- What Funding is Available?
- Starting the Application Process
- Need more information about Enterprising Communities?
Enterprising Communities
The Department of Labour is continuing to help communities create local employment opportunities, and to address skills issues by developing community owned businesses, through its newly created Enterprising Communities Programme (that replaced the Community Employment Group (CEG)).
This assistance could include a community using their local assets like land to create tourism and environmental employment opportunities, or developing a project to help migrants to better integrate into the NZ labour market
The main change that has been made to the programme is to strengthen the focus on "labour market outcomes". When the CEG was first established, NZ was experiencing high unemployment and an over-supply of labour. Today's situation is very different. Unemployment is 3.7 percent and there are now skill and labour shortages in many areas. However, significant pockets of disadvantage still remain within some communities. The priority of Enterprising Communities is to work with organisations that can show they will be making a measurable difference to their local economy.
What Funding is Available?
Each project is considered on a case by case basis, based on the information provided in the application and business plan. There is no set maximum. As part of the application process, organisations are asked to give a detailed breakdown of project costs and a profile of how they'll spend the funding over the lifetime of the project. Applicants will also be asked how their organisation will contribute to the cost of the project either in cash (for example, money from fund raising or other funding bodies) or "in kind" contributions such as volunteers' time.
Funding is available for a maximum of three years, with projects expected to be able to show that they will be financially independent once the agreed funding period finishes. The type of activities they can help fund include:
- the salary for a key worker to deliver the project;
- the costs directly associated with running the project like photocopying or extra telephone costs;
- leasing equipment;
- training costs for staff or the people the project is helping; and
- insurance and ACC Levies.
Starting the Application Process
For an organisation that has identified a potential opportunity or idea, the first step is to complete an expression of interest. This can be done by completing the form on the website, or over the phone by calling 0800 779 998. The expression of interest process lets an organisation test whether an idea is likely to meet their funding criteria before it takes the time to submit a full application.
As well as asking about the project aims and the target audience, the expression of interest asks about the legal status of the applicant organisation. Grants are only available to legally incorporated, non profit organisations. If an organisation doesn't want to become incorporated, it can ask an organisation to act on its behalf.
Need more information about Enterprising Communities?
- Visit the website at www.workandincome.govt.nz to find out all about the grants programme. You can complete all stages of the grants process online, from completing an expression of interest to making a full application.
- Ask them for a copy of the new Enterprising Communities brochure.
- Email them at enterprising.communities@msd.govt.nz
- Call them from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 0800 779 998. If you are deaf or find it hard to communicate by phone, you can send a message to their Deaf Link free-fax 0800 621 621
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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