Community grants – they are lining up again; staff suggests we stick with the plan to end them.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON February 22, 2011  –  Requests for a total of $108,000 in grants landed on the City Manager’s desk but he has suggested to council that although each has merit the city should stick to its decision to not give grants to community groups.

Grants to community organizations were phased out in 1994 but staff have found that requests are still coming from external agencies.  The requests range from fee waivers to help with annual operating costs.  Some of the more recent grant requests are a result of an end to funding support from the Province, with the provincial Trillium Foundation being one of the organizations that ends funding at some point and the group has to look elsewhere.

Group needs funding – looks to the city for help.
Group needs funding – looks to the city for help.

Creative Burlington is in just that kind of a bind.  They have benefited from Trillium Funding for a number of years but that ends this October.  The non-profit organization that was a prime mover for a Performing Arts Centre now finds itself watching the BPAC get more than half a million dollars in start up money and have more than $10 million  raised within the community to work with, while it, Creative Burlington, may soon find itself struggling to meet the payroll.

Tough one to handle but if the City Manager’s advice is to not provide the $65,000. Creative Burlington has asked for – some hard decisions have to made at the little house on Old Lakeshore Road.

The City Manger asks council for some direction and a policy that can be applied to funding requests  “Should the City begin providing community grants, further requests will undoubtedly flow.  In order to determine which groups should be funded and to what level, a policy should be developed” is the view of staff as set out in their report

Council may not want to belly up to that idea.  Should there be a policy every group that wants funding will lobby council members seeking a vote at council.  The Soccer Mom’s did that and they prevailed.  The cycling group convinced the city to kick in $30,000. with the argument that it would be good for business.

Deb Tymstra, Executive Director of Creative Burlington could give an equally strong argument about the arts being good for business.  If Ms Tymstra were to ride a bicycle in the Canada Day race – would that help her application.

Brant was always pretty good at getting grants from the British, but this Council probably isn’t going to hear his argument.
Brant was always pretty good at getting grants from the British, but this Council probably isn’t going to hear his argument.

It’s dicey one and there has to be a policy for city staff to dole out funds.  Is this Council ready to think about giving funds to community groups?  Jack Dennison would float the Joseph Brant Museum away on Lake Ontario – so his vote can’t be counted on.

Burlington Green is asking for $10,000; the Burlington Sport Alliance is looking for an annual grant of $5000. while Civic Rose and Joseph Brant Day want stage and facility fee waivers.  The Halton District School Board wants $25,000. for an Active and Safe Routes to School program.

As Roman Martiuk stated in his report – they all have merit but he needs a Direction from Council and a policy to work within.

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