The mid-year deadline for the Council's Community Grants Program closed on June 30, and Ararat Rural City Council general manager community services Mandy Noble said competition for available funds was fierce.

"The Community Grants program is about building healthy and vibrant communities, taking care of community assets and attracting visitors to the area,'' Ms Noble said.

"We've received a range of very worthy applications from many community groups across each of those.''

Ms Noble said projects most likely to attract funding were those with broad community support and a clearly demonstrated need.

Projects also needed to be well planned and managed.

In many cases, community groups needed to raise matching funds.

Successful programs in the past have included the Jailhouse Rock Festival, support to establish teen action groups, funding to the Ararat and District Remodellers for a storage unit, the Ararat Show and a local football club to upgrade its netball courts.

Ms Noble said this year marked a new approach for the Community Grants Program, with a streamlined application process, new guidelines and new, online application form.

"It's important that community groups take the time to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines, as they may find them quite different to what they have been used to in the past.''

Applications for the Community Grants Program are assessed in July, November and March, with the next round of applications accepted until October 31.

For details visit the Council's website, www.ararat.vic.gov.au/grants or contact the Community Building Officer, Margaret Burbidge, mburbidge@ararat.vic.gov.au