Despite the spring showers outside Shire Hall on Wednesday morning, it was nothing but sunshine and smiles when several community organizations gathered in the council chamber to formally receive grants awarded through the Municipal Community Grants Program.

The municipality, in conjunction with The County Foundation administer both streams of the Municipal Community Grants Program.

Non-profit, community-based organizations may request financial assistance as well as in-kind support to offset the costs associated with using municipally owned facilities.

Grant applicants must demonstrate the value and benefit of their work to the community and their capacity to complete the proposed project. Applications are also evaluated based on their alignment with the goals and objectives of The County’s Corporate Strategic Plan and the Community Development Strategic Plan, and other relevant strategic documents.

“We feel honoured to have been chosen by the municipality to administer the process that provides well-deserved grants to support organizations delivering key programs and initiatives in our community,” said Brian Beiles, President, The County Foundation.

In total, Nine organizations will receive $166,200 in cash and $5,200 of in-kind support from the municipality through the Grants over $5,000 stream while 14 organizations will receive $9,291 in cash and $33,451 of in-kind support from the municipality through the Grants under $5,000 stream.

“These organizations are doing outstanding work for our community,” said Steve Ferguson, Mayor County of Prince Edward. “With a helping hand through the Municipal Community Grants Program, hundreds of volunteers are helping deliver a variety of programs and services that simply would not be possible otherwise.”

One of the grant recipients told the Gazette the grant would address vital food security needs.

“Food is a big part of our community and of our local culture. We are an agricultural area and we are surrounded by great food options and we want to make sure that everyone has the option to take part in our programs, which delve into nutrition, meal planning, budgeting, and scaling recipes,” said Kathy Kennedy representing Prince Edward Learning Centre who will be working in conjunction with the Storehouse Food Bank in Wellington to present a food education course at the Highline Hall.

Applications for the 2020 Municipal Community Grants Program will open this fall.

Successful grant applicants joining together at Shire Hall on Wednesday included:

Grants over $5,000

• 99.3 County FM – $6,100 grant to support tower rental
• Community Development Council of Quinte – $10,000 grant to support the Good Food Box and Good Baby Boxes
• Food to Share – $23,000 grant and $2,200 in-kind support for initiatives to address food insecurity
• Heal with Horses – $10,000 grant to expand seniors’ programming
• Prince Edward County Arts Council – $17,000 grant and $3,000 in-kind support for programs, operations and staffing
• Reaching for Rainbows – $15,000 grant to support youth and learning opportunities
• Recreation Outreach Centre – $50,000 grant to expand programming for youth in the community
• The Regent Theatre Foundation – $30,000 grant to support programming, operations and staffing
• Volunteer and Information Quinte – $5,100 grant to support programming, operations and staffing in Prince Edward County

Grants over $5,000 Funding Stream Cash and in-kind up to $5,000

• The Department of Illumination Project – $1,000 grant and $2,366 in-kind support for the Firelight Lantern Festival
• Alternatives for Women – $2,500 grant and $1,600 in-kind support for the development of Vi Courtney House, which will provide transitional housing units for women at risk of violence
• Music at Port Milford – $1,000 grant and $400 in-kind support youth and adult choral camps
• Picton Pirates – $2,500 grant and $2,500 in-kind support for 30th anniversary celebrations

Cash only up to $2,500

• Picton Community Gardens – $2,291 to support a community gardens coordinator position and other program expenses

In-kind up to $5,000

• Canadian Cancer Society – $2,200 to support Prince Edward County Relay for Life
• Gilead Fellowship – $2,500 to support the annual community Christmas dinner
• The County Marathon – $5,000 to support the annual road race
• Hospice Prince Edward – $4,910 to expand community outreach
• Women’s Institute – $5,000 to support the 35th annual Arts and Craft Show
• The Storehouse Foodbank – $3,920 to support a kids-only cooking class
• Quinte Educational Museum and Archives – $2,500 to support the Queen Elizabeth/Pinecrest Reunion

In-kind less than $1,000

• Miss Supertest Speed Record – $255 for banner to be displayed
• Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory – $300 for fees for stocking

Applications for the 2020 Municipal Community Grants Program will open this fall. Updates will be shared on the County of Prince Edward website as well as The County’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.