Western Bay Community Groups are invited to start planning applications for a new Community Matching Fund that opens on August 1.

Council is making up to $99,000 available for community and environmental projects that make a positive difference in the district.

Community Committee Chairperson, Councillor Mike Williams, is encouraging people to apply for the fund. Photo: File.

The matching fund initiative is designed to help community groups help themselves. It was established to support projects led by not-for-profit community groups working for the benefit of their communities.

Community Committee Chairperson, Councillor Mike Williams, says the matching fund recognises that community groups contribute numerous resources to projects and seeks to match the dollar value of this community effort with a grant.

'We know that people put in a huge amount of time, effort and resources into projects that help our communities,” says Mike.

'Things like volunteer hours, in-kind assistance and donated goods.

'The new fund will enable these groups to quantify this effort for council to match it with cash.

'This should help community organisations to get the maximum benefit from all their resources.”

There are two matching funds available – a general fund for social, recreational and cultural initiatives, and an environmental fund for projects associated with the natural environment.

The general fund has a pool of $60,000 available at $20,000 for each council ward - Katikati-Waihi Beach, Kaimai and Te Puke-Maketu.

The environmental fund has a pool of $39,000 available at $13,000 for each ward. Applications may have components that apply to both funds and more than one ward.

Council will consider projects that plan to run for up to three years. The maximum amount that can be applied for – for a project that brings direct public benefit to all three wards – is the full $99,000.

Grants will be matched on a 50/50 basis, with council's half a cash grant.

The community group contribution can be made up of any combination of volunteer labour, donated professional services, funds raised through other means and/or donations of materials.

Applications open on August 1 and close on September 1.

Funding decisions will be made on October 15 and applicants notified by October 30.

Application guidelines and registration forms are now available on the council's website via: www.westernbay.govt.nz