SUNDRE – Town council has approved proposed amendments to the municipality’s Grants to Organizations policy, establishing a cap on the maximum amount that can be applied for as well as reducing to two the number of annual intakes.
The move came by way of motion during the regular Dec. 4 meeting.
Providing a brief preamble, Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, told council the policy – initially adopted in 2019 – had been revised by the Bylaw and Policy Review committee in November.
“They’re quite minor,” said Nelson about the changes.
“The original policy will remain in except for a very few amendments.”
Included among the changes was to reduce the number of annual intakes for applications back to the original two from three, which was added during the course of the pandemic.
“When we were experiencing COVID, council added in an additional intake for grants and now we are reducing that back to two intakes,” said Nelson.
The review committee also recommended introducing a cap on the grant amount approved to any one group, she said.
“The maximum amount of funding to any organization in a calendar year is $5,000,” she said.
During a brief council discussion, Coun. Todd Dalke asked if the amended policy’s $5,000 cap per application would have an impact on existing recurring grants for groups such as the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association.
“No. The total grant amount is $50,000. Anybody can apply for the grant, and then there is a grant review committee that reviews all of the applications and brings forward a recommendation to council on the merits of the application,” said Nelson, adding that committee is made up of three council members as well as the mayor.
“It will not affect the rodeo grounds; that is a separate grant,” she further elaborated.
“And the FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) funding and the annual funding to the other organizations, are not included in this policy – that’s separate funding,” she added.
As a final point of clarification, Dalke asked, “So, they can still continue to apply for additional funding?”
“Absolutely,” said Nelson.
Council went onto carry a motion approving the amended policy.
