To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Trish Muller, Finance Director
Title
Discussion/Direction: Community Grant Program
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
In 2011, Council directed staff to put together a grant program that would be used to address the unsolicited requests for funding from the Town. Prior to this program, such requests would usually come to Council in unscheduled public appearance. Council would entertain the request but did not have a policy guideline to evaluate and award funding. The Council Community Grant Program (CCGP) was created to provide council a framework to evaluate these funding requests.
The CCGP is budgeted in the General Fund, under the Council department. The annual budget is $8,000, with $2,000 awarded quarterly, $500 per recipient per year. In order to qualify for the CCGP, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) and request funding that improves the quality of life for the residents of Castle Rock. The primary focus of the program includes:
• Youth programs and activities
• Senior programs and activities
• Community based environmental and sustainability programs and activities
• Community based performing and visual arts programs and activities
Over the past 4 years, the Town has awarded $22,500 in funding to several local organizations (Attachment A).
Discussion
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Council Community Grant Program in accordance with Town priorities and responsibilities, staff is looking for discussion and direction from Council in regard to the continuation of the program. Council can recommend one of the following options:
1. Continue the program under the current policy
2. Continue the program with modifications to the current policy.
3. Discontinue the program effective January 2016.
Budget Impact
The 2016 Budget includes $8,000 in the General Fund for the Council Community Grant Program.
Staff Recommendation
If Council chooses to modify the program, staff is requesting direction on the attributes Council would like to modify.
Attachments
Attachment A: 4 Year History