RM20mil in grants offered to transform downtown KL

STAKEHOLDERS and private outfits have until July 29 to submit proposals for grants from Think City, worth RM20mil in total, aimed at transforming and beautifying run-down areas of Kuala Lumpur.

Each grant is worth between RM30,000 and RM300,000, and applications will be vetted by a panel of experts at Think City.

The Creative KL Grants Programme 2024 initiative will focus on efforts to rejuvenate the capital’s downtown area.

In a statement on Tuesday (May 28), Think City said this area was within a 3km radius of the confluence of Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak.

A ceremony was held at Semua House complex in Jalan Bunus 6 to launch the programme, with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa in attendance as guest of honour.

Think City managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said in his speech that transforming downtown Kuala Lumpur was key to unlocking the city’s historic and cultural appeal.

“This is a long-term endeavour that calls for consistent efforts and collaboration from stakeholders and communities,” he said.

The grant programme, he added, revolved around six pillars: space rejuvenation, creative business expansion, creative content activation, enhancing environmental resilience, digitalisation, and capacity building.

Zaliha, in her speech, said it was hoped the grant would promote the creative industry and spur entrepreneurship in the capital.

The Federal Government, she added, would also be implementing several flagship projects aimed at making the capital a global attraction.

“These efforts aim to attract more tourists and investors to enjoy the uniqueness that our country has to offer,” she said.

Also present were MyCreative Ventures chairman Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik and Semua House managing director Andrew Tan.