Three community groups will be splitting $10,000 of surplus funds from the NU-2-U thrift store following town council's approval of releasing the funds on Dec. 12.
A total of seven community groups submitted applications for the funds.
The Olds Emergency Shelter Society received $8,000 to fund the continued development of an emergency shelter in the community. NU-2-U is also interested in supporting the ongoing needs of the shelter once it's operational by potentially contributing furniture and kitchen supplies.
The Olds and District Kiwanis Music Festival was also granted $1,000 to support the continuation of the festival.
A total of $1,000 was given to the Community Lifestyles Committee to support the growth of a community savings account being touted by the committee.
The groups that were funded were given the entire amount that each of them requested.
The program was initiated in October after approval by council.
Barbara Hill, director of community services for the Town of Olds and a member of the committee that reviewed the applications, said the groups that received funding were deemed to best meet the criteria that was set out for the funds.
“And it's not that others didn't meet it, it's that (with) the others, we needed additional information or their applications weren't as clearly obvious at this time,” she said.
The committee will be sending letters to the organizations that didn't get funding, asking them to apply again with projects that more clearly meet a specific need.
“A lot of hard work went into raising (the money) and so people want to make sure that they understand and see what the grant money is going towards,” Hill said.
The program was initiated to continue the funding NU-2-U formerly gave to various community programs. Hill said when the town assumed oversight of the store and other programs formerly offered through Olds Neighborhood Place, it wanted to continue supporting community groups' efforts.
A total of $16,500 is still remaining from the 2010 surplus and it will be added to by future surpluses to fund further efforts of community groups. Hill said if funds allow, two rounds of funding would be handed out on an annual basis. Two more rounds of funding are planned for February/March 2012 and September/October 2012.
"A lot of hard work went into raising (the money) and so people want to make sure that they understand and see what the grant money is going towards."Barbara Hill, director of community services, Town of Olds
