For years the City of Cold Lake has decided on a case-by-case basis which organizations receive financial support, but that is no longer the case.
For years the City of Cold Lake has decided on a case-by-case basis which organizations receive financial support, but that is no longer the case.
The Community Capital Project was created as a way of allowing organizations within the community to apply for financial assistance from the City of Cold Lake for capital projects.
"The intent of the policy is to open up a grant process for any non-profit committee, not just the ones that are coming to council," said CAO Kevin Nagoya, adding there are committees currently who come to council seeking funding.
"There are many that are in the community right now, that aren't even attempting to come to council," he added.
Those committees often fundraise for capital projects on their own.
"This to some degree will equalize the playing field, so that everyone has the opportunity to access a certain amount of grants," Nagoya explained, adding it is important to offer the funding to all committees in the community, so those who are not currently seeking financial assistance know that they can.
The project was created similarly to those of communities such as St. Paul, Westlock and Lethbridge who all have the grant program in place, but differs in terms of how much funding they will provide and who to.
Linda Mortenson, general manager of community services for the city, recommended the city allocate a third of the funding up to $50,000, but there's a catch. Organizations are required to provide two thirds of the funding prior to being eligible for the grant.
"Council may make the decision that you are only giving $30,000, because you may have grant monies that you want to spend it on others as well," explained Nagoya.
The funding would be provided in two chunks, the first would be after the initial approval and the beginning of the project for 90 per cent of the grant, the other 10 per cent would be allocated after the project has been completed.
The project must be finished within two years. If the project is not completed in that time, the organization is required to return, or payback the funding provided by the city.
Each year, council will set aside funding for the program, and will accept applications from local organizations requiring funding for projects, and come budget deliberations, will begin discussing which projects will be receiving funding.
Arts, culture, parks, social services and recreation are types of projects and organizations the city is looking for.
The community itself benefits from the program by allowing for a transparent, fair and formalized process for grant funding, promoting fairness amongst the community groups by standardizing municipal funding for community capital projects, and increases community accountability for municipal contributions.
Coun. Chris Vining said he had reservations about the policy because of the committee's ability to apply for whatever they deem necessary, and wondered what council would do if they did not like the project pitched for the grant.
"Would that be fair to a group for us to say, well we don't really like that project," he said.
Currently, the city does not have restrictions in place for those who are eligible for the funding, however other cities have restricted dog shelters or parks, schools and churches from applying.
Organizations currently benefitting from other city funding will not be approved for the grant, to allow for other non-profit organizations an opportunity to apply for funding.
One concern among council was how to properly measure in-kind work, and whether or not it would be included in the matched funding.
"It gives an unfair advantage to some groups over others, and I just have a problem with the whole skilled versus unskilled labour... Who's going to measure that," asked Coun. Bob Buckle.
Although he does not believe volunteer hours should be included, he did say it would be worthwhile to include equipment donations.
"That's easy to understand... but the volunteers who are there day in and day out, they're there volunteering anyways, that's their passion, that's their organization."
