The City of Port Moody is inviting residents to the 2017 Community Grant Application Presentations and Vote, to be held at Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Drive) on February 18, 2017 from 1-3pm, to decide which community groups will receive grants this year. 

The grants are available through the City’s new Community Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to community groups and non-profit organizations that contribute to the general interest and benefit of local residents and businesses. The funds are to be allocated through a process called participatory budgeting. This process, which is being used for the first time in Port Moody, shifts decision-making authority away from elected officials, and places it in the hands of residents. 

Participatory budgeting is a direct, democratic process which empowers residents to set priorities for the community and make real decisions about real money. Participatory budgeting has been implemented, at varying levels, in municipalities around the world, with the common goal of engaging community members to make decisions about how specific public funds are allocated.  

“I hope to see lots of residents attending and participating directly in how their tax dollars are spent,” said Mayor Mike Clay. “This is a chance to weigh in on which groups and organizations are bringing forward exciting ideas to support our community.”

At the 2017 Community Grant Application Presentations and Vote, 11 applicants will present their funding requests to attendees. At the end of the presentations, Port Moody residents in attendance (including applicants) may cast one ballot for each grant range category: $1,000 or less; $1,001 to $2,500; and $2,501 to $5,000. Grants will be awarded based on the number of votes received by each community group in each category, with Council providing final approval. 

The 11 grant applicants are listed below: 

Community Group

Funding Request

Reason for Funding Request

Port Moody Aquarians Swim Club

$1,000

Pay local youths’ summer swim coach salary

Pacific Post Partum Support Society

$1,000

Support telephone counselling program

Coquitlam Moody Minor Baseball

$1,000

Help cover field rental costs

Port Moody Foundation

$1,500

Fund Business Networks project

POCOMO Meals on Wheels

$1,300

Reduce price of meals for Port Moody residents

Unique Get Together Society

$5,000

Fund camps for children and youth with special needs

Glenayre Community Association

$5,000

Contract with a local community coordinator

Eagle Mountain District Girl Guides

$5,000

Send local girl guides to national summer camp

Port Moody Foundation

$5,000

Fund Community Associations project

Inlet Rowing Club

$5,000

Host open house events and a rowing regatta

St. John Ambulance

$5,000

Purchase a mobile medical treatment centre

 The funding requests listed above total $35,800. For 2017, the City has set aside $19,000 for the Community Grant Program, with an additional $11,000 held over from 2016, for a total of $30,000 in available funds. 

For more information on the Community Grant Program or participatory budgeting, please visit portmoody.ca/communitygrants.