ARARAT - Mark Hodgetts has been elected chairman of Ararat Community Enterprise at this year's annual general meeting.
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Mr Hodgetts said he was looking forward to the year ahead with the group to continue its focus on providing effective advice and support for many local projects.
"We are looking forward to a good year ahead, one where we want to continue to strengthen our existing links and build new ones within the community," he said.
"This includes providing opportunities to assist with the Ararat Outdoor Olympic Swimming Pool and various other project including the Alexandra Oval redevelopment."
Mr Hodgetts said the group isn't just for big business but for people of all denominations that want to give something to the community.
"Community Enterprise provides the perfect funding model to help people fund projects and we've been working closely with the pool community to make funding a reality," he said.
"We provide funding for community based projects. We've helped a lot in the past 12 months and will be looking to do so again in the current year."
The money is made available through an income stream of participating businesses including the Bendigo Bank.
"The key thing is for people to make sure they tell the organisation when they make their contribution that they want that money to support the community enterprise," he said.
"They have to make a conscious request that if they are setting up an account they tell them where they want that money to go."
Mr Hodgetts who has already seen the community group grow since its inception five years ago said there will always be room for more support.
"There is absolutely room for more support - my feeling has always been that we can generate substantial income from it and there is a way to go for us to improve on that."
Mr Hodgetts has encouraged anyone who is looking to support the community or any community project to get involved.
"We aren't asking people to spend more, all they have to do is tag what they already do to make sure a share of the profits goes back into the community."