A city worker arranges flowers in front of city hall in this May 2018 file photo. Due to the pandemic, money the city would normally use to bolster public events or sports tournaments will be redirected to a new community vibrancy fund.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
City grants meant to stage public events or help local athletes travel to tournaments will be pooled and used to promote “community vibrancy” during the time of COVID.
More than $36,000 is available to community groups to help create events or programming until next summer that shows community spirit or resiliency even as more Hatters are heeding calls to remain isolated to held halt the pandemics spread.
“It’s a great opportunity for the community work with a very broad mandate,” said Coun. Julie Friesen, chair of council’s public services committee, which heard on Monday initial details of how the program will run and applications evaluated.
“It’s not a huge pot of money, but substantial enough that some really interesting things can happen.”
Earlier this month council approved suspending grant payments typically made to qualifying groups and individuals to cover the costs of staging programs or gatherings and athletes and teams to host or travel to tournaments.
Most previously planned community events for the remainder of 2020 grant cycle as well as sports and cultural events are suspended.
Now, $36,500 in remaining funds or suspended payments will be redirected to a new community vibrancy fund.
“I’m looking forward to this,” said Coun. Kris Samraj, a committee member.
Qualifications and requirements are generally in line with the spirit of other grants, say administrators. They are meant to bolster community spirit, celebrate local achievement and promote community development.
“That’s still the intended desire, but the community looks a little different than it did a couple of months ago,” said commissioner Brian Mastel. “There are remaining funds and there is an opportunity there.”
Proposals will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee of members from three existing advisory committees that dealt with the original grant programs.
Those are council’s advisory boards of arts and heritage, social development and the urban environment and recreation advisory boards.
Any unexpended funds will carry over to the 2021 budget year.
“We know a number of initiatives that were intended this summer were unable to proceed,” said Mastel. “Hopefully next year looks a little more vibrant.”
