The Maniototo Community Development Scheme steering committee has been granted $80,000 a year for the next three years from the Department of Internal Affairs-sponsored Community Development Fund.
Committee spokeswoman Diane Paterson said the group identified a need in the district for a person to be employed to put community initiatives into place.
Most of the funding would go towards fund-ing a Ranfurly-based community dev-elopment co-ordinator.
"There have been about four community plans in the Maniototo identifying priorities.
It's great for us, because it's going to give us the chance to put those things into action," she said.
The committee's next step will be to identify priority projects for the funding.
Maniototo Community Board chairman and committee member Richard Smith said those could include heritage projects, tourism development and support for groups within the Maniototo which qualified for financial help.
"We are feeling our way a little bit at this stage," he said.
The Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme will formally employ the co-ordinator, who will work with the steering committee, community board members and other community groups.
The full-time co-ordinator's positon will be advertised.
