Community Investment Contract reports to be presented at Committee hui

SWDC’s Community Engagement & Investment Committee meeting on 26 March will receive progress updates from local organisations that have been awarded funding under the Community Investment Contracts.

The Community Investment Contract (CIC) programme provides funding to community organisations that demonstrate alignment with Council’s strategic priorities. For the 2025-28 cycle, five different South Waikato organisations were awarded contracts under the various funding streams.

“The Committee is glad to see the contracts go to organisations that have the health and wellbeing of the hapori at heart, and we're confident these funds will be utilised towards the betterment of our District and our people,” Community Engagement & Investment Committee Chair Josiah Teokotai said.

All successful applicants will need to report every quarter to the Council, updating it on where and how the money is being spent and what outcomes are seen.

“Our first Committee meeting for this triennium will be held after the full Council meeting on Thursday, 26 March and we look forward to seeing how these organisations have progressed,” Teokotai said.

Applications for the Community Investment Contracts opened in August last year and closed in September.

All applications were assessed by a panel, against criteria such as alignment with Council strategies, demonstrated community need and benefit, feasibility and sound budgeting. Successful applicants were notified in November.

The following organisations were awarded for the 2025-28 cycle.

• Community Vibrancy – South Waikato YMCA
• Community Health and Wellbeing - South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services. (SWPICS)
• Community Sports and Recreation - Sport Waikato
• Community Youth Vibrancy - Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust (WACT)

Three more organisations were awarded discretionary funding to go towards projects and initiatives promoting community vibrancy - Pride in Putāruru, South Waikato Health Shuttle and The Event Girl.

“Our Community Contracts align with Councils LTP Goals and this is also a way in which we support our local economy on the basis of for community by community,” Cr Teokotai said.