€10m for greening and open spaces within the community
Project Green launched Community Greening Grant, a €10m grant scheme, giving communities in Malta and Gozo the opportunity to create and enrich green open spaces in their localities.
Community Greening Grant was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, parliamentary secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett and Project Green CEO Steve Ellul.
Through this scheme, local councils, NGOs, schools and other organisations will receive financial assistance to create greener spaces in their community. Project Green will be receiving applications for this grant and will guide eligible projects to benefit from European Funds. Additionally, Project Green will provide technical assistance to further encourage organisations to apply.
This scheme will incentivise the creation of new green spaces, giving the community and nearby residents a new lease of life in their neighbourhoods. The scheme encourages the identification of sites which have fallen in disrepair or which can be opened to the public. The scheme will also address issues related to water management faced by the community within their public spaces, to harvest rainwater for irrigation and cleaning and to mitigate flooding risks
“This is one of the biggest environmental schemes for environmental projects in the community ever launched in our country. We are injecting a €10m direct investment in our communities to implement the green projects that they have always aspired for. This scheme aims to encourage quality and innovation. We want the people to reap the greatest rate of return possible on this investment,” explained Minister Dalli.
Parliamentary secretary Bonett said that the government is committed to channel EU funds to support Project Green, as it implements projects that continue to improve our country.
“The environment is our priority and we are determined to utilise the new EU funds programme to invest in projects that improve our environment and create more green spaces for our families,” said Bonett.
CEO Ellul explained how the agency will provide technical support before and during project implementation, while funding 90% of the project costs through the Community Greening Grant.
“We are aware that when it comes to such grant applications, applicants face complications and bureaucracy. Therefore, we prepared clear and simple guidelines and conditions. We will truly be investing people's money for the people,” said Ellul.
As part of the application process, applicants need to submit a 10-year maintenance plan, so that beneficiaries will implement the project and then oversee the maintenance of the area.