As part of its preliminary budget for next year, County of Grande Prairie council has approved nearly $2.5 million in grants for recreation, community and cultural groups. Reeve Leanne Beaupre says they see the value in investing in non-profit and volunteer groups.
“These funds help to support and offset operational costs for organizations located in and around the County, Beaverlodge, Grande Prairie, Hythe, Sexsmith and Wembley, and also ensure quality of life for residents is maintained.”
Of the $2.45 million, roughly $1.5 will go to community assistance grants, like $400,000 each to the Grande Prairie Agriculture & Exhibition Society and the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, as well as $200,000 to STARS Air Ambulance.
$533,333 is going to major capital projects, $333,333 of which will go to the La Glace Regional Recreation Centre over six years. That will bring the County’s total contribution to $3 million since 2014.
As for capital assistance grants, $382,200 will be split between projects like landscaping at the Clairmont & Area Senior Citizens Club, renovating the kitchen at the Sexsmith Arena, repairing the basement of La Glace’s Twilight Club, improvements to the Lakeview Seniors Complex, and upgrading the skating rink at the Valhalla Recreation Centre.
Lastly, $25,000 will go to the La Glace Agricultural Society to put on a 100th Anniversary concert. A full list of grant recipients is below:
Major Capital Community Grant (50K+) recipients:
• $333,333 over six years (2018-2023) which will bring the total contribution to $3 million to date (since 2014) for the La Glace Regional Recreation Centre
• $125,000 to the Hythe & District Recreational Society – to repair Hythe Community Centre roof
• $75,000 to the Sexsmith Curling Club – to install a wheelchair lift
Community Assistance Grant recipients:
• $400,000 to the Grande Prairie Agriculture & Exhibition Society for operations
• $400,000 to the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum for operations
• $200,000 to S.T.A.R.S. for operating costs (2016-2018) for a total contribution of $1.64 million
• $151,600 for the Wembley Co-op Seed Cleaning Association Ltd. north yard development project
• $65,000 to the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie for four years (2015-2018)
• $50,000 to the Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park for five years (2015-2019)
• $50,000 to the 2018 AB Summer Games Committee for two years (2017-2018) for a total contribution of $100,000
• $41,600 to the South Peace Regional Archives for four years (2015-2018)
• $37,398 per year over four years (2015-2018) to the Grande Prairie Museum for a total contribution of $149,592
• $26,000 to the Grande Prairie Sports Council for operating costs for a total contribution of $204,000
• $22,500 to Grande Prairie Technical Search and Rescue for two years (2018-2019)
• $10,000 to the Grade 3 Reading University
• $10,000 Recreation Fee Assistance Pilot Program
• $9,000 to the Peace Airshed Zone Association
• $7,500 to the Community Foundation for the County of Grande Prairie Firefighters
• $6,000 to Agricultural Fairs in the County (six grants of $1,000 for Valhalla, Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, Clairmont, Hythe and Bezanson)
• $6,000 to KidSport Grande Prairie
• $5,000 to the Bezanson Firemen’s Ball
• $3,300 to the Peace Draft Horse Club for the Northern Spirit Light Show
• $3,000 to the Grande Prairie Live Theatre for the Reel Shorts Film Festival
• $2,500 to the Big Hearts for Big Kids sponsorship
• $2,500 to the City of Grande Prairie Pursuit of Excellence Program for three years (2016-2019) for a total contribution of $10,000
• $1,700 to the Grande Prairie Petroleum Association STARS Hanger Dance
• $1,200 to the Grande Prairie Regional EMS Golf Classic
• $1,000 to Hospital Foundations (two grants of $500 for Beaverlodge and Hythe)
• $1,000 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation for the Ladies in Red fundraising event
• $600 to Dry Grad Committees (three grants of $200 for Beaverlodge Regional High School, Peace Wapiti Academy and Sexsmith Secondary School)
• $567 to the Grande Prairie & District Rural Crime Watch for website
Capital Assistance Grant (5K-50K) recipients:
• $50,000 to the Clairmont & Area Senior Citizens Club – to complete a landscaping project and engineering study
• $50,000 to Sexsmith & District Agricultural Society – to renovate the Sexsmith Arena kitchen and complete other repairs
• $50,000 to the Twilight Club of La Glace – to repair basement
• $50,000 to the Grande Spirit Foundation – to make improvements to the Lakeview Seniors Complex site
• $50,000 to the Valhalla Recreation Centre – to upgrade the skating rink facility
• $25,000 to the South Peace Centennial Museum – to construct a pole shed and for building restoration
• $25,000 to the Wembley & District Agricultural Society – to renovate the concession including the flooring
• $18,750 to the North Peace Bracket Racing Association – to purchase maintenance equipment
• $16,750 to the Wembley & District Arts, Culture and Historical Society – to make improvements to site
• $15,700 to the Bezanson Agricultural Society – to purchase shingles for the Bezanson Memorial Hall
• $11,000 to the Beaverlodge Boys and Girls Camp Society – to purchase shingles for the pavilion and new bunks
• $10,000 to the Beaverlodge Area Cultural Centre – to purchase and install outdoor signs
• $10,000 to the Spring Lake Equestrian Campground Association – to install power to individual campsites
100th Anniversary Celebration Grant
• $25,000 to the La Glace Agricultural Society for an 100th Anniversary Concert