Fewer grant and aid requests than normal for 2021

In 2020, the City of Merritt received applications for $72,492 in grant and aid funding. That led to Council denying a number of requests to bring to total under the $50,000 cap.

This year, denials won’t be necessary. Only $35,580 has been requested by local organizations for the 2021 program.

“2021 saw a substantial decrease in applications, again likely due to COVID event cancellations. All 2020 applicants who did not put forward a 2021 application were contacted to ensure that no applications were missed from these organizations, wrote Deputy Finance Director Sean Strang.”

“The current policy was revised and approved in 2019, and the amount of the yearly grant-in-aid was specified as $50,000 per year. This provides a cap as intended but provides limited budgetary flexibility when the amount applied for is less than the total,” added Strang.

Some of the organization seeking funding include the Arts Council, Fall Fair Association, Curling Club, Dance Society, and Country Christmas.

The requests will be debated Tuesday during the regular council meeting.