The demand for community services grant funding from the Town of Osoyoos has never been higher as more than two dozen community organizations and programs applied for almost double of the allocated budget of $47,000.

The total amount of requests for community services grants was $86,235, which is significantly larger than ever before, said Gerald Davis, the town’s director of community services during a presentation to Town of Osoyoos council Monday.

Council appointed a committee shortly after last year’s municipal election to look at all of the community services grant applications and decided which applications would be successful and which would be denied.

The committee was made up of Davis and new councillors Mike Campol and Jim King.

The allocated budget for 2015 was approved for $47,000, which included a general budget of $43,000, which included $2,000 for local sports teams that recently competed in provincial championships, and $4,000 for environmental initiatives, said Davis.

“The applications were grouped into four different categories, which included preferred support, approved support, traditional support and new requests,” said Davis. “Sports team funding was already approved by council and was provided to three minor hockey teams traveling to provincials and also to the high school’s senior boys basketball team.”

The three teams that recently competed in their respective provincial championships included the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association Peewee Junior Coyotes, Bantam Thunder and Midget Rep teams.

All three were given $500 apiece to help pay for the expenses of competing in provincial championships in March. It was the first time in SOMHA history that three teams had qualified to compete in provincial championships during the same season.

All three teams finished in first place during the regular season as well.

The OSS Rattlers Senior Boys basketball team travelled to the provincial championships in Richmond in March and finished 11th in the 16-team field.

In past years, the town did not allocate all of the funds available through the community services grant program, however, the committed tried very diligently to keep some reserves in this budget for potential future requests, said Davis.

But this was not possible considering the dramatic increase in applications and funding requests, he said.

“This year was one of the largest funding requests we have received and it was difficult to allocate funding to all groups,” he said. “In making these recommendations, the committee followed the grant criteria and eligibility parameters that are included in the Community Services Grants policy.”

Those who have been approved for funding in 2015 include:

  • Osoyoos Elks Senior Citizens Society ($4,500)
  • South Okanagan Minor Hockey ($1,500)
  • OSS Rattlers senior boys basketball team ($500)
  • Osoyoos Festival Society – major events ($6,000)
  • Osoyoos Royalty program ($5,000)
  • High school bursaries ($2,250)
  • Canada Day fireworks ($5,000)
  • Osoyoos Elks Lodge building improvement ($1,500)
  • Osoyoos Curling Club lighting improvement ($750)
  • Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Improvement Society ($2,250)
  • Osoyoos Traditional Archery School ($500)
  • Desert Park horse racing sponsorship ($1,000)
  • Osoyoos Elementary School playground equipment ($3,000)
  • Desert Sun Counselling Better at Home program ($3,000)
  • Osoyoos Child Care Centre for new dishwashers ($3,500)
  • Osoyoos Senior Ball Club ($750)
  • Osoyoos Senior Centre hall upgrades ($1,500)
  • Osoyoos Lawn Bowling Club ($1,000)
  • Osoyoos Autism Behavioural Centre ($2,000)
  • South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce harvest event ($1,000)

A request by the Cactus Jalopies Car Show and Shine for $5,000 to pay for the motorcycle stunt team that performs throughout the event and request for $3,500 to help pay for entertainment at the Three Amigos Music in the Park event were denied by the committee.

However, that’s only because council has identified that these two events should receive funding from the town’s Resort Municipality funding and both will be receiving their requested funding through this program rather than the community service grants program, said Davis.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times