Community matching fund open

If your community group has a project needing extra funding to get it over the line, the Community Matching Fund may be the answer.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s $140,000 fund is now open for applications.

The annual fund is available to notfor-profit community groups that are able to “match” council’s cash grant — be it in volunteer hours, cash or inkind contributions.

The fund is split into $40,000 for specific projects that benefit the natural environment and the $100,000 general fund for social, recreational and cultural initiatives.

The council’s community team manager, David Pearce, says the Community Matching Fund is a valuable resource for those groups that stand out as self sufficient in their own right but who struggle to raise finance for bigger projects.

“This is a great opportunity for groups to expand their pool of funds or to get projects completed sooner than may have been possible otherwise.”

Recent Community Matching Fund recipients include: Te Puke High School leadership programme Cactus; Pukehina Beach Ratepayers and Residents Association; Te Puke Toy Library; Kotukutuku Gully Maketu¯; Makahae Marae environmental enhancement.

This year all Community Matching Fund applications must be submitted online. To help with filling out their application, council’s Community Team will be holding an information session in Te Puke Library and Service Centre on May 10 from 11am3pm. Applications close May 28.