‘Community Vibrancy’ and other grants open for application in Medicine Hat

He said many projects have been funded across the spectrum of arts, culture, and recreation.

“”Community Vibrancy Grant is an opportunity for community groups, community members to apply for projects that really enhance the livability and vibrancy of our community,” he said.

“We’ve had many different people apply in the past. We’ve had the — Larry Godin Sledge Hockey Classic is an event that’s coming up that is being funded by the Community Vibrancy Grant.”

Nelson said that this year the city has increased the amount of funding for the vibrancy grant.

With the council-approved budget that released in December, $86,000 is available for the grant cycle.

Minimum and maximum amounts have not been established for individual grants.

He said that the vibrancy grants are organization-based, while the community microgrants are individual-based.

The microgrants are meant to build resiliency in communities around the city, Nelson said.

$10,000 total is available for each of the two microgrant categories — Community Arts and Culture and Neighbourhood Connections.

Per individual, microgrants are available up to $500 in each funding category.

Nelson said that he “puts it into the hands of Medicine Hat’s residents” to define vibrancy, when it comes to the grant.

“There are 63,000 people in Medicine Hat and there are 63,000 people with great ideas. So what do they think is a vibrant community?” he said.

“For some folks that’s focused on recreation, recreational opportunities. For others it’s arts and culture opportunities,” he added.

“For others maybe more kind of heritage education opportunities. So it’s really difficult to define vibrancy. I really do put it into the hands of our residents, what vibrancy is.”

Applications are open as of now, and will close on Jan. 31.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

‘Community Vibrancy’ and other grants open for application in Medicine Hat

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