By SocialPortal
Due to the success with which the Competitive Funds Program of Port of San Antonio Developed in 2023, the port company launched the second version, which seeks to support initiatives of neighborhood councils, sports clubs and senior citizen clubs in the commune of San Antonio. The new version has a larger budget.
The program is aimed at non-profit rural and urban community organizations, specifically neighborhood associations, senior citizen clubs and sports clubs, which are legally constituted and have their headquarters in the city of San Antonio.
“We are very pleased because in 2023 we had a successful participation of 64 neighborhood associations, sports clubs and senior citizen clubs that applied for our Competitive Funds, after which we finally selected 32 of them with a contribution of up to one million pesos for each one and a total of 30 million pesos. Because of that, this year we have doubled this amount, so the program has a total of 60 million pesos,” he commented. Cristian Puga, Manager of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Puerto San Antonio.
“As a company, we celebrate and recognize the initiatives that the residents of San Antonio can undertake and we are committed to sustainable development. Therefore, we seek to promote initiatives that are a contribution to our neighbors. We invite you to submit projects that aim to improve the infrastructure of your community spaces, organize sports and cultural activities or promote the care of our environment. We believe in the potential of each idea and we are here to support its realization,” he added.
The executive stressed that “the objective of the program is to establish itself as a key instrument for promoting community and social projects that benefit the port community and its inhabitants.”
Valuation of communities
The community of San Antonio has expressed its great satisfaction with the increase in Puerto San Antonio’s Competitive Funds to 60 million pesos, allowing more organizations to carry out their projects and initiatives, thus improving the quality of life in their neighborhoods.
About the initiative, Ivo González, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Delegationsaid that “we enthusiastically celebrate that Puerto San Antonio has doubled the resources available in this second edition of the funds” and reaffirmed the delegation’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and objective evaluation process. In addition, he called on organizations to participate in the training offered by the port company so that no good initiative is left out due to technical errors.
Antonio Donoso, treasurer of the Villa Mar Neighborhood Board of Chileshared how their community benefited from the funds last year by acquiring an audiovisual system that has enriched activities for children and seniors. In this 2024 version, they plan to apply again to build a retaining wall to improve a nearby plaza.
Valeria Velásquez, president of the Residents’ Board of the rural sector of Aguas Buenasstressed that in his community “we are very happy with the news that EPSA has delivered, that this fund has doubled in its second version. It is an excellent opportunity that allows us to improve our neighborhoods.” Last year, his community used the funds to implement games of chance, which allowed them to generate income and strengthen neighborhood participation. This year, they plan to apply to improve their social headquarters.
The doubling of funding has been received with great optimism by the community, which sees this initiative as an opportunity to promote projects that benefit everyone and strengthen the local social fabric.
Program
This program will finance initiatives related to the environment, healthy living, education, culture and sports. In this way, the projects will be distributed in two areas: Community Infrastructure Projects: Initiatives for self-construction, repair, expansion, beautification and implementation of social, sports venues or other community spaces will be financed; and Projects or initiatives focused on the promotion of recreational, social and sports activities: The program will support the realization of activities and events that benefit the community, as well as the acquisition of supplies or goods necessary for its development.
This year, a total of 40 funds will be awarded, each with a maximum value of $1,500,000, distributed equally between the two categories mentioned. To select the projects that will be awarded the Competitive Funds, the San Antonio Port Company will convene an Evaluation Committee composed of the San Antonio State CFT, the San Antonio Provincial Presidential Delegation and Corfo.
Organizations interested in applying can access the complete rules and application form through the Puerto San Antonio website www.puertosanantonio.com or by requesting them by email at [email protected]. The application period will run from August 13 to September 6, 2024.
