City Council Approves $41,000 in Community Grants Funding for Fall Intake

Friday, 21 October 2022 05:41

By Marcie Culbert

Eleven local non-profit charities and organizations will receive funding from Woodstock's Community Grants Program this fall.

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock City Council has approved the fall intake of the Community Grants Program.

Eleven non-profit charities and organizations will receive a combined total of $41,000 this time around. You can find the complete breakdown below:

Woodstock Minor Baseball Association - $15,000
Woodstock Minor Baseball was supposed to host the 2021 Baseball Canada 13U National Championship, but the tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now take place in 2023, starting Wednesday August 23rd, and ending on Monday August 28th.

YMCA - $7,500
This will provide financial assistance to members of the Woodstock community who would like to utilize the YMCA's health and fitness programs

Woodstock Legion Athletic Club - $4,000
The money will allow student athletes to compete in high level competitions throughout Ontario and Canada. The fund will help cover travel expenses, hotel rooms, and competition costs.

Woodstock Badminton Club - $2,500
The funds will allow for the creation of a youth league for badminton and pickleball. The program could attract anywhere between 24 and 48 youth per season.

Caribbean Canadian Association - $2,500
The money will help create youth and children's programs with a goal of 150 participants per year.

K2K Productions - $2,500
Help support Woodstock youth in a weekly theatre program that focuses on who they are, how they fit in, and their purpose.

Oxford Winds Community Concert Band - $2,000
Funds will help the band cover its operating costs as it transitions back to in-person performances and rehearsals. A vast majority of the band members live in Woodstock.

13th Woodstock Scouts - $1,500
This will allow the Scout's parents to be refunded a portion of the registration fee they paid so their child could be part of the program.

Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors - $1,500
Also known as the Ontario Genealogy Society. The money will fund a year-long advertising campaign for the local organization.

Cycles of Life for Supportive Transitional Living - $1,000
Help cover the costs of food items and hygiene products for the Woodstock Community Outreach Table.

Oxford Pride Committee - $1,000
The funds will go towards the purchase of more Pride banners which will be hung in Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Norwich during the month of June, also known as Pride Month.

The money distributed through the Community Grants Program comes from the slot revenues the city receives from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, for hosting Gateway Casinos. The city distributes two rounds of community grants each year, one in the spring and another in the fall.

Going into yesterday's Council meeting, the city had a total of $126,150 in slot revenues available. After approving the distribution of $41,000 for the fall intake, the remaining $85,150 will stay in the Community Grants funding account for next year. Local charities and non-profits who would like to receive funding from the upcoming spring intake of the program have until March 1st at 4:30 p.m. to submit an application form.