HEDDY SOROUR

The second intake of Community Enrichment grants has been approved by the town’s Committee of the Whole based on recommendations by the Manager of Recreation and Culture, Joanne Henderson. The first intake of the grants program saw the town distribute $26,008.85 to various organisations in town out of a total $30,000 budget.

The remaining $3,991.15 has now been approved by committee, and includes in kind support for the Ukrainian Community of Lanark County worth $1,500 to help with the Ukrainian Festival. Another $1,500 has been approved for Cornerstone Landing to help offset fees, and expenses for their Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser coming up in February 2025 ahead of the first 2025 intake of Community Enrichment grants.

“The request from Cornerstone Landing is actually for 2025, but they’re asking for the money to be allocated in 2024 as they need to know if this money is available to them so they can start planning the event,” Henderson told the committee, adding that the allocation would be deferred to 2025.

There is also a $500 in kind assistance for the Arena Staff Association to cover rental expenses for the Country Hall of Fame for the Hospital Show. The Mississippi Lakes Association had requested a total of $1000 from the municipality and was awarded $500 in the first intake. In this second intake an additional $500 of one time additional support has been approved but only if the neighbouring municipalities that border the lake contribute the same amount ($1000 total). So far only Drummond North Elmsley has committed $1000 to the pot.

“I think that’s the right tactic, we don’t have any lakefront properties here in Carleton Place. So I don’t mind contributing and I think the cause is right, but I don’t want to contribute more than municipalities that actually have lakefront properties contributing tax dollars,” said Deputy Mayor Andrew Tennant.