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Joint committee defers grants for assistance decision

Fossum: money just not available for all grant applications

An issue with public perception of grants for assistance was brought up at the South Cariboo Joint Committee (SCJC) meeting on Oct. 21.

District of 100 Mile House Counsellor Ralph Fossum said the community groups applying for these grants need to understand how little money there is to divvy up between approved applicants.

"I know we do a fair amount of advertising ... but I think we are missing a point. We are not getting the word out that we have a very limited budget."

Noting the largest grant given out last year was $5,000 (the only one that high in 2013), Fossum said there are currently nine applications for $5,000 or more – some for as much as $50,000.

"We totalled $37,000 last year; that's what we gave out. The requests are already almost five times that on our table [now]."

Fossum explained the SCJC should shoulder some responsibility to adequately communicate the amounts that are available and distributed to the community through these grants.

"Some groups in our community might spend many hours on these applications that some of us will dismiss in 10 seconds simply because we can't afford them."

The committee later reviewed the 25 applications for 2015 grants for assistance at its Nov. 24 meeting. It then forwarded recommendations for potential final endorsement by the District council and the Cariboo Regional District board at their upcoming meetings.