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City to give $105,000 in grants Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Friday, February 24, 2012
Special grants are one of two opportunities for non-profit groups in Yellowknife to receive funding from the city. In October, $314,000 was given out in core funding, which can be given to community groups after three years of receiving special grants. "We discussed all the groups that made an application and whether they met the criteria or not and we also talked about what they needed to do in order to meet the criteria," said city councillor Bob Brooks, who chairs the city's special grant committee. One of the noteworthy groups asking for money this year is the Long John Jamboree, which is launching for the first time next month to replace the defunct Caribou Carnival. The Jamboree's request for core funding was rejected last fall but it's slated to receive $10,000 in special grant money after requesting $15,000. Carrie Young, who is heading the Northlands Community Garden Society, is happy to learn her organization has been tapped to receive $10,000 of the $15,000 it requested. The group wants to turn a defunct ball park in Northland Trailer Park into a community garden and gathering area. "Awesome, that is great news," she said. "We are super-excited." The money, if approved by council, will go toward recreational additions to the community garden, including a children's play structure and brick bread oven. Another group set to receive special grant money, but far less than what it requested, is the NWT SPCA. The group is seeking a special grant to support 10 six-by-six-foot insulated dog kennels to allow huskies to be kept outside. This will hopefully free up room in the shelter which is being built to house 30 dogs. The organization also aims to use money to construct dog runs, or an outside fenced area, which will allow for housed dogs to exercise and interact with each other. SPCA executive director Nicole Spencer says hopefully these aspects of the project will be completed by the end of the summer, depending on what kind of other funds can be raised from community partners. "This will be the second (special grant) in a row," she said. "We're happy with anything. Anything is good but ultimately we needed to get something and so that we can get something next year and be eligible for core funding." Twenty-three groups requested funding but five were rejected because they didn't meet funding requirements, according to a city memorandum. Those groups include the Food First Foundation, Breakfast for Learning, and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, which is hoping to bring a mobile aquarium to Yellowknife this summer.
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