ms Deb Tougher, from Nautilus Senior College said, “The CUP grant application process was very easy and the results were fast. It’s great that Charles Sturt University is offering grants to community projects to assist in breaking down educational barriers.”“Given that winter is just around the corner, we’ve opened the 2018 grant program with the Rural and Regional Sports Development round first and the other grant programs will open in a rolling fashion throughout the year.“Charles Sturt University wants to build higher education aspiration and awareness particularly among young people in rural and regional communities,” Mr Fraser said.BackgroundGrants are available from five different categories. The CUP Head of Campus Small Grants Program, CUP Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program, CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program, CUP Rural and Regional Indigenous Community Engagement Program and CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program.Online applications are now open for the 2018 CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program, with the other programs to follow. Further information, application packs and program guidelines can be found here.