BARRHEAD - Barrhead-area not-for-profit organizations seeking financial assistance through the county's community grant policy have access to a pool of money for the remainder of the year.
During their Aug. 20 meeting, County of Barrhead councillors removed 2024 recurring grant recipients from the policy, redirecting $9,750 from the grant pool and funding it from the upcoming year-end surplus.
The policy, which has been in place since February 2021, allows eligible community organizations meeting specific criteria to receive up to $2,500 in funding for a project or event that benefits county residents. Due to its popularity, the program's funding pool was effectively empty in late May, with six months remaining before being refreshed.
The council reviews the program's funding pool and eligibility requirements during the annual budget deliberation process.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun said that during a recent committee of the whole meeting (COW), councillors discussed potential options, from increasing the funding pool amount, changing the funding source or eligibility criteria, lowering the maximum amount groups could apply for, to keep the status quo.
In addition to the community granting program, the municipality provides ongoing funding or work-in-kind to the STARS Air Ambulance as a line item in its annual budget, the Barrhead and District Agricultural Society (for the Wild Rose Rodeo Association Challenge) and the Barrhead and District Historical Society.
Oyarzun added several not-for-profit organizations since the creation of the community policy grant program have applied for and received funding multiple times, including the previously mentioned ag society for Blue Heron Fair Days, the Barrhead and District Chamber of Commerce for the Main Street Festival and the Barrhead and District Indigenous Committee for two Indigenous Day events.
The Barrhead and District Family Community Support Services annual community celebration event, the Community Pumpkin Walk Committee for the Pumpkin Walk, and since 2023, the Community Fireworks Association for the Canada Day and New Year's Eve fireworks display have also received money.
In 2022, these groups received $5,500 in community policy grant funding. In 2023, it increased to $10,000, and so far, in 2024, $9,750.
Reeve Doug Drozd said that when they created the program, council was concerned that the same organizations would monopolize it by applying annually.
"If they did, that would be grounds to [refuse] their application," he said. "In a sense, how we set up this policy, we are breaking our own rules by allowing them to come in and apply time after time, so for me, it makes sense to take them out and put them in a different category."
Drozd added that regardless of what funding pool the organizations fell under, it was important to remain transparent and require applicants to prove that they were using the money wisely through some reporting mechanism to council.
Deputy reeve Marvin Schatz agreed with Drozd, saying the council never intended for a community policy grant to become a regular funding source for organizations.
"Because you are going to get all types of organizations, who will say the county has money available, let's go get it and find a project year after year which they wouldn't normally do," he said. "I'm definitely in the mindset that we move these organizations [who apply annually] to a different group and have them keep reporting to council, as long as they continue to meet the county's needs. This way, we can get funds into more organizations' hands."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
