Community-Based Projects Fund Launched
A "Significant Community-Based Projects Fund" has been set up and applications for funding will be accepted from October. Thirty-two million dollars over four years was allocated in the May budget for the fund. It has been established to support community-based projects and events of regional or national significance.
The Lottery Grants Board continues to provide more than $100 million a year to community projects, but on present lottery profits, the board cannot also support very large grants for big capital projects. The board's Lottery General Committee was once able to make grants of up to $4 million, but that committee no longer exists.
It's known there are community projects which are looking for government partnership - and indeed where it is difficult to progress the projects without such a funding partnership. This new fund is designed so that government can respond to such requests against clear criteria, rather than make ad hoc decisions about what should be funded.
Applicants will need to demonstrate that the projects have a range of benefits contributing to regional and/or national outcomes, with particular reference to arts, culture and heritage; sport and recreation; tourism; conservation and the environment; and economic development. The fund will be seen as a mechanism to obtain support when all other avenues have been exhausted, and applicants would be limited to seeking one-off capital expenditure.
The fund will be administered by a secretariat in the Department of Internal Affairs. An interdepartmental advisory group will make recommendations on funding to Cabinet. The advisory group will include the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Tourism, and Sport and Recreation NZ.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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