Raymond Terrace LAs president David Summerville said the grant to buy the sophisticated starting system would help get its athletes and volunteers back on track after a tough year.

"The grant will have a huge impact to our centre. With starting caps no longer available anywhere in the world, it has been difficult to start races with an air horn," he said.

"Being able to start our track events electronically will be much easier, more accurate and more professional."

The Little Athletics centre at Vi Barnett Field is one of 158 grassroots sports club across Australia to share in $521,000 for sports equipment from the latest round of the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.

It is the single largest round of grants distributed to Little Athletics centres since the Coles fund was established two years ago to support little athletes hoping to follow in the footsteps of Aussie champions like Sally Pearson and Brandon Starc.

The grant comes amid research from the Australian Sports Foundation in July which estimated that more than 16,000 local sports clubs were at risk of closing due to reduced revenues and increased costs arising from COVID-19.

Coles state general manager Ivan Slunjski said the supermarket giant was pleased to continue its support of Raymond Terrace's budding athletes and parent volunteers.

"We know it's been a difficult six months for everyone involved in community sport. We hope these grants will give athletes, families and volunteers a morale boost ahead of the new season," he said.

"Coles is passionate about helping kids lead healthier, happier lives. That's why we're delighted to have raised more than $543,000 in NSW and $1.68 million nationally for local sports clubs through the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund in just two years."

Funds for the grant are raised through the sale of specially marked chiller bags designed by Aussie kids, with ten per cent of every bag sold directed to the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.