Wellington North council has approved $25,700 in community grant funding and donations through its annual fund.
Economic development officer Dale Small presented a report on April 23 listing all of the applications to the township’s Grants and Donations Community Development Fund.
Council allocated $40,000 to the fund this year, and accepted applications until March 31.
“I think its great we have so many community groups that are willing to serve our residents,” said councillor Steve McCabe.
Council received 36 applications totalling $46,586, of which 32 totalling $34,007 were recommended for approval by staff and four others required direction from council.
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin was a first time applicant, requesting $3,000 in order to offer a community connections parenting series in Mount Forest. Council decided not to fund the program.
“Let’s face it, they’re all good causes, but we are really kind of opening the door to a lot more of these types of requests, and those are some big numbers,” said councillor Dan Yake.
Friends of Pickleball Mount Forest was also a first time applicant and requested $6,000 to cover the cost of offering recreational pickleball in the community.
Council directed the group to apply to the Community Initiated Project Fund.
“This is essentially a new event, or a new program, or a new service … and really our community initiated project fund is really set up to address those types of one offs,” said Small.
Council approved $1,500 for the Highlands Youth for Christ – Arthur Door Youth Centre. They had originally asked for $2,500 to help cover costs to provide a weekly homework/after school club for students 13 to 18 in Arthur.
Council waived the fees to the Mount Forest minor ball and soccer club. The minor ball league requested the waiver and staff recommended waiving the fees to the soccer club as well as they share the space. Givens said the soccer and ball clubs were not charged before for the storage of their equipment, but the township will moving forward. This year, the township waived the $236 fee to help transition the clubs.
Although the Mount Forest community pantry did not submit an application, councillor Sherry Burke asked if money could be earmarked for the program.
“I can appreciate that they maybe didn’t put in a request, but since I’ve seen sitting at this table, they have always put in a request … I would like some sort of fund put in there,” she said.
Small said the township reached out twice to them after the March 31 deadline, but did not receive an answer.
“We do have a March 31 process for the intake, but that’s not to say we couldn’t come back again … if we do get applications in over the next month or so, (we can) come back with a round two,” he said.
After making minor changes, council approved $25,700 in grants, $7,955 in fee waivers and earmarked $1,249 for two fee waivers if they are requested.
Warm Winter Wishes and Wes for Youth/Get in Touch for Hutch did not request a fee waiver, although they have requested funds in past years, but fund were earmarked for their events.
Also receiving grants are:
– Arthur and Area Horticultural Youth Society received $200;
– Mount Forest and District Arts Council received $250;
– Mount Forest Optimists Club received $400;
– Arthur Agricultural Society, Arthur Opti-Mrs. Club, Mount Forest Agricultural Society, Mount Forest Lions Club and Wellington County Farm and Home Safety each received $500;
– Arthur and District Horticultural Society and Mount Forest Horticultural Society each received $600;
– Wellington Heights Secondary School Scholarships received $900;
– Get in Touch for Hutch received $1,250;
– Arthur and District Chamber of Commerce, Mount Forest District Chamber of Commerce and Mount Forest District Fireworks Festival each received $2,500; and
– North Wellington Health Care Professional Recruitment received $10,000.
Arthur and District Chamber of Commerce, Arthur Lions Club, Arthur Lions Club and the Churches of Arthur, Arthur DU Sportz Camp, Arthur Terry Fox Organization, Cancer Patients Services Corp, Four Corners Quilters Guild, Little Black Dress Affair, Mount Forest Lions Club, North for Youth, Women of Grace Anglican Church, Mount Forest Minor Ball and Mount Forest and District Soccer Club received a waiver in fees ranging from $112 to $1,490.
