Prince Edward County Council by way of successful applications to The County Foundation approved nearly two dozen community grants at Tuesday night’s regular council meeting.

As in previous years, the grant process for the municipality is undertaken and administered by TCF.  In 2021 however,  any projects that could continue despite COVID-19 limitations were given preference.

Grant applicants were asked to include a COVID-19 contingency plan so that funds can be spent regardless of the pandemic. Municipal staff alongside TFC will work with applicants to find viable solutions, according to the Community Services, Programs and Initiatives report to council.

The report states staff will work closely with successful applicants to monitor and identify any grant funds that cannot be used and will reconvene if necessary.

In consultation with the municipality and staff, TCF  submitted 15 grants over $5,000 for approval, representing $212,720 in cash and $700 in-kind.

They include:

• LoveSong Seniors Housing and Community Hub: $4,400, plus $700 in-kind
• Community Development Council of Quinte, Food Security Programs: $5,000
• County Kids Read – Prince Edward Arts Council: $5,000
• DeRAIL platform for Art & Architecture ot animate two sections of the Millenium Trail: $4,000
• Festival Players of Prince Edward County, 2021 Summer Season: $7,500
• Food to Share – Meal Prep at the County Food Hub: $10,850
• Prince Edward County Arts Council – Arts Programming: $20,000
• Prince Edward County Radio Corporation: CJPE – 99.3 County FM and Parks Reports Program: $8,750
• Prince Edward Learning Centre: $26,000
• Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory: $4,300
• Reaching for Rainbows – Online Expansion Project: $10,000
• Recreation Outreach Centre (ROC) – PEC Youth Centre Programs: $72,000
• The Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward – PEC Support Group Programming: $5,568
• The Regent Theatre Foundation – Youth Employment & Engagement Initative: $24,352
• Volunteer & Information Services HPEC (VIQ) – Volunteer & Information Services: $5,000
  

  Councillor John Hirsch. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Nine grants under $5,000, representing $8,842 in cash and $4,155 in kind, were recommended by TCF. The Prince Edward District Women’s Institute notified TCF their 38th annual art and craft sale has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, and withdrew the $5,000 in-kind grant.

Under $1,000 in-kind:

• Miss Supertest Commemorative banner for Main Street: $255
• Storehouse Food Bank, table settings project: $1,000
• Wellington Community Gardens: $200

Under $5,000 in-kind:

• Picton Free Methodist Church Community Christmas Dinner: $2,700

Under $5,000 cash:

• Naval Marine Archive exhibition art storage: $2,240

• Prince Edward Historical Society historical plaques website: $1,602
• Raising a Village Quinte 2021 Halloween event working name Ghost of Macauley House: $2,500
• Wellington and District Business Association Shift Yourself Volunteer Coordination: $2,500

The County Foundation are recommending council implement improvements to the granting process, which include a grant writing workshop, updating applications to include return on investment as a factor for decision making and longer-term sustainability; revisiting the exclusion of churches from the grants program for beyond faith-based activities such as food banks, community meetings, music, literacy and youth groups; and to establish that 20 per cent of the grant can be allocated for operations – administration and overhead.

Some councillors felt allotting 20 per cent of grant costs to operations could be a negative move. 

Coun. Brad Nieman mentioned concerns that if this becomes expected, organizations may end up asking for more money in order to get the extra costs covered

He moved to amend the recommendation, but the vote did not pass.  for administration or overhead. 

Coun. John Hirsch said he felt that the grants committee’s recommendation to establish a 20 per cent allotment for operations is a good concept. 

“They are suggesting to allow a consideration that the money can be – not necessarily will be – used for operations,” he said. “It is a constant frustration [to organizations] that there is no money available for operations and I think increasingly, granting bodies are starting to look at this concept and I think it’s a good one.”

In the 2021 grant program, there was $231,052 available, representing cash and in-kind contributions. Of 27 applications, 23 were recommended for funding, either in part or in full. 

With all grant applications approved, there is a balance of $4,635 in the fund for this year.