Media release
For immediate release
Friday November 18, 2016

$80,000 AWARDED TO DUNEDIN ORGANISATIONS IN LATEST GIGCITY COMMUNITY FUND ROUND

Four local organisations will benefit from Dunedin’s Gigatown win with more than $80,000 awarded today by Chorus to innovative community projects using gigabit technology.

In the latest funding round of the GigCity Community Fund – the third of six – four new projects received a total of $80,190. This takes the total funds allocated to $222,786 out of the $500,000 provided by Chorus to assist the city’s community groups to create initiatives using gig and UFB technology.

This round’s successful applicants are:

• Malcam Charitable Trust - $20,000 for Hive Dunedin (learning lab around innovation, digital media and web-making). To develop a network of ‘colonies’ in the locations that Hive Maker Parties are held to reach more youth, creating innovative learning opportunities.
• Urban Dream Brokerage Dunedin - $20,000. To develop GigCity community commissions that encourage artists to utilise data led technology projects that provide dynamic innovative and interactive experiences while simultaneously revitalising vacant urban spaces.
• Landscape Connections Trust - $20,000 for the Halo Project. To develop an effective web-based solution that provides real time information to volunteers for a safer, more efficient and cost effective way of monitoring and servicing predator trapping devices within the project scope.
• Circulation Community Inc. - $20,190 for the Digital Dunedin Fab Lab. To develop a 3D printing and 3D design course for youth in Dunedin that initiates and promotes on going presence of learning and sharing.

Chorus Dunedin Liaison Manager Kim Stewart says the quality of applications in the latest round was high, and each of the projects embodied the spirit of the fund by developing solutions that provide social benefits to the Dunedin community.

Digital Community Trust Chair John Gallaher celebrated the latest funds allocation, saying the projects would contribute significantly to Dunedin’s community growth.

“From 3D printing to Hive colonies that teach more kids web-making to multi-media artworks to web-based platforms to monitor predator traps, these projects all contribute to Dunedin’s place as a centre of innovation leading the way in gigabit technology.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media