Town ups grants to community organizations in 2023

By Ron Giofu

Thanks to finding some additional revenue, some of Amherstburg’s non-profit groups will be getting exactly what they want in their grant requests.

The town had originally budgeted $40,047 in the base budget for grants, similar to what was awarded in 2022, but council voted to increase it to the total requested amount, which was $62,703.

The increase of $22,629 will be covered through an increase in revenue, of which the town could use up to $40,000.

According to director of corporate services/chief financial officer Tracy Prince, the town increased its estimated/budgeted aggregate revenue by $40,000 as it can be supported that the town will receive $235,000 instead of the previous estimate of $190,000.

“The revision to the estimated revenue provided council the option to approve an increase to the grant funding without increasing the tax rate,” said Prince.

The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission will receive a community grant of $20,000, while the Amherstburg Historic Sites Association (AHSA) will get $15,000.

The AHSA is the organization that operates the Park House Museum.

Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) is in line for a $10,000 community grant while the Amherstburg Freedom Museum will receive $8,500.

An affordable housing agreement related to the building at 182 Pickering is allocated $8,453 with that being due to a contractual agreement they have with the town that must be met annually over the term.

Christ Anglican Church asked for and will receive $750 while the Fort Malden Golden Age Club will get an in-kind contribution.

Councillor Peter Courtney said he felt comfortable with the previous amount of $40,074 with clerk Kevin Fox suggesting that would mean the mission could go back to $10,000 while the AHSA could drop to $8,500.

Courtney would later agree that he could go as high as $15,000 for the mission and would make a motion to that effect, which was defeated.

“I think we should go back to the old numbers,” added Councillor Molly Allaire. “We can’t keep giving out taxpayers’ money.”

Mayor Michael Prue advocated for the mission to receive their full $20,000 ask, believing reducing the amount could force a burden onto people. The mission is a place that has felt the cost of food rising.

“We are in times when the need for food is very acute,” said Prue. “You can go there any day of the week and see people eating what is probably their only meal of the day.”

The mission has no paid staff, he added, with president Tim McAllister and his volunteers working