City of Powell River Council has approved $1,697,159.97 to be withdrawn from the Powell River Community Forest Reserve fund.
At the November 5 city council meeting, councillors heard a presentation from Powell River Community Forest president Greg Hemphill, who outlined the fall 2020 community forest grants.
The money will be distributed to the following organizations:
· Inclusion Powell River – Cranberry Children’s Centre and administrative office renovations – $44,757
· Powell River Salmon Society – construction of new satellite rearing building – $43,800
· PRISMA – orchestra seating and portable tents – $23,073
· Townsite Actors Guild – sound system upgrades – $1,679.97
· Powell River Salvation Army – community response vehicle – $95,000
· Powell River Gymnastic Society – install new spring floor – $75,000
· City of Powell River (Recreation Complex) – 26.67 per cent matching funds for Clean BC grant application for ice plant heat recovery project – $483,000
· CJMP Community Radio – purchase FM radio transmitter— $4,500
· Powell River Curling Club – matched club contribution to cover 25 per cent matching funds for BC/Canada infrastructure grant application for various club building upgrades – $53,000
· Powell River Council for Arts and Culture – art centre improvements – $15,000
· Lift Community Services Society – Community Resource Centre (CRC) upgrades – up to $195,950
· City of Powell River (Recreation Complex) – 10 per cent matching funds for BC/Canada (rural and northern communities) infrastructure grant application for various required maintenance and upgrades – $662,400
Hemphill said the community forest reserve fund is very healthy, because of 2018 and 2019 record dividends.
“We have lots of funding for three pickups this year and we have a good carryover to next year and all of the uncertainties that come with that,” said Hemphill. “It’s a very healthy position.”
Hemphill said earlier this year the community forest provided some emergency grants to organizations to help the most vulnerable in the community and allocated seven of those. He said that was for COVID-19 and it helped bridge the gap for several organizations.
In addition, in the spring community forest provided its regular project grants. Hemphill said the independent corporation distributed 18 grants for about $958,000.
“With the uncertainty of COVID-19 our plan was to retain the majority of funds into the fall,” said Hemphill. “At the time we thought we would have more certainty around this fall take-up. As you know, it carries on. What we do have, though, is a better idea of how to manage through it.”
Hemphill said a number of groups have applied in the past and with this fall take-up, the community forest had discussions about COVID-19 restrictions and what the plans were. Some applicants decided to wait and see and carry forward their applications to next spring, said Hemphill. Other organizations have adapted and are up and running under safety protocols.
“We’re happy to bring forward these grant recommendations to council,” said Hemphill. “There’s some good ones there. You’ll notice a number of them have matching funds and the contribution from the community forest is as low as 10 per cent. That’s an attractive thing. We need to take advantage of those matching opportunities.”
Mayor Dave Formosa asked when COVID-19 hit, was community forest approached by groups for funding or did it decide to dig into its pockets and offer some funds to these groups, knowing pressure and problems were coming.
“Is this just something you guys thought of?” asked Formosa.
Hemphill said the board got the word out and phoned around to some organizations, some of which the community forest had previously dealt with.
“We quickly got a list of those groups that were providing services and we did a phone-around, asking how we could help,” added Hemphill.
Formosa said he wanted to make that clear for the community.
“Thank you very much for that thought that came from that group,” said Formosa. “It was over and above the call.”
Councillor George Doubt said residents of the community are lucky to have Powell River Community Forest and the board that manages contributions to the community.
“I want to thank the community forest for generating these funds and administering them,” said Doubt.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said she enjoys going to meetings with local politicians from around the province, telling them Powell River has the best community forest.
“No one ever argues,” she said.
Councillor Rob Southcott pointed to the significant funds being allocated to Powell River Recreation Complex, for improvements and renovations, including roofing and seismic upgrades.
“It is many years old now and the infrastructure needs fixing,” said Southcott. “It has served this community so well and provides so much on many levels. I feel profoundly personally grateful for this facility and the fantastic board providing the opportunity to keep that wonderful facility functioning.”
Councillor Cindy Elliot said she wanted to mention that if the recreation complex grant the community forest is providing 10 per cent for is successful, it would inject more than $6 million of funding into the community from other government sources.
“It’s really significant and we wouldn’t have been able to apply for that grant if we didn’t have a community forest because we don’t have the funds otherwise,” said Elliott. “We would have been struggling trying to upgrade our facility without it. It’s really amazing.”
