Council Invites Applications For €750,000 Community Support Fund 2017

At the launch of the Kerry County Council Community Support Fund 2017 were front from left: Cllr. Aoife Thornton, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council; Cllr. Michael O'Shea, Cathaoirleach; Cllr. Thomas McEllistrim, Niamh O'Sullivan and Helena Switzer. Back row:  Cllr. Sam Locke, Andrew Smith, Cllr. Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, Cllr. Toiréasa Ferris, Cllr. Michael Gleeson, Cllr. Graham Spring, Cllr. Maura Healy-Rae, Siobhán Griffin, Mike Scannell, Director of Services,  Kerry County Council; Cllr. Pa Daly and Noreen O'Connor.
At the launch of the Kerry County Council Community Support Fund 2017 were front from left: Cllr. Aoife Thornton, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council; Cllr. Michael O’Shea, Cathaoirleach; Cllr. Thomas McEllistrim, Niamh O’Sullivan and Helena Switzer. Back row: Cllr. Sam Locke, Andrew Smith, Cllr. Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, Cllr. Toiréasa Ferris, Cllr. Michael Gleeson, Cllr. Graham Spring, Cllr. Maura Healy-Rae, Siobhán Griffin, Mike Scannell, Director of Services, Kerry County Council; Cllr. Pa Daly and Noreen O’Connor.

Kerry County Council is inviting applications from community and voluntary organisations for a fund of €750,000 for local projects and initiatives. The 2017 Community Support Fund was launched today (Monday) by the Cathaoirleach and members of Kerry County Council.

 The Fund, which is now in its third year, has supported 700 projects since 2015 to the value of €1.5million. It recognises the valuable contribution of the community and voluntary sectors in Kerry and the vital and beneficial work that those organisations do. Applications are now invited from community groups, residents’ committees, Tidy Towns groups, Chamber Alliances and other organisations across the four Municipal Districts in Kerry.

Community Support Fund

This year, it is intended that some of the Community Support Fund will be used to target strategic projects in Municipal Districts and that it will be used to co-fund projects which are in receipt of grants from other sources. It may also be used by groups to help leverage grants under programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Economic Development Zone Scheme (REDZ). A portion of the fund will also be retained to provide matching funding for approved LEADER projects that have a broad community gain associated with them.

 Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Michael O’Shea said: ‘I am delighted on behalf of the elected members of Kerry County Council to launch the 2017 Community Support Fund. Not only does this grant aid provide valuable support to promote community and economic activities throughout the county, it also gives Kerry County Council an opportunity to acknowledge the valuable contribution that local voluntary groups make to the vitality of our communities.’

You can click on the image here to download the application forms for the Community Support Fund 2017.

Local Workshops

 ‘One of our objectives this year is to target funding to projects and groups who would be eligible for co-funding under other schemes. The fund will also continue, as in previous years, to support a variety of local projects which benefit the community,’ said Cllr O’Shea.

 To assist groups in applying for funding, the Community Department of Kerry County Council has announced details of local workshops in each Municipal District at which applicants will receive information and advice on the application process. Application forms are now available to download from the Council’s website at www.kerrycoco.ie

Head of the Community Department at Kerry County Council, Niamh O’Sullivan confirmed that the 2017 Fund has seven categories of support under which groups can make an application: ‘The guidelines have been revised this year to provide more clarity to groups and we have also produced a guide to completing the application form. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday 13 January.’

Workshop Details

Details of the pre-application workshops are as follows: South and West MD, Killorglin: 30th. November, 7.30pm. Library Place, Killorglin; Kenmare: 1st December, 7-30pm. Brook Lane Hotel, Kenmare; Dingle: 5th. December, 7.30pm. Benner’s Hotel, Dingle; Killarney MD: 28th November, 8.pm. Randles Court Hotel; Listowel MD: 29th November, 7.30pm. Family Resource Centre, John B. Keane Road, Listowel; Tralee MD: 30th. November, 7.30pm. Manor West Hotel, Castlemaine Suite.

A meeting has been arranged for Castleisland on 6th December, 2016, to be held in the River Island Hotel, Castleisland, commencing at 7.30 p.m. as part of a Public Participation Network (PPN) meeting.

Applicants can also contact the Community Department in Kerry County Council on 066 71 83 680 or their Municipal District Office for advice and guidance in advance of making an application for funding.

You can contact The Maine Valley Post on…Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to:jreidy@mainevalleypost.com  Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467

Please Note: A click on any of our adverts will reveal all you need to know about what our advertisers need to tell you.