Today, TPCA Toyota Peugeot Citroën has organized a workshop for non-governmental non-profit organizations operating in the region of Kolín and staff of local governments. The objective of the event was to inform the attending people about the options of subsidies and to teach them how to draft a successful application for support. The educational course was organized by the carmaker in cooperation with Koalice nevládek Pardubicka (Coalition of NGOs of Pardubice Region) and Nadace Partnerství (Partnership Foundation). The participants were also provided with an overview of existing sources of subsidies, including European funds.

In the afternoon part of the seminar, Ing. Jan Stejskal, PhD., lecturer of the Coalition, has held a presentation on funds available for the non-profit sector. He mentioned European funds, state subsidies, subsidies of local governments, corporate donors and more. The presentation was followed by a workshop aimed at preparing applications for a grant in a program of the car manufacturer TPCA, named Partnership for the Kolín region, where the participants had the chance to go through preparing an application step by step using a model project under the supervision of an experienced lecturer, Ing. Jiří Krátký.

In the afternoon block, Radek Kňava explained the priorities of TPCA’s grant program called Partnership for the Kolín region in 2009. In this year’s, already fifth, annual program, the carmaker supports projects emphasizing safe traffic and the environment, as well as preparation of applications for subsidies from structural funds of the European Union. „Drafting an application itself is time and cost consuming. Small municipalities and non-profit organizations have limited opportunities to reach for big grants. With our today’s seminar and possibly other grants under the Partnership for the Kolín region program, we would like to help starting up bigger projects in the region of Kolín, for example as collaborations of several entities,“ Radek Kňava, the car plant’s spokesperson, explained the company’s visions. The next presentation was that of representatives of the Partnership Foundation, who focused on the rules of this year’s grant program.

The summary of current opportunities in the area of subsidies was concluded by Mgr. Luboš Rambousek of the European Project Office, informing the audience about current challenges under the Regional Operation Program for the region of Central Bohemia. Participants of the seminar then had the chance to enjoy a guided tour through TPCA’s manufacturing areas.

TPCA’s grant program Partnership for the Kolín region

The grant program was established in 2006 by transforming so-called municipal projects. Under the program, TPCA allocates four million koruna to publicly beneficial projects within the region of Kolín. This year, organizations to realize their project within 30 km from TPCA may apply for support amounting up to CZK 500 thousand. The form of an application for a grant along with instructions for completing the form are available to applicants on the carmaker’s web site at www.tpca.cz under the TPCA and the region section, or on the web site of the Partnership Foundation, the administrator of the grant program, at www.nap.cz.

Miroslav Vlasák
TPCA Press Department

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About TPCA Czech, s.r.o.

Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile (TPCA) is a joint venture of Toyota Motor Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroën, built in 2002 in the industrial zone of Kolín - Ovčáry. Production was launched in February 2005 and has reached the planned yearly capacity of 300,000 cars the year after. As per today, TPCA employs 3,500 members of staff. The plant’s revenue exceeded CZK 50 billion and ranks TPCA the third biggest exporter in the Czech Republic. The manufacturing plant based in Kolín produces the models of Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1, reliable city cars with low consumption of fuel. TPCA employs the most environment-friendly technology, as proven with the BAT (Best Available Techniques) certificate, which the plant was awarded along with an international certificate of management of environmental protection EN ISO 14001:2004.

About Nadace Partnerství

Nadace Partnerství (Partnership Foundation) is Czech Republic’s most important foundation supporting projects of sustainable development in all regions of the Czech Republic. Over the 18 years of its existence, it has supported 2,383 projects of non-governmental non-profit organizations, schools, municipalities and individuals in the form of foundation subsidies exceeding the total amount of CZK 213 million. With its five sister foundations in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, it is member of the association Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development.

About Koalice nevládek Pardubicka

Koalice nevládek Pardubicka, o. s. (KONEP) (Coalition of NGOs of the region of Pardubice) is an open association of non-profit organizations operating in the region of Pardubice. The long-term aim of the Coalition is to promote cooperation and exchange of expertise and to assist in development of non-profit organizations. The Coalition was established in 1998; it has been running as a separate organization since 2004. The Coalition is financially supported by the Region of Pardubice and the European Union.