Demand for community municipal grants exceeds supply

Demand to receive municipal grants greatly exceeded supply again this year as The County Foundation worked through requests for $390,606.27 and was budgeted to grant 39 per cent, or $150,485.

A reduction to the $414,617 requested last year is attributed to the change in bylaw where qualifying organizations and projects now apply directly to the municipality for in-kind use of venues for projects for “community good” rather than through the grant program.

As well as the reduction of about $38,000 for in-kind funding removed, cash funding was reduced by $60,000 to reflect council’s earlier decision to fund the ROC (Recreational Outreach Centre) directly from the operating budget.

The foundation’s adjudication panel and board review and recommend applications to council for grants over $5,000 – and is presenting those Tuesday night. The panel and the board approve recipients in the under $5,000 category.

In its report for council Tuesday night, it seeks approval for $129,716 in grants over $5,000 and $16,615 for grants under $5,000. The foundation contributes 25 per cent of the under $5,000 funding, this year totalling $4,164.

Over $5,000 – Recommend approval

Alchemy Artists Residency – $5,000 for community art workshops

Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward $5,568 to support programming and educational opportunities

Baxter Arts Centre – $7,347 for seven arts-related programs that aim to benefit the local community by offering free, accessible programming

Children’s Foundation – $7,500 for Playing for Keeps (Cover the registration fees of sports and other activities) and Camps of Hope (Subsidizes the registration fees for camps) for families in PEC.

Community Development Council of Quinte – $7,500 for the Good Baby Box Program wheree participants can purchase diapers, wipes, and infant formula at a “much lower than retail” cost

County Food Hub – $10,642 for the Cooking Club five-week culinary course in PEC held at County Food Hub that provides no-cost, universally accessible, cooking classes.

County Stage Company – $5,000 for the 2024 Artistic Season: Theatre, comedy, and music performances, alongside complementary community outreach events.

Department of Illumination – $3,000 for the annual Firelight Lantern Festival

Food to Share – $10,441 to cover rental costs of the County Food Hub kitchen to prepare and distribute meals to other local partners

Friends of Sandbanks Park – $5,189.52 for planting of a variety of native trees, shrubs and other plants in the area cleared of invasive Buckthorn

Greater Than Youth Collective & Prince Edward Learning Centre – $16,848.48 for activities for youth engagement including: four Hackathons, co-launching a cooking series at the County Food Hub, and collaborating on a Youth Mental Health Summit.

Quintissimo – $7,700 for free, after school, instrumental music program to reach 40 under-served youth ages 6-11 at PECI.

South Shore Joint Initiative – $12,744 for Wild Thing: outdoor and educational opportunities for youth around environmental topics

St. Andrew’s Anglican Wellington – $10,000 for refurbishment and upgrade of the church hall to improve community programming

The Hub @ 31 King (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian – $9,236 to host open sessions for seniors on a variety of topics related to aging, as well as beginning a task force related to home-sharing

Volunteer Information HPE – $6,000 for program assists with recruitment, referral, retention and recognition for volunteers.

Under $5k – Recommend approval

County Kids Read – $4,659.50 to purchase approximately 500 non-fiction books to distribute to community youth and children

Feral Folc – $1,000 to host Repair Cafes: Free gatherings all about repairing things in and with community. Promotes social connection and sustainability

Gathering of Friends – $150 for the re-enactment of early loyalist settlers at Ameliasburgh Museum

Grow With Me Programs – $3,000 for Nature/survival/cooking camp during March Break for children Grades 3 to 6.

Marilyn Adams Genealogical Centre – $2,000 for story time of personal and family histories within the community

PEC Lion’s Club – $4659.50 for Music in the Park: Two hour family-friendly music in the park event featuring local bands June 11th to Sept. 3rd (Tuesday nights and one Sunday)

Perfectly Preserved – $1,000 to help produce preserves and baked goods to be sold with all proceeds going directly to the hospital.

Picton United Church Food Bank – $2,000 for expanding food delivery service

Prince Edward 4-H Dairy Club – $600 for youth program focused on dairy farming and compete on Achievement Day at Picton Fair

The Hub Child and Family Centre – $1,200 for educational sessions for parents and guardians surrounding the proper use and installation of car seats.

Wellington Community Gardens – $500 for soil upgrade / top up in raised beds