City of Powell River Council will consider six grant-in-aid requests totalling $25,000.
At the May 26 finance committee meeting, chief financial officer (CFO) Mallory Denniston outlined the requests and said she is seeking approval for the 2022 cash requests.
“The general community grant-in-aid program provides financial and in-kind support to local nonprofit organizations, who, through activities and events, contribute to or improve the economic and civic health of the community,” said Denniston.
She said the grant-in-aid budget is $25,000 and total requests were $136,841, which is $111,841 above the budget. The 2022 grant-in-kind budget is $50,000 and the total requests were $2,643, which is $47,357 below the budget, she added.
As of the March 31 deadline, the city received seven applications for grants-in-aid, and four applications for grants-in-kind.
Denniston noted that Powell River Action Centre Food Bank, an annual grant-in-aid recipient since 2018, wrote the city to advise it was not applying in 2022 because, through fundraising efforts and the receipt of other grants, it has already acquired sufficient funds for this year’s operations.
“They also wanted to thank council for its support in prior years when the grant-in-aid was needed to feed the most vulnerable citizens in the community,” added Denniston.
She said Powell River Hospice Society had requested $96,096 annually for five years to pay for two program staff members. The total grant request was $480,480 over the five-year period. The grant was not recommended.
Miklat Recovery Society had requested $15,000 to support the cost of 12 beds. The recommendation is for $9,193.
Powell River and District United Way had requested $12,000 for Danielle’s Helping Hand Fund. The recommendation is for $7,354.
Lift Community Services had requested $9.295 for office lease and utilities costs for the qathet Community Justice program. The recommendation is for $5,697.
qathet Symphony Orchestra had requested $2,375 for conductor fees. The recommendation is for $1,456.
Everybody Deserves a Smile qathet requested $2,000 for an increase in its annual Christmas kindness bags. The recommendation is for $1,226.
Powell River Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 requested $75 for a wreath for the cenotaph on Remembrance Day; the recommendation is for that amount.
There were also four grants-in-kind approved by the CFO. These include the Brooks Thunderbird Dry Grad Society’s $840 request for a Dwight Hall rental. CUPE Local 798 has also requested a Dwight Hall rental, which is valued at $840. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 requested a Dwight Hall rental, valued at $523, and Cops for Cancer Society requested an arena rental, valued at $439.
The committee gave unanimous consent to send the matter to city council for approval.
