Community Matching Fund now open

Does your community group have a project in mind that needs extra funding to get it over the line? Then make sure you apply for Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s $140,000 Community Matching Fund.

Open now until 28th May, the annual fund is eligible for not-for-profit community groups that are able to ‘match’ Council’s cash grant – be it in volunteer hours, cash or in-kind contributions.

The fund is split into $40,000 for specific projects that benefit the natural environment and $100,000 for the general fund for social, recreational and cultural initiatives. Most individual applications in the past have averaged from $1000 to $10,000.

Over the years the money has been a key to many groups across the Western Bay getting their projects off the ground.

Council’s Community Team Manager David Pearce says the Community Matching Fund is a valuable resource for those groups that stand out as selfsufficient in their own right but who struggle to raise finance for bigger projects.

“Raising funds is a constant challenge for community groups and possibly more so this year in the wake of Covid19 preventing groups from raising funds to the same extent as in the past.

“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.”

Last year the Community Matching Fund was temporarily replaced by the Community Resilience Fund, which distributed $300,000 to 49 local groups financially hit by Covid-19.

Recent Community Matching Fund recipients [in our area] include: Love 4 Life Ōmokoroa; Aongatete Forest Project; Shakti Ethnic Women's Support Group; Katikati Menz Shed.

This year all Community Matching Fund applications must be submitted online – there will be no hard copies available.

To help anyone needing assistance with filling out and submitting their application, Council’s Community Team will be holding information sessions in the District’s libraries.

These will be held at: The Centre / Pātuki Manawa, Katikati Library, 4th May 11.30am-3.30pm in the Aongatete Room. Also Waihī Beach Library, 7th May 10am-2pm. And Ōmokoroa Library, 11th May 11am-3pm in the Whakamārama Room.

For 2021 Community Matching Fund application forms and more information visit: www.westernbay.govt.nz/community-matching-fund