Info on CGP fund reporting received

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

Further information on after-event reports for Coalhurst’s Community Grant Program has been reviewed by council.

During Coalhurst town council’s regular Dec. 3 meeting, questions arose regarding reporting requirements of recipients of Coalhurst’s Community Grant Program funds. Town administration responded with a report presented during their regular Dec. 19 meeting.

According to the report, all projects must be completed within 12 months of funding approval from the Community Grant Program, and a post-event report must be submitted from the funding recipient within 60 days of project/event/initiative completion. This would include a Funding Accountability Report, and information and how the CCGP funds were spent, as well as key highlights/achievements. Town administration is responsible for tracking the reports and providing this information to the town CAO and council, for the purposes of deciding whether the applicant(s) are eligible for future funding through the program. Failure to submit and post-event report will result in the applicant(s) becoming ineligible for future program funding.

In 2024, there were six CGP grant applications approved by council, although one determined they would be unable to utilize the funds for their planned intended purpose, and returned the grant fund to the town. As of Dec. 3, the CGP fund has been exhausted, and no new applications will be accepted until January 2025. The last five events schedule for the 2024 program applicants are:

• Coalhurst 55 Plus Society: December 2024 

• Friends of Coalhurst High School Society: December 14, 2024 

• Friends of Coalhurst Elementary School Society: December 

• 16, 2024 

• Coalhurst First Responders Society: December 19, 2024 

• Coalhurst Legion: December 2025 

The next post-event reports are not due until January/February 2025.

Coun. Scott Akkermans asked if it would be possible to receive updates on the grants moving forward, noting that they had awarded a grant to the Coalhurst Legion for an event in December 2025, and they could forget about it between then and now. Additionally, when a new council comes in, it would be a good idea to refresh them on where they’re at.

“I was just thinking more like a status (update) of what community grants are out there,” said Akkerman when asked for clarification. “So, come January or February, we’re getting those reports in. Those have been completed, almost like a status emotion report. Just kind of like, you know, this one’s outstanding but this is the date it’ll be coming in. If it’s just like twice a year or something, just to kind of keep us aware of what’s out there and when things should be reporting back.”

Mayor Lindsay Montina said because there were so few of them and it was something administration was tracking internally, she felt they did not need that, although she could understand where Akkermans was coming from.

“I’m looking at it as an administrative function, right, where Christy (Henning, director of community development) would get them regardless and bring them back to us,” said Montina.