Lac La Biche County increases Community Development Grant Program budget

Lac La Biche County made a decision recently to increase funding for local organizations in the community.

On Tuesday, April 6, elected officials decided to increase the Community Development Grant Program budget from $150,000 to $200,000. The funds for the increase will be taken from an accumulated surplus.

The Community Development Grant funds activities, programming, and projects from social service organizations. $150,000 was originally budgeted for this program to support Lakeland Out of the Elements Shelter, Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre, Hope Haven Society, Community Learning for Adult Students Society (PAL), and Victim Services Unit: Lac La Biche (VSU). 

Mr. Carl Kurppa is the Grants and Community Funding Coordinator for Lac La Biche County.

“It’s for social service organizations. And it can cover a wide variety of requests and eligible expenses,” Kurppa told the council.

Each presenter had a total of 15 minutes to complete their presentation to the council.

The administration reviewed the applications by the organizations for funding requests and realized that the original budget just wasn’t enough to support these valuable community organizations.

$208,304 was originally requested by the five applicants, therefore the council came to terms with the $50,000 increase just $8,304 shy of the original requests.

Councillor Colin Cote said during the open floor discussion that he supported increasing the budget. 

“This has been a pretty tough year for these societies, that’s necessary,” Cote said. “They’re providing a service that is seeing an increase, and there are funding opportunities have decreased. I believe we have to cut corners and tighten our belts. And this is not one of the places I think we should.”

The vote of the council to increase the budget was carried eight to one.

agreen@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca

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