Some lucky community organizations will be getting a boost in funding thanks to the town’s annual community grant program.
Based on a recent recommendation from the grants committee, council approved $17,300 in funding for 10 local groups during its Jan. 16 meeting.
According to the town’s website, this support is in recognition of the value these not-for-profit groups bring to the well-being and growth of the community and in helping the town retain a strong community focus.
This year, the committee recommended the following:
- Bradford Board of Trade — $5,000 to help with events, promotion and educational opportunities for local businesses and schools. Will be used for marketing materials, speakers, venue costs and awards.
- Bradford Air Cadets — $2,500 to help support educational opportunities and career/employment prospects for Air Cadets.
- Simcoe County Youth Outreach — $2,500 to help with facilitating registration for extracurricular programs for youth who face barriers.
- Eric’s Right World of Scouting — $2,000 to help with improvements to outdoor learning and play space including building a new youth community garden.
- Making Change — $1,500 to help with the Black Youth Art Showcase event in partnership with the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library during Black History Month.
- South Simcoe Streams Network — $1,000 to help with tree and shrub planting along Fraser Creek to prevent bank erosion, improve water quality, increase tree coverage and wildlife habitat. Local schools can participate and learn about stream restoration.
- South Simcoe Arts Council — $1,000 to help with venue cost, accommodations and meals for adjudicators for the 10-day music festival.
- Bradford West Gwillimbury Indian Community Group — $800 to help with costs of supporting the Indian community with programs and events throughout the year.
- Danube Seniors Leisure Centre — $500 to help with monthly newsletter printing costs.
- Terry Fox Run Bradford — $500 to help with the annual Terry Fox Run event to raise funds for cancer research.
While council approved the funding without any discussion, the mayor confirmed that some applications were turned down for being ineligible and others had to be reduced.
The program runs annually and organizations must operate within town and apply before the Oct. 1 deadline in order to qualify for funds in the following year.
According to the program policy, application can be made for support programs or events with a fixed start and end date, or for general operating or capital expenses as long as the specific use can be identified and accounted.
Requests may be approved in full, approved for a lesser value than requested or denied, and priority is given to requests that support programs in the following categories: youth/senior, heritage/civic, arts/culture or leisure/tourism.
For more information, visit townofbwg.com.
