Brisbane Community Web Site Subsidy Program

Brisbane City Council, through ourbrisbane.com, is offering 150 community groups an opportunity to have their own website using ‘ourbrisbane.com’s ourweb starter’ – an online website-building tool.

This program will be fully subsidised by Brisbane City Council for a period of 12 months. After the initial 12-month subsidy period organisations will have the option to renew your ourweb starter account.

This will be at a 25% discounted rate – on current costs that would be $22.45 per month.

The Council says the subsidy scheme allows organisations to build and maintain their own website – with no special technical skills required!

They says it is easy to use and will provide groups with an online vehicle to communicate with their members or clients and the wider Brisbane community.
Participation in this subsidy program is subject to the following eligibility criteria. Your community group must be:
 a not for profit incorporated body or sponsored by an incorporated body
 able to access the Internet
 able to supply a copy of a Certificate of Incorporation or equivalent (if requested)
 located within the Brisbane City Council local authority area or directly benefiting residents of Brisbane through provision of services or activities

The Council says the offer is most suited to groups who do not have an existing website and would like to trial having a website at no cost.

Here’s what’s on offer:
 an ourweb starter toolkit to easily build your website, manage and update your content
 support in establishing your website
 12 months website hosting with ourbrisbane.com
 12 months ongoing standard technical support
 a web address with ourbrisbane.com, e.g. www.sites.ourbrisbane.com/communitygroup_name
 a free listing in the ourbrisbane.com community directory
 a link to your site from the ‘Community’ section of ourbrisbane.com
 a 25% discount on any standard hosting costs beyond the initial 12 months subsidy arrangement

The first step towards getting your community group online is to complete and submit the online application form.

Once you have received email notification that your application has been successful you can start building your website.

Don’t worry if you have never built a website before. The online site has some helpful hints to get your organisation started.

To apply go to http://www.ourbrisbane.com/community/building/.