Applications and recommendations for community grants in the operational funds category, as presented to Sackville town council, Feb. 1, 2021.

The total requested funding was $131,500, which is down from previous years, Pryde told council.

“That’s the first time since we’ve implemented the new community development grants program that we’ve had a decrease in requests,” said Pryde. “A lot of that is probably due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.”

The $81,650 in recommended funding is less than what was budgeted for the year, by $6,350. That shortfall was intentional, explained Pryde.

“We felt, as staff, that in the interest of fiscal responsibility and the uncertainty around COVID, that we evaluated the applications based on the matrix and the score that they received, and we felt that the $81,000+ was enough money to be able to meet all the needs of the organizations,” said Pryde. “And we didn’t feel like it was necessary to spend the full $88,000 at this time.”

For full disclosure to our listeners: CHMA’s Attic Broadcasting applied for $15,000 in operational funding under the grants program for the first time this year, and was not recommended for funding. Neither of CHMA’s reporters were involved in the grant application process, and the result will not impact reporting decisions.

Applications and recommendations for community grants in the special events and projects category, as presented to Sackville town council, Feb. 1, 2021.

Another new applicant for operational funding was the newly formed Intangible Culture and Heritage Council of New Brunswick, an organization founded by Levee on the Lake producers Shelley Chase and Stacey Read. The group asked for $10,000 in operational funding, but was not recommended. The group also applied for a special events grant, and did receive a recommendation for $4,000.

Pryde said that staff decided the Intangible Cultural Society belonged in the same category as other festivals in town.

“Staff saw them as a similar program to Sappyfest and the Sackville Early Music Festival,” said Pryde, “where they do offer, or are looking to offer, smaller events and productions and concerts throughout the year, but the $4,000 is primarily for the larger event.”

$4,000 is the maximum amount available under the Special Events grants, explained Pryde, though there is no limit on operational funding requests.

Sappyfest is also recommended for $4,000 in the Special Events category, and the Centre for Artistic Achievements, which presents the Sackville Early Music Festival, is recommended for $3,800.

The largest recommended grants are for operational funds. Sackville Minor Hockey is recommended for an $8,000 grant. Tantramar Heritage Trust is recommended for $7,500, and the Sackville Skating Club for $6,000.

Live Bait Theatre and the Sackville Swim Club are each recommended for $5,000 in operational funding.

A new project recommended for funding this year is Ensemble Moncton’s new harm reduction vending machine, to be installed soon at the Sackville United Church. Ensemble asked for $3900 in funding to install the machine, said Pryde.

“There’s renovations being done, or already done, to allow 24/7 access to the machine,” said Pryde. “And the machine would include things like unused needles, sanitary products, condoms, education materials, and possibly even snacks.”

Applications and recommendations for community grants in the small capital category, as presented to Sackville town council, Feb. 1, 2021.

In response to a question from Coun. Allison Butcher, Pryde also noted that several grants approved in last year’s budget did not get spent in 2020, which he says is a first since he’s been involved in the grant program, and likely due to COVID-19. Pryde says the unused funding is returned to the town’s main operating budget.

Sackville town council will likely be asked to approve the funding recommendations at their next regular meeting, on Monday, Feb. 8.