The town of Collingwood has allocated $45,000 in grants to local projects.
The money is given away annually as part of the Community Recreation and Culture Grant Program. Local groups are encouraged to apply if their project fosters community engagement and advancement of the town’s park space.
The funds are given to non-profit, charitable or volunteer based organizations, groups, events or programs active in Collingwood and in good standing with the grants program.
This year, the town received 20 applications for a combined total request of $72,272. After evaluating all the applications and interviewing the applicants, the grants program team proposed allocating $45,672 for this year’s requests. The annual budget is $50,000 for the program.
The highest grant awarded this year was to Magic of Children in the Arts for $4,800. Elephant Thoughts received $4,310 and the Collingwood Youth Centre received $4,282. Other organizations receiving money this year include the Bienn Gorm Highlanders Pipes and Drums ($1,480), Port Music Festival ($2,805), Georgian Triangle Music Teachers’ Association ($913), Breaking Down Barriers ($2,900), CCI Marching Band ($3,975), Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts ($2,625), Gaslight Community Theatre ($1,170), Free Spirit Gardens ($1,238), Home Horizon ($2,920), Big Brothers Big Sisters ($3,125), Quarter Century Theatre ($2,350), Collingwood Minor Baseball ($3,150), 5th Street Creative Initiatives ($1,781) and Collingwood Music Showcase ($1,849).
According to a staff report provided to council on May 14, the program prioritizes applications that encourage youth participation and engagement in recreation and the arts, that help eliminate or reduce financial barriers for participation in recreation or sport, and initiatives that take place at the Shipyards Amphitheatre. Council approved the grant funding as presented.
