Groups in the Town of The Blue Mountains that would like to secure a town-grant are going to have the opportunity to make their financial pitch directly to council.
At its committee of the whole meeting, council approved the scheduling of an annual “Pitch Day” for local groups to make their requests for financial support directly to council.
Tim Hendry, the town’s manager of communications and economic development, brought a report to council recommending the creation of a “pitch day” for grant requests. The report suggested council schedule a special meeting in October to directly receive grant requests from local groups in need of funding.
Hendry noted that the town’s current system of the grants and donations committee deciding grant funding requests for not-for-profit groups and initiatives would remain in place. He said the “pitch day” requests will be economic development focused.
Hendry explained that even with the grants and donation committee process, the town still frequently receives grant funding requests that are more economic development focused. He said such requests are handled in an ad hoc manner. Some groups present during the public budget meeting, others go directly to council and others go to staff, who then present the request to council.
“What we’re looking to do is formalize the process,” said Hendry. “There should be some discussion around how would council like to receive requests from groups.”
Hendry said staff would bring forward criteria and an evaluation process for the awarding of such grants for council’s consideration in the future.
“We will need to formalize some criteria,” he said. “We wanted to have the discussion with council to see if there was an appetite for a pitch day.”
CAO Shawn Everitt explained that in the past the town had a set budget for community grants and subsidies and town staff would present requests for support to council for approval or denial. However, in recent years the town shifted away from the taxpayer supported budget model to the grants and donations committee model with the funds being raised by community events hosted by the town.
Nevertheless, Everitt noted, the town continues to receive requests for support that fall outside the grants and donations process.
The CAO said he felt it was not appropriate for town staff to be making a financial request to council on behalf of an outside community group.
“It’s important these groups have some forum to make their pitch,” said Everitt. “It is important the applicant is the one bringing forward their proposal.”
The “pitch day” concept was supported by council in a 5-1 vote, with Deputy Peter Bordignon opposed and Mayor Andrea Matrosovs absent.
“It puts everybody on a level playing field,” said coun. June Porter.
