Community groups ask council for municipal grants

At Caledon council's first budget meeting last Tuesday, 18 organizations came forward seeking municipal grants.

Half of these groups made in-person presentations to council while the other half submitted written applications.

Caledon Community Services requested $17,000 the same as it received last year. Of this amount, $3,500 would go to community information, $10,000 would go to transportation and $3,500 would be for Club Caledon.

Family Transition Place in Orangeville was seeking a $10,000 grant to fund an awareness and education campaign targeted to the Caledon community to help prevent violence.

The Headwaters Arts Festival was also seeking funding of $10,000.which it considered essential to the festival's existence. For the past 11 years the festival has worked with local event promoters to help identify and promote the Town of Caledon and the Headwaters area as a centre for artistic excellence.

The Feast for the Palate was seeking associate sponsorship of $5,000. The event showcases the food and wine industries of Caledon to its residents and visitors outside the region. Half of the vendor participants are Caledonbased businesses. The net proceeds go to a Caledonbased charity.

The Tournament of Champions applied for $10,000 in funding for its equestrian event to held Sept. 23-27. To date, the Tournament of Champions has raised more than $500,000 for charities.

The Caledon Canada Day committee requested $8,750 for the annual celebration held at the Albion Hills Conservation Area. Community and business members contribute twothirds of the $25,650 cost required to run the event which features the only evening fireworks display in Caledon, plus entertainment and children's programming.

The Bolton Merchants Association requested a grant of $15,000. It's comprised of merchants and service providers working together to promote Bolton as a shopping destination. The funds would be used to buy advertising within local media publications, direct mail campaigns and Web site. The BMA believes Caledon would benefit from the "shopping locally" message.

The CC Sk8Park steering committee was seeking funding for its second phase build of the skatepark facility to be located in Bolton.

The Terra Cotta Community Centre asked for $5,000 to help with costs associated with Le Tour de Terra Cotta cycle race, in particular the extensive road closures necessary to hold this premier event. Last year was the second year the community centre in partnership with the Brampton Cycle Club has sponsored the race. It grew to 131 riders last year from 58 the year before.

The Equine Animal and Rescue Association sought funding of $2,500. It's a newly established organization dedicated to helping the community by helping their animals in need. It needs seed money to buy donation boxes for distribution.

The Peel-Dufferin Plowmen's Association requested $500 to be used to plan and run the 2007 Peel- Dufferin Plowing Match.

The C3 Canadian Cross Training Club was looking for $5,000 to assist in the organization of club events and programs scheduled for 2007 including the Kids of Steel Race in May, the family fit programs and the C3 summer camp.

The Albion & Bolton Agricultural Society asked for $1,000 to buy portable "handicap parking" signs to be used at the Bolton Truck and Tractor Pull in June and the Bolton Fall Fair in September. The society would also like to buy some agricultural displays to be used at both these events and other events in the community.

The Caledon Agricultural Society requested a $700 grant to help sustain the quality of the events it provides.

Canadian Blood Services asked for $1,800 to offset its costs in renting Town facilities for its regular blood donor clinics to be held six times in 2007.

Caledon Citizens on Patrol sought roughly $5,000 in funding to offset fuel costs.

The Peel Federation of Agriculture was seeking $4,600 for Web site support, an agricultural farm tour and to support youth agricultural activities such as 4-H.

The Policing Advisory Council of Caledon requested $6,310 to pay for promotional material, learning and development, seminars and administrative supplies.

The grant applications were forwarded to treasurer Sam Jones for a report back to council.