GRANTS of up to €10,000 are to be made available to community groups and local organisations across South West Cork through a new Amazon South West Cork Community Fund.

This is the first year of a multi-year community fund and will provide grants of up to €10,000 to community groups, schools and local organisations across South West Cork including Castlefreke, Union Hall, Rosscarbery, Glandore and Leap to support projects that make a positive impact.

Speaking to The Southern Star, Joanne Reynolds, regional community engagement manager at AWS said they are proud to launch the Amazon South West Cork Community Fund as part of their long-term commitment to the region,

‘The fund is about delivering real, practical benefits locally by backing the community groups, schools and organisations at the heart of towns and villages across South West Cork,’ said Joanne.

‘By providing grants of up to €10,000, we want to help unlock practical projects in STEM education, sustainability and health and wellbeing that will strengthen local communities and create lasting impact.

Last November, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced Fastnet, which will be a new state-of-the-art transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable system connecting Maryland in the US and Cork.

The planned underwater fibre optic cable, which is roughly the size of a domestic garden hose, will be delivered to Castlefreke and the network is expected to be operational in 2028, subject to planning permission.

AWS lodged a planning application with Cork County Council in January for a cable landing station at Tullyneasky West, Clonakilty which will see the demolition of two existing buildings and the construction of a cable landing station, an ESB substation and switch room building.

Applications are currently open for the community fund and close on April 22^nd with the successful recipients to be announced on May 27^th. See www.changex.org/funds/amazon-west-cork for full details