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GRO funding request denied

Westlock County councillors say organization can apply for funds via its community grant program
WES - NEW GRO
Westlock County councillors have denied a funding request from the Gateway Research Organization and have directed them to apply via the municipality’s community grant program.

WESTLOCK – Westlock County won’t be providing any money to the Gateway Research Organization (GRO) this spring as councillors directed the locally-based, ag-research group to apply for a 2023 community grant.

At their May 10 meeting, councillors voted 6-1 (reeve Christine Wiese was against) to reject an administration-recommended funding allocation of $6,000, substantially less than the $20,000 GRO, a non-profit applied research association based out of Westlock, had been asking for.

“There’s lots of other groups that wanted money from the county and we held firm. This doesn’t fit as a non-budgeted expense,” said Coun. Stuart Fox-Robinson, who made the motion to direct the organization to apply via the community grant program.

“How is GRO actually funded? I think that’s why a full and proper application is required so council can fully review and make an informed decision on this. At the end of the day, we have an ask of 20 and a recommendation of six. I don’t have information here that will allow me to make that decision.”

County agriculture and environmental service manager Don Medcke told council that GRO staffers met with the county’s ag service board April 11 when they “requested core support from Westlock County to help provide extensions services for producers.”

In a letter to council, which preceded a 37-page report from the group in the May 10 meeting agenda package, GRO chairman Mike Hittinger said that due to recent changes in provincial agricultural research priorities, the unbiased extension support available to producers has declined. GRO’s website states they are “governed by a forward-thinking board of directors who set the tone for GRO, we are driven, passionate and curious. We love learning and then sharing what we learn with our producers.”

“We at GRO are doing our best to accommodate additional activities while still continuing to work on core research needed for the local producers. GRO is carrying out most of the research plots work in Westlock County as our base station. We are keeping our producers informed with newer, smarter and innovative agricultural solutions to stay sustainable,” reads Hittinger’s letter in part.

Medcke said that in past years, the county provided funding and in-kind support like an office, shop and yard space, but that changed after 2019 when provincial ag service funding dried up. He said the $6,000 was “in line” with previous county support to the organization.

“Just so all council is aware, from 2020 to 2024 ag service board funding grant funding was reduced for the entirety of the cycle by $44,452 per year — that’s funding we receive from the province for all of our ag service programming. That was part of the reason for the end of support to GRO after 2019 and why I recommended a lower amount than what they asked for,” Medcke explained.

Councillors, who also asked that the community grant program come back to a future governance and priorities meeting, learned that $90,000 was budgeted for the grant program this year and $63,000 has been allocated, including $20,000 for the hamlet mowing and cleanup program. Community services coordinator Adrienne Finnegan told councillors that as a non-profit, GRO would be eligible for a grant, noting applications for 2023 dollars close Sept. 15.

“With the program the way it is now, we know who’s coming to apply, we know the amount they’re requesting and the dollar value they’re looking for, for the next calendar year,” said Finnegan explaining the program. “It makes it easier for council to make a decision as far as the budget is concerned and standardizes the process for everybody to come and apply for the grant.”

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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