Maniototo Community Youth Inc chairwoman Glenis Crutchley said the group had been successful in its application to the Lotteries Community Fund, and was told last week it would receive $18,000 to employ a youth worker.
Although the group had sought $30,000, it was pleased to gain some funds and the money would go a long way to supporting the role.
"We'll keep trying other avenues as well, but this is a step in the right direction. It's all good news and something positive for the youth of the Maniototo," Mrs Crutchley said.
"I think it's the start of more good things happening for the youth of this area.
"We've been trying for this for quite some time and everyone agrees we need a youth worker here. It's a big area and quite isolated, and we're hoping the youth worker will work closely with other youth groups in the community and support them too."
The person appointed to the role would mostly focus on teenagers in the community, she said.
"It's taken more than three years to get to this point and we started by talking to groups in the community and finding out what their needs were. That really highlighted the need for this role."
The group would meet later this month to discuss the latest development and to talk about the appointment, Mrs Crutchley said.
The group was initially responsible for the Maniototo Youth Centre in Ranfurly but had expanded its role to look at all youth initiatives in the area, co-ordinating resources and looking at filling gaps.
