ELORA – Centre Wellington received 41 applications from community organizations seeking a total $288,186 from the municipality’s Community Impact Grant program.
But with just $157,980 in the pot, some went away disappointed.
Manager of community development Kristen Drexler presented a report to council on Jan. 29 outlining the program, the process and the recommendation for awarding the grants by the Healthy Communities Advisory Committee.
The applications were divided into three streams: the annual specific stream, for groups that have applied and received grants for five consecutive years, had $32,980 to allocate; the capital stream, to help groups with capital projects, had $60,525; and the projects and programming stream had $64,475.
Most of the applicants got something if not the entire amount they had requested.
Some of the grants went to:
- Centre Wellington Mobile Market – requested $18,000; was granted $7,882 for website design and a vacuum pack machine;
- $1,700 to Elora Lions Club for the Santa Claus parade;
- $2,000 to the Fergus Lions Club for the Santa Claus parade;
- $20,000 to the Ennotville Library for a second septic tank;
- $3,925 to the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington for its Food and Friends program. This is 75 per cent of the foundation’s ask; and
- $3,925 to Sensational Elora, which is about 75% of its $5,000 request.
Other groups receiving funds include the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, the Elora Singers and the Elora Festival, the Elora Fergus Arts Council and the Fergus Agricultural Society.
Drexler said the working group intends to revisit the allocation policy and recommend changes to council before the next round of grants in 2025.
The full list of recipients and amounts can be found in the council agenda package.
