At the last meeting of Swift Current city council before the COVID-19 pandemic closed things, the decision to approve the Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program amounts for 2020-2021 was passed.

Every year, the City of Swift Current applies to the Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant program. The funds received are based on population size, so this year’s approved amount was for $114,900. The grant money is to be circulated between groups from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021.

The criteria for disbursing funds are to support local non-profit organizations to continue with their programming deliveries and services to the community.

The community grant program is divided into two categories: a target component and a base component. 30 percent of the funds must be used for target objectives while the remainder is directed to the base component.

The criteria for the target section must include programming and services focused on in indigenous peoples, identifiable minorities, persons with disabilities, the economically disadvantaged, single-parent families, youth at risk, seniors and women.

Sask Lotteries Grant’s mandate is to provide access to sport, culture and recreation activities by serving the needs of local residents within the community.

As part of the process of allocating grant funding, community groups were required to apply and to meet the criteria of the program. The city received 69 applications and of those, 66 are being recommended for approval.

The following community organizations received the 2020-2021 funding for their programming.

  • Minor sports groups $750 - $1,500
  • Duplication (activities and programs that are similar) $250 - $500
  • Target groups $500
  • Not provided otherwise (programs that are 100 percent dependent on this funding) $250 - $1,000
  • Youth organizations $500 - $750
  • Festivals $750
  • Sport, Culture, and Recreation focused programs $250 - $1,000

The Recreation and Parks Board reviewed the applications and funding amounts on February 27 without prejudice.