Cork County Council has announced the opening of its annual invitation for applications to the Municipal District Community Fund Scheme. This scheme facilitates three types of grants:
1. Municipal District Capital Grant Scheme
2. Municipal District Community Contracts
3. Municipal District Amenity Fund Scheme.
If you are a community group or organisation, you can apply for one or more of these schemes.
The Capital Grant Scheme is for infrastructural projects costing more than €20,000 which will improve the range and/or quality of community-based facilities. It is very advisable that if planning permission is necessary, you have this in advance. Projects under this category responding to the needs of the youth, the aged or to sustaining community and voluntary effort will get priority. Applicants can expect to be required to input at least €10,000 of their own funds and Cork County Council’s contribution will be a maximum of 50% of the value of the project. Funding from other sources can be included.
The Community Contracts Scheme is for works/projects which enhance the area in which a community group or organisation is operating. Eligible works/projects must be discussed and agreed in advance with the Area Engineer. This scheme will finance ongoing costs of maintenance, litter-picking, etc. or may finance a once-off enhancement that couldn’t get funding elsewhere. Project values are expected to be €1,500 – €20,000.
The Amenity Fund Scheme is for part-funding projects with a value of less than €20,000. Again, this scheme is open for applications from community and voluntary organisations who can show how their proposed project will directly benefit the community and meet specific needs. This fund is ideal for Tidy Towns groups, festivals, amenity groups, etc. It will assist with such items as the cost of equipment and improvements. For a project value of €7,000 – €20,000, the County Council may contribute 75% of the value or €5,000, whichever is less. No more than €3,800 can be given by the County Council under this fund to a group who is not a legal entity.
Please make contact with me if you have any queries or need assistance. Guidelines and the application form are available here:
Municipal District Community Application Forms 2017
Municipal District Community Fund Schemes 2017 – Guidelines