Welcome Bay Community Centre is going to get public Wi-Fi, Tauranga Girls' College an environmentally sustainable classroom and Gate Pa School will have a cycleway/walkway for use by pupils and the community.

They are three of the six community projects that will be backed by Tauranga City Council's medium grants match fund, where the council will pay for 50 per cent of project costs up to $10,000.

The council is going to help fund public Wi-Fi at the Welcome Bay Community Centre. File photo.

It means Brookfield School will also have a fitness trail for use by pupils and the community, and that the council will support an inclusive employment video, to be produced by Western Bay of Plenty Disabled Persons Assembly, and that there will be an Otumoetai Community Guide to Emergencies distributed to Otumoetai households by the Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood's Support.

This round's successful applicants will receive a total of $33,000 between them for their projects, which include health and fitness initiatives, a public internet access portal and resources to support inclusive employment practices.

Community services general manager Philip King says the funded projects will benefit a wide range of community members and groups.

'The idea behind the Community Development Match Fund is to help groups deliver projects that foster strong, innovative and vibrant communities – communities where people feel supported and valued, as well as a sense of belonging,” says Phillip.

'We had a huge response to our call for funding applications and narrowing them down to six wasn't easy because of the outstanding quality of the projects on offer.

'We're extremely lucky in Tauranga to have such passionate and motivated community groups and people who are committed to making a difference in their local areas.”

The next Community Development Match Fund medium grants round is open until November 30, 2016. Community groups can also apply for a small grant of up to $1000 at any time.

Visit, or contact Michelle Elborn on 07 577 7000 or email to find out more.

In addition to the medium grants, which have two application rounds per year (May and November), community groups can apply for a small grant of up to $1000 at any time.