Record Number of Applications Received for Community Grants
Friday 7 September 2012, 2:05PM
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Tasman District Council’s Community Grants closed on the 31 August with a record 158 applications received.
The 158 applications are requesting a total of $408,380.15, this compares with 130 applications requesting $331,000 in 2011.
The Tasman District Council’s Grants and Community Facilities subcommittee will consider all of the applications with the applicants notified of the outcome in mid October.
Tasman District Council allocates $184,000 of its general rate income for grants to support community led projects and services. Grants are made to organisations whose services and projects provide wide community benefit. The grants are in several categories with a total $20,000 set aside for community and economic development initiatives; $40,000 for arts, culture and heritage; $30,000 for festivals and events; $25,000 for youth/children programmes; $21,000 for social services; $10,000 for beautification schemes such as plantings, landscaping and artworks in public places; $15,000 for emergency services; $10,000 Community Development for smaller communities, $10,000 for Museums and $3000 for community newsletters. Allocations average less than $2000 per applicant.
"There is a lot of knowledge in communities about a project or service that would make a positive difference,” Chair of the Grants and Community Facilities subcommittee Councillor Eileen Wilkins said.
“Alongside this there are individuals and groups with the skills, energy and time who are prepared to roll up their sleeves. With the community grants the Council can contribute and assist through this investment to enable activities to happen. On top of the financial benefit contributed by the Council getting people involved in working with and for local projects creates a stronger sense of community.”
National research demonstrates the value of the community sector, it is estimated by the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations that for every dollar a volunteer organisation receives they return $3 to $5 worth of services to the community.
The Community Grants has supported a wide variety of projects in the past including pest trapping, walkway developments, community planning, community events, renovating buildings, recording oral histories, creating public art, providing emergency services and much more.