Masterton District Council [MDC] has met to decide which of 46 community applications should get part of this year’s significantly reduced grants fund.
The MDC grants committee met yesterday to consider the submissions from 31 applicants to the community wellbeing fund, and 15 applicants to the community events fund.
A report to the committee said this year’s annual plan had reduced the proposed budgets for community wellbeing funding by $22,000 and community events funding by $66,000.
“As part of the consultation for this year’s Annual Plan, the community was consulted about several ways council could reduce the rates impact,” it said.
The wellbeing fund has $98,225 available this year, and the event fund $14,000.
“This year $292,546 is requested for funding 31 community wellbeing projects, from 30 organisations. “There are 22 organisations returning with funding requests, and eight organisations are applying for this grant for the first time,” the report said.
“This year, $64,654 is requested for funding 15 events, with 13 of these being for the same events that were held last year.”
In 2022 the committee allocated $126,240 to 34 organisations for wellbeing initiatives, and $81,635 for 20 events.
At yesterday’s meeting committee members asked applicants about what alternative sources of funding and assistance are available, including commercial sources, admission fees, other community groups, and the use of volunteers.
A total of 25 applicants had asked to present to the committee yesterday.
Katie Rowden from Good Bitches Baking spoke to the group’s application for $3700 for expenses towards the ‘Baking it Better’ programme for distribution in Masterton.
“We are a volunteer-led organisation in which we connect home bakers with a way to contribute delicious, yummy treats. We partner with organisations who support people having some kind of a tough time or crisis in our communities,” she said.
“In the Masterton area, we are currently working with 11 recipient organisations ranging from hospice and refuge to organisations supporting young people and people going through a cancer journey.
“We know you can’t solve the world with cake, but we do know the little we do to support these organisations has a really huge impact.”
The organisation has 43 Masterton-based volunteers, who deliver about 50 boxes a month to local recipients.
Another applicant was Bob Wilton from Masterton Motorplex, who has asked for $10,000 for the 2023 Drag Racing Season.
Wilton said the facility has grown to a point where it is considered by many to be the best track in New Zealand.
He said council funding had helped in the past to fund an administrative coordinator.
“The secretary’s job has gone from 10 hours a week to 20 hours a week, so what the council puts in helps us tremendously,” he said.
“We’ve just had a very successful season, but it’s an ongoing thing out there.”
Wilton said ablutions have been upgraded, and machinery has been invested in.
“We’ve reached a point now where we’ve got two million dollars’ worth of assets out there, and we have come to a position where we’ve got promoters begging us virtually to let them have one of our meetings.”
The more than 30 applicant who presented to the committee included the SPCA, the NZ Aerobatic Club, Wairarapa Womens’ Centre, Living Streets Aotearoa, the Wairarapa Indian Association, and the Wairarapa Filipino Society.
The committee heard applicants all day, with allocation decisions expected to be made afterwards.
Attendees were told to expect the outcome of their applications in about a week’s time.
– NZLDR
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How about cutting the price of tip fee’s 🤔 and make parking free 🤔 that will help all the community 😀.