A new stream of Provincial flood-recovery funding announced Jan. 28 aims to help arts and non-profit organizations impacted by last June’s disaster get back in motion.
Minister of Culture Heather Klimchuk made the announcement in High River, saying $4 million will be available to the non-profit and voluntary sector organizations, and an additional $229,000 for arts organizations.
“Thousands of Albertans are still coping with significant stress and emotional anguish as they work to rebuild their homes and their lives. This funding will help ensure Albertans still have access to the valuable programs and services they need to help them recover,” stated Klimchuk in a press release.
The funding is intended to help with reconstruction and renovation projects not covered through insurance or the Province’s Disaster Recovery Program (DRP), as well as help alleviate the strain on these groups with the increased demand for programming since the floods and increased operational costs.
The funding for non-profit and voluntary organizations will be spread over several years, with $1 million allocated for 2013/2014 and $3 million available in 2014/2015. Grants will come through the Community Initiatives Program and the Community Facility Enhancement Program.
Funding for arts organizations is distributed through Alberta Arts Rebuild – a partnership of 35 community and government agencies mandated to support the arts.
Minister of Culture Press Secretary Trish Filevich said the funding is “going above and beyond what was already announced by the Province immediately after the flood,” referring to the Province’s $1-billion commitment through the DRP to help rebuild homes and businesses.
Filevich said to be eligible for the recently-announced funding, “organizations will have had to have exhausted their own insurance and flood recovery measure first.”
The grant deadline for the 2014 funding cycle is Feb. 28. Application forms can be found at
www.culture.alberta.ca/grantprograms
Bragg Creek area Councillor Liz Breakey said organizations in the hamlet are still in the process of hearing decisions for funding through the DPR, but she said the announcement was “good news” as it provides more methods for people affected by the flood “to get back on their feet.”
