A €10 million grant scheme, giving communities in Malta and Gozo the opportunity to create and enrich green open spaces in their localities, has been launched by Project Green.

Through this scheme, local councils, NGOs, schools, and other organisations will receive financial assistance to create greener spaces in their community.

Project Green will be receiving applications for this grant and will guide eligible projects to benefit from European Funds. Additionally, Project Green will provide technical assistance, to further encourage organisations to apply.

It was explained that this scheme will incentivise the creation of new green spaces, giving the community and nearby residents a new lease of life in their neighbourhoods.

“The scheme encourages the identification of sites which have fallen in disrepair, or which can be opened to the public. It will also address issues related to water management faced by the community within their public spaces, to harvest rainwater for irrigation and cleaning, and to mitigate flooding risks,” it said.

The Community Greening Grant was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett and Project Green CEO Steve Ellul.

“This is one of the biggest environmental schemes for environmental projects in the community ever launched in our country. We want the people to reap the greatest rate of return possible on this investment,” explained Minister Miriam Dalli.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said that “the environment is our priority, and we are determined to utilise the new EU funds programme to invest in projects that improve our environment and create more green spaces for our families.”

Project Green CEO Steve Ellul explained how the agency will provide technical support before and during project implementation, while funding 90% of the project costs through the Community Greening Grant.

“We are aware that when it comes to such grant applications, applicants face complications and bureaucracy. Therefore, we prepared clear and simple guidelines and conditions. We will truly be investing people’s money for the people,” said Mr Ellul.

As part of the application process, applicants need to submit a 10-year maintenance plan, so that beneficiaries will implement the project and then oversee the maintenance of the area.

More information can be found on: https://project.green.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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