Five non-profit organizations will benefit from Parksville council grant-in-aid funding this spring.
Council approved a recommendation to dole out funds to Arrowsmith Health Care Foundation ($800), Friends of Foster Park ($350), Haven Society ($500), Mount Arrowsmith Pipe Band ($500) and Parksville and District Historical Society ($350), for a total of $2,500.
“I really do consider it quite a privilege to be able to look at these applications," said Coun. Mary Beil, one of two councillors who sat on the grant-in-aid select committee, which also included Coun. Sean Wood and the city's deputy corporate officer. "They’re always amazing projects put forth by generally volunteer groups or ‘small b’ budget groups in our community. And although the amounts requested are relatively small, I know that it’s not a small item for these groups.”
Per its Grant-in-Aid Application policy, the City of Parksville may provide direct financial assistance to community groups and organizations for events and projects that will benefit the citizens and visitors of the municipality, contingent upon provisions being included in the annual operating budget.
Several groups applied for the funding but did not receive any grant money.
“There are a couple applications that did not receive anything and in these cases they were groups that either had a larger appeal, they really drew on the larger area within the Oceanside area, so beyond the boundaries of Parksville or in fact lay outside the boundaries of Parksville,” Beil said.
The grant money is distributed in spring and fall intakes, according to the city.
