Western Bay of Plenty District Council has announced $100,000 of funding for 27 community groups across the District.

The Community Matching Fund is Council's annual contribution to community groups that show outstanding commitment to their communities and that can 'match” Council's cash grant – be it in volunteer hours, cash in hand or similar matching criteria.

Communities Committee Chairman Peter Mackay says it is always great to see so many community groups vie for the Fund.

'It's a tough task to narrow down the applicants to enable the $100,000 to be spread effectively.

'However the success of this Fund is its emphasis on encouraging community groups to show how much they are helping themselves before seeking Council funding – it is a hand-up rather than a handout.”

Council received 45 applications asking for $447,692 from the 2018 Community Matching Fund.

This is the fourth year of the Matching Fund, which has $40,000 earmarked for environmental work and the balance of $60,000 for other community projects.

Six environmental groups were successful – Aongatete Forest Project $4000; Aongatete Outdoor Education Trust $8000; Friends of Puketoki Reserve in Whakamarama $2000; Kotukutuku Gully Maketu $6000; Te Whakakaha Conservation Trust $10,000 and Rotoehu Ecological Trust $10,000.

The $60,000 for community projects is distributed across 21 groups in the Katikati/Waihi Beach, Kaimai and Maketu/Te Puke wards – each receiving between $500 and $5000. Their causes include working for youth; outdoor recreation and sports; community enhancement programmes; contributing to elder health and assisting the collaboration of service groups to fill gaps in community needs.

For the full list of successful Community Matching Fund applicants view Council's website.

Judging criteria includes that the recipient fulfils an existing or emerging community need; has a degree of public benefit and is free to the public; contributes to social, recreational, cultural or environmental outcomes, demonstrates a commitment to match a 50 percent share in cash or kind from the recipient's efforts and is consistent with Council's strategic community work e.g. Communities Strategy, Welcoming Communities and Safer Communities programmes.