Three non-profit organizations each received $4,166 from the municipality鈥檚 community and economic development fund, Aug. 1.
The money was given to the Cottonwood Corrals Association, the Jasper Park Cycling Association and The Yellowhead Regional Arts Festival Society.
To receive the money each organization had to submit an application form, meet a list of criteria and provide a financial statement.
Each application was reviewed by administration before being brought forward to council for final approval.
Council unanimously approved funding for the first two organizations, however Mayor Richard Ireland voted against providing money to the Yellowhead Regional Arts Festival Society because he didn鈥檛 believe it met the policy鈥檚 eligibility requirements.
According to the application, the organization would like to use the money to bring artistic and creative programming to Jasper primarily for youth.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see how our policy allows us to consider an application from a group that doesn鈥檛 fit the eligibility requirements of our own policy, which is pretty clear that it has to be a community non-profit group, resident or local organization,鈥� said Ireland.
Yvonne McNabb, director of culture and recreation, said the application form states the grant cannot be used for projects outside of Jasper, unless it provides direct benefit to Jasper.
鈥淚 can understand that the project might [benefit Jasper], but the eligibility of the applicant still doesn鈥檛 fit within the policy as I read it. That is, it鈥檚 not a Jasper non-profit group,鈥� said Ireland. 鈥淲hat if it鈥檚 a marching band from Edmonton that wants a grant to come and play in the Canada Day parade, which is a nice addition for Jasper, but it鈥檚 not a local agency?鈥�
McNabb said the organization usually works closely with Habitat for the Arts when programs are hosted in Jasper.
Coun. Dwain Wacko also pointed out two of the directors for the non-profit group are Jasper residents.
Each applicant originally asked for $5,000, however the policy states council may only divvy out $12,500 twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall for a total of $25,000 annually. The two deadlines are April 30 and October 31 each year.
To make things fair council decided to split the three applications evenly so each group received $4,166.
In 2015 council combined the municipality鈥檚 two grant funds鈥搕he Economic Development Fund and the Community Development Fund鈥搃nto one fund called the Community and Economic Development Fund to streamline the process.
The purpose of the fund is to provide funding opportunities to local non-profit groups or individuals that will improve the quality of life of Jasper residents, assist in community economic enhancement, promote the Municipality of Jasper and encourage community support of council鈥檚 strategic priorities.
The maximum request is $5,000 per application and applicants are not eligible to receive more than one grant per calendar year.
According to the application, funding may only be used for capital projects or operating initiatives as long as they are not core services funded by the organization鈥檚 base budget.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
