In its 2016 budget, community grants funding went from $380,000 in 2015 to little over $400,000 this year. With the exception of $14,000, the money will be split, at varying levels, between 25 community groups and organizations.
“Council reviewed each of the applications and came to agreement on how much funding would be provided to each applicant,” said the city’s finance director Rob Philpott. “Each application was judged based on financial need, how the project will benefit the community, the role of volunteers in the project, does the project line up with the city’s mandate, etc.”
A total of 31 applications, totalling about $600,000 were received.
Groups receiving the same support as in 2015 include Generation XX, which is getting $30,000; East Prince Committee on Family Violence, with a grant of $5,000; Summerside and Area Historical Society, receiving $2,500; “swimming”, with a grant of $5,000; and $25,000 to Tourism Summerside.
New to the list of recipients are Athena Home and School, with $1,500; the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers, getting $2,500; the Summerside Bluegrass and Acoustic Music, at $500; and Trinity United Church, with a grant of $500.
Off the list were the air show — not returning to Summerside this year — which received $38,887 in 2015, the P.E.I. Golf Association and the Eptek Art and Culture Centre, who did not apply for a grant this year.
The Boys and Girls Club of Summerside saw its grant go from $25,000 in 2015 to $10,000 this year, while East Prince Seniors Initiative had a reduction in funding by $6,920, bringing it to $30,000.
Receiving the biggest grants are the College of Piping, at $61,000, an increase of almost $3,200; the Harbourfront Theatre, with a $123,000 grant, up by less than $500; Prince County Hospital Foundation, with the same contribution as in 2015 at $20,000; and the St. Eleanors Lions Club, which received $26,350 in 2015 and is getting $15,600 this year.
The club, which has been struggling since the removal of its video lottery terminals last year, along with East Prince Seniors Initiatives, had made individual pitches to council outside the community grant process to continue with its support.
The remaining $14,000, as laid out in the budget document, is for other grants and donations, miscellaneous grants and donations, and grants and donations — outbound sport events.
