A government grant scheme which supports green projects has been shelved this year — but applicants have yet to be told officially that there may be no funding.

Each year, $100,000 is dished out by Government to groups and individuals who come up with environmentally-friendly initiatives. But no funding has been allocated in this year's Budget for the Environmental Grant Scheme.

One woman, who submitted two applications for funding last April and has yet to hear back from the Ministry of the Environment, told The Royal Gazette: "Normally the April deadline means there will be an announcement in June, but I've heard nothing back officially from them and it's now been almost a year.

"When I called up to find out what was happening, it wasn't so much that they said they weren't doing it but they gave me the impression that it was kind of a dead issue. Nobody really seems to know anything.

"It seems like it's something that they are not doing any more. It's a shame because they need people to come up with solutions and some of these solutions can actually become cottage industries."

The woman, who asked not to be named, said her two ideas were for a bio-gas digester for farmers and a household waste recycling system. "Even if they say no to me, I just want to know what is their excuse for not doing it," she said.

A Ministry of Environment spokesman told this newspaper: "There has been no funding allotted specifically for the Environmental Grant Scheme, but we will endeavour to try and find something from within the available budget."

The Government's website is still advertising the scheme and inviting applications for funding from the $100,000 pot for "environmental action projects that conserve and enhance biological diversity and/or promote environmentally sensitive behaviours".

Past winners of funding include the Bermuda National Trust, for a monofilament recovery and recycling programme; Greenrock, for a global warming school roadshow; and Gerry Wilmot, for a dairy goat milking parlour project.

This year's Budget sees some charities and non-profit organisations getting greatly increased funding and others having their grants slashed or lost altogether.

Focus Counselling Services, a drug rehabilitation organisation, is to get $1.4 million this year, compared to $416,000 last year.

Bermuda Arts Council has been allotted $272,000 for the coming year, compared to $172,000 in 2008/9. The St. George's Foundation, which got nothing last year, is set to receive $245,000.

The Road Safety Council has had its grant increased from $160,000 to $200,000 and Meals on Wheels is to get an extra $8,000, taking its annual government funding up to $48,000.

Bermuda Society of Arts has been allocated zero for 2009/10; it got a grant of $31,000 in 2008/9. Bermuda Historical Society got $6,000 last year but has been allotted nothing for 2009/10.

The SPCA will get $15,000 this year, compared to $18,000 last year and Bermuda Yachting Association's grant has been cut from $75,000 to $25,000.

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences has been allotted $101,000 this year for environmental study, compared to $112,000 last year. It will also get $354,000 for air/water quality study, compared to $451,000 in 2008/9.

l Are you a charity or non-profit organisation which has received a welcome boost or a big letdown in this year's Budget? E-mail news@royalgazette.bm.