Speaking at the launch of the Wimmera Youth and Community Bus at Nexus Youth Centre in Horsham on Thursday, Ms Middleton said the pilot project trialled last summer had proven a need for a youth bus in the region.

Ms Middleton said philanthropist Geoff Handbury had granted permission for $15,000 in youth funding to be allocated to the fit-out of a new bus.

She said the project steering committee would continue to seek government and corporate sponsorship to fund the total purchase price of $240,000 as well as funding for a three-year term for a project officer.

Ms Middleton said the bus would operate as a professionally staffed mobile youth and community centre, complete with computers, television, DVD and CD players, games consoles and sporting equipment.

Youth worker and founding project contributor Justin Amor said the youth bus project was a joint initiative of Wimmera Uniting Care and Grampians Community Health.

Mr Amor said the steering committee consisted of representatives from Victoria Police, Wimmera Primary Care Partnership, Wimmera School Focused Youth Service and Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly.

He said the project had been road tested by the steering committee trialling `The Bus' from Ballarat and the Sunshine Street Surfer Bus at various locations in the Wimmera.

"We took it to the Careers Expo in 2008 where it received a great response," he said.

"In the second stage we took it to summer events in Hopetoun, Rainbow and Warracknabeal and finished up at NorthFest earlier this year."

Grampians Community Health chief executive Jill Miller said Thursday's launch was a positive beginning for the project.

She said she was pleased by the large crowd at the launch and relieved to see the project finally coming together.

"It has been a dream for four years since our last attempt at getting something like this off the ground," she said.

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said he was also rapt with the turnout and looking forward to seeing the Wimmera Youth and Community Bus on the road.

"The bus will provide youth of our region with another reason not be on the streets," he said. "It will also provide young people in outlying areas with entertainment in their own communities. Without having to come to Horsham, the activities can come to them."