The County’s 2019 program for municipal grants under $5,000 is expected to hand out $9,291 in cash and $33,341 in-kind contributions this year to 14 different organizations.

At Thursday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, councillors received a report from County grants and special projects co-ordinator Emily Cowan detailing the process conducted by The County Foundation on the municipality’s behalf per a four-year service agreement.

Cowan reported The County Foundation deemed the grant process successful. Though cash requests were down from last year and in-kind requests up, the total amount handed out was about equal to 2018’s grant allocations.

According to community development and strategic initiatives director Neil Carbone, each grant total included a 25-per-cent top up provided by The County Foundation.

The recipients of grants, by dollar value, is as follows…

– The County Marathon, $5,000 of in-kind costs.

– Picton Pirates, $5,000 value, $2,500 of in-kind contributions for ice rental relief and transportation support, $2,500 in cash for the hockey club’s 30th anniversary.

– Prince Edward District Women’s Institute, $5,000 of in-kind contributions for space at the Picton Fairgrounds, Prince Edward Community Centre and Crystal Palace for their annual craft show.

– Hospice Prince Edward, $4,910 for expansion of community outreach through in-kind contribution of event space in County community centres.

– Alternatives For Women, $4,100 value with $2,500 in cash and $1,600 in-kind contributions of permitting for Vi’s Place, a new office space, shelter, and residence for women escaping violence.

– Storehouse Foodbank, $3,920 of in-kind support for space in Wellington for a kids-only cooking class.

– The Department of Illumination, $3,366 in value with $2,366 of in-kind contribution for space in community halls and the Crystal Palace for the Firelight Lantern Festival.

-Picton Community Gardens, $2,291 in cash to support a community gardens co-ordinator position and a port-a-potty.

– Gilead Fellowship, $2,500 of in-kind support for the annual Community Christmas Dinner through staff and space at the Prince Edward Community Centre.

– Quinte Educational Museum and Archives (QEMA), $2,500 for space rental at the Prince Edward Community Centre for a Queen Elizabeth and Pinecrest school reunion.

– The Canadian Cancer Society, $2,200 in in-kind support for space at the Picton Fairgrounds for the annual Prince Edward County Relay For Life.

– Music at Port Milford, $1,400 in value, with $1,000 in cash and $400 in-kind support for a Town Hall pass and the launch of an adult program.

– Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, $300 of in-kind support for waiving a marketing materials stocking fee.

– An additional $255 of in-kind support was granted to hang a Miss Supertest speed record banner above Main Street. Three applications were not approved, according to Cowan’s report.

A HOPE Centre request for capital improvements was deemed not eligible because capital enhancements are not eligible for funding, nor can religious entities apply.

A second request from QEMA for cash to support a band and sound system for a ticketed event was deemed ineligible.

An application from All Welcome Here was also denied as it was made on behalf of an individual, rather than a charity or non-profit. Those seeking the grant have been encouraged to re-apply once they have a created a more formalized organizational structure.

Mayor Steve Ferguson asked Carbone if staff had a breakdown of whether the grants were distributed evenly throughout county. Carbone responded that wasn’t a piece of information his department had, but said they could ask The County Foundation for more details. He indicated all groups receiving awards open their programming to everyone in the county making it difficult to see how a breakdown by ward would be a relevant consideration.

Bloomfield-Hallowell councillor Brad Nieman said he would have liked to see support for the HOPE Centre as it is working on opening a warming centre and soup kitchen, needed services that might reduce the County’s costs in running similar services. He said he’d like to see the County match funding provided through Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS).

Chief administrative officer James Hepburn said if PELASS is involved in those projects, they’re already being funded by the municipal budget as a rule as the County provides 36-37 per cent of the organization’s budget annually. The grant decisions will go to council March 26 for ratification.