To help avoid confusion, the municipality is considering making some updates to its Community Partnership Fund program.
The grant program was established in 2000 and uses matching funding to promote community development projects and events within Chatham-Kent. However, after 19 years, administrative staff members are recommending in a report that the Community Partnership Fund grant gets rebranded to "Together CK." The change is recommended because staff say members of the public often confuse the Community Partnership Fund grant with the Chatham-Kent Community Foundation grant program.
The report also cites an approved motion put forward by Councillor Carmen McGregor in July, which requested that administration provide a report outlining options for in-kind and financial support for Otter Creek Jam Fest, WAMBO, and Festival of Nations that would be in line with what was provided to RM40/RetroFest, accounting for event scale. The motion also requested that staff begin preparations for the 2020 festival and event season, which will "provide criteria and guidelines for Municipal support, both financial and in-kind."
Besides the name change, the staff is also recommending that Together CK be split into different categories: General events, significant community events, and CK Plan 2035 community projects. A total of $375,000 total would be allocated to the three categories annually.
General events will be classified as any event taking place in Chatham-Kent with less than 10,000 attendants expected. Applicants can request 50 per cent of an event’s budget up to a maximum of $5,000 with a total municipal budget allocation of $75,000. Examples of events that would qualify for this grant include the Two Creeks Summer Concert Series, Blenheim Auto Show and CK Pride Family Festival.
Significant community events will cover events with more than 10,000 people in attendance and applicants can request up to 50 per cent of an event’s expenses for the first $5,000 of the budget and up to 25 per cent of expenses for the balance of the budget up to a maximum of $25,000. A total of $100,000 of the municipal budget would be allocated for the "significant events" category. Examples include the Festival of Nations and Retrofest.
Lastly, CK Plan 2035 community projects would cover any community project located within Chatham-Kent that helps promote goals of the CK Plan 2035 and/or council’s priorities such as Merlin Community Hall renovations and Dresden Rotary Holiday Lights. Applicants for CK Plan 2035 community projects can request 50 per cent of a project’s expenses up to a maximum of $10,000 with a budget allocation of $200,000.
The program's stated goal will be "to foster resident engagement and leadership by funding short-term events and activity series that support CK Plan 2035 and provide opportunities for residents to connect and celebrate Chatham-Kent."
The report proposes that council continue to fund large-scale community projects and initiatives and that additional funds of $110,000 be allocated from the partnership development reserve to the core grant program, named the Together CK: Core Grants. Previous projects that would qualify for this grant include but are not limited to the Blenheim Youth Centre, Buxton Historical Society, Wallaceburg & District Historical Society, and the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society.
It's also recommended that a reserve be established to fund requests for financial support for large scale, one-time events such as the International Plowing Match and Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling. Annually, $25,000 would be allocated this reserve.
Any funding needed for the new grant programs will come from the current Community Partnership Fund and the additional funds approved by council during the 2019 budget process.
The report detailing the rebranding and other proposed changes will go to council Monday night for approval.