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Nanton’s council has approved support grants totalling $20,400 in 2023.
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Council agreed Dec. 12 to provide Junior Achievement with $600, Nanton Citizens on Patrol with $300, the Nanton Community Memorial Centre Society with $14,000, the Nanton Animal Protection Society with $1,500 and the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation with $4,000.
Nanton Citizens on Patrol (COP) requested a $300 support grant for solar-powered, motion detection lights. COP plans to use the money to purchase security lights for a draw for volunteers to enter. COP plans to have a draw every two months, with each winning volunteer using the light as part of a home/block protection plan.
The Nanton Community Memorial Centre Society sought funding to help offset its 2023 utility costs.
The Junior Achievement program is aimed at providing programs in the areas of financial literacy, life planning skills and entrepreneurship for students in grades 4 to 12.
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The Nanton Quality of Life Foundation asked for a $4,000 grant to cover technology costs to improve the meeting room located at NQLF.
Nanton Animal Protection Society requested $1,500 from the Town to continue the feral barn cat program and expand it to include Nanton house cats. This program provides pet owners a reduced rate to spay and neuter feral cats with the hope of reducing stray cats.
Earlier this year, council approved setting up a community sustainability reserve to help cover these kinds of costs, Clayton Gillespie, the Town’s corporate services manager, pointed out in a report.
“Although there are no funds in the reserve at this time, we are projecting that $20,000 will go into it in 2023 and this can of course be used to offset the support grants, but this would not allow the reserve to be built up,” wrote Gillespie.
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Within the 2022-2024 operating budget, the current 2023 budgeted amount for support grants is $8,000.
In addition to approving these grants, council carried a resolution last year to support the Nanton and District Handivan Society annually with $3,000, and council usually also supports the High River District Health Care Foundation with $1,500, noted Gillespie.
After approving the support grants, council also carried a motion to have the finance committee “explore operational community grants for the 2024 budget season.”
Coun. John G. Dozeman had prompted a discussion around the council table by asking if the Town of Nanton should annually provide money to the community centre society to maintain the Town-owned facility.
The Town provided a $12,000 support grant to the society last year to help cover utility costs, as well as a one-time grant of $8,000 in 2021.
Nanton Quality of Life Foundation funding agreement
Also at the Dec. 12 meeting, Nanton’s council approved $14,695 for the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation. The requested amount is 25 per cent of the provincial funding and is a requirement of the grant, wrote Gillespie.
The Town of Nanton receives the provincial grant of $58,705.00 and passes the money to NQLF along with the Town’s grant commitment.
