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West Kelowna  

West Kelowna nonprofit grant requests to city increase by 70%

Nonprofits more in need

Requests from non-profit agencies, societies and other organizations for grants from the City of West Kelowna increased nearly 70 per cent over what was provided a year ago.

However, during deliberations Tuesday, city council actually reduced the grant-in-aid it will pay by nearly $7,000.

Those figures included $3,500 in aid requests not made this year as well as $1,200 in funds for two neighbourhood associations taken care of in other portions of the budget.

A number of organizations asked for an increase in grant-in-aid funding from a year ago, however, council chose to stick with the previous years funding in most cases.

The Westside Celebration Society, which runs Canada Day and Westside Daze events will still receive $25,000 despite asking for $30,000, the Health Network Society will also receive the same $14,000 as a year ago, while the Kelowna Rowing Club, which asked for additional funds to $6,000 will receive the same amount ($1,500) as a year ago.

One organization, the Telemark Nordic Ski Club, was turned down altogether.

The club had requested $5,000 after receiving $3,500 in 2021, however, Coun. Rick de Jong argued the club is a budding, profitable, successful business, not one he sees as struggling.

"To me, it doesn't fit the definition of grant-in-aid."

The Central Okanagan Food Bank, which asked for a $14,000 grant-in-aid after not applying a year ago, was turned down, as was the Comedy Festival Society ($5,000) and the YMCA's Alternative Suspension Program ($20,000).



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