Twenty-five local organizations have been awarded community grants from the town to assist with their activities and capital projects, totalling $54,116.

Annually, the town awards the funds, and this year budgeted $60,000. Organizations can apply for up to 50 per cent of funding for projects, events, or capital expenses, to a maximum of $2,500.

There were more funds available than applicants this year.

Normally, funding must be used within 12 months of receipt, but extensions have been given to six groups to use funds awarded in 2019. Their programs or capital projects had been delayed by the onset of COVID-19.

"We are working closely with those groups to ensure that the funding supplied is utilized as outlined in their original application, or ultimately returned to the town to then be postponed indefinitely," explained Jaylene Knight, town legislative services manager.

Councillor Marni Fedeyko expressed concerns that new applicants may be squeezed out by long-time recipients of the grants.

"Let's make sure that we're not forgetting the new groups and organizations that are coming forward looking for a little bit of help than investigating our money and always helping the same-old, same-old. I don't want to make it sound they don't deserve that money either, but we do have other groups that we should be supporting or lending our support to them to show them that they are important to the Town of Cochrane as well."

Given there were fewer applicants than funds available, that's clearly not the case.

Knight noted all applications, new or old, are treated equally, it's just a matter of them applying for the grants and meeting its criteria for consideration.

"We were quite pleased this year, Councillor Fedeyko,  that we did get some new groups that had not received funding, had not applied for funding specifically under this program this year, so we're happy to be able to recommend supporting those as well."

The town advertises the grants through many channels, including their social media.

One other application was received that did not meet the criteria.

Changes are in the works that would separate portions of the existing Civic Partnerships, Community Grants & Arts & Culture Endowment Fund policy.

The administration is developing three separate policies for community grants, operating grants, and endowment funds to provide clarity to applicants, council, and administration. It is expected to be presented to town council for consideration in September.

Grant recipients were:

  1. Bow Valley Rugby Club, Post-COVID registration subsidies, $2,500
  2. Boys & Girls Club, play structure, $2,500
  3. Cochrane Activettes, Volunteer Appreciation & Training, $1,250
  4. Cochrane & Area Events Society, Cochrane Stuff-a-Bus, $625
  5. Cochrane & Area Events Society, New Year's Eve Family Celebration, $2,500
  6. Cochrane BMX Association, Youth Programming, $2,500
  7. Cochrane Classic Car Club, 9th Annual Show and Shine, $2,500
  8. Cochrane Foundation, Website Design & Development, $2,500
  9. Cochrane Humane Society, Memorial Garden, $1,950
  10. Cochrane Integrated Arts Society, Art Makerspace furnishing, $2,500
  11. Cochrane Lions Event Centre, Kids' Christmas Party, $1,075
  12. Cochrane Minor Soccer, equipment refresh, soccer balls, $2,500
  13. Cochrane Minor Soccer, coaches' training, $2,496
  14. Cochrane Public Library, Tech Library Lending, $2,500
  15. Cochrane Skating Club, Spring Ice Show, $1,000
  16. Helping Hands, September 2020 Food Drive, $2,500
  17. Junior Achievement Bow West, World of Choices Career Forum, $2,500
  18. Kiwanis Club of Cochrane, Bike Safety Day Project, $1,500
  19. Kiwanis Club of Cochrane, Christmas Toy Project, $2,500
  20. Lions Club of Cochrane, 54th Labour Day Rodeo, $2,500
  21. Lions Club of Cochrane, Labour Day Rodeo Cabaret, $2,500
  22. Mountainview Cowpokes Junior Rodeo, MVJR Winter Series, $2,500
  23. Parkinson Association of Alberta Flexxair Step ‘n Stride, $2,405
  24. Sport 4 Life, All Sport One Day, $1,825
  25. Teatro Dell’Ecco, 2021 Performance: Back to the Universe, $2,500