Carving Up a Very Small Pie: Community Groups Make Cautious Funding Pitches to Council

By Bill Metcalfe

Seven community groups traditionally funded by The City of Nelson came before Council on February 20 to pitch their desired grants for 2012. Obviously they knew the purse-strings will be tight. Most of them asked for the same as last year despite increases in their expenses.

The approximately half-million dollars requested by these groups amounts to about 1.75% of the City’s budget, but it is one of the few parts of the budget where Councillors have some lee-way. Most of the budget is dictated by the collective agreements of municipal employees, by hydro rates not entirely in control of Council, by other utility rates already subject to five-year spending plans, and by seeming imperatives like policing and fire protection. 

See an earlier Nelson Daily story here for more detail on why Council will not have much money to work with.

Here are the groups that appeared and the amounts they requested:

The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centre: $76,000.

This would be the same amount as has been granted for the past six years. Nelson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tom Thomson explained the various ways in which the Centre welcomes visitors and orients newcomers.

The City of Nelson’s contribution amounts to about 65% of the Visitor Centre’s income. 

The Capitol Theatre: $55,000.

This is the amount the theatre has received for the past 23 years. 

Executive Director Neil Harrower said the Capital Theatre Society’s budget operates the facility, stages a variety of local and touring performances, contributes to physical upgrades of the facility, gives subsidies to community groups’ rentals of the building, and provides education and mentoring opportunities to youth. 

The annual grant from the City of Nelson amounts to about 16% of the theatre’s total budget.

Nelson Regional Sports Council: $60,000.

This would be an increase of $5000 over last year.

The Sports Council runs the Nelson Civic Arena and administers KidSport Nelson. Kim Palfenier explained that the group’s major activities include upgrades to the arena and the development of a sports museum there. The city’s contribution amounts to about 25% of the Sports Council’s budget. 

City of Nelson Cultural Development Commission: $30,000.

This would be an increase over last year’s $20,000. 

Cultural Development Officer explained that the CDC develops municipal cultural policy and its activities include public art, the cultural ambassador program, and a cultural tourism strategy. The City’s contribution is 100% of the CDC’s budget. 

Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership: $100,000.

This would be the same amount as last year.

This is a partnership between the City of Nelson, RDCK Areas E and F, the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, and Community Futures. Tom Thomson explained that the group works to expand and enhance business, promote economic cooperation across the region, help businesses communicate with each other, and attract investment to the area.

The contribution from the city amounts to about 65% of the partnership’s budget.

The Nelson and District Arts Council: $2000 plus office space and a phone.

This would be the same as last year, with the office and phone added. 

Board member Stephen Fowler outlined the Arts Council’s activities which include include Artwalk and the Kootenay Literary Competition. 

The Arts Council is the only group in this list with no paid employees. The City’s contribution amounts to about $16% of its budget.

Touchstones Nelson: $209,350.

This grant would be the same as the past three years.

Executive Director Leah Best outlined Touchstones’ programs in Nelson’s public gallery, museum and archives. The City’s grant amounts to about 58% of Touchstones’ income. 

Decisions on these requests will be made during City Council’s all-day budget planning sessions coming up in early March.