Local sports and arts groups in Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs are receiving a significant amount of money from B.C.’s community gaming grants.
The grants come from B.C.’s gambling revenue, and go to support community organizations focused on sport, the arts, public safety, social services and the environment. Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) can also apply for funds to help benefit students, and non-profit groups can apply for grants for capital projects.
So far this year, only the arts, sport and PAC organizations have received funding — but in Agassiz and Harrison, that’s come out to quite a bit.
The Harrison Festival Society has once again received a significant amount of money for their yearly activities: $80,500 in grant funding. The only other arts and culture group to receive grant money was the Agassiz-Harrison Historical Society, which received $7,000.
SEE ALSO: Arts festival in jeopardy (from 2011)
Sports organizations getting funding include the Agassiz-Harrison Aquanauts, with $19,200, and the Hemlock Ski Club, with $7,000.
The B.C. Seniors Games Society - Zone 3 has received $20,000. Although it covers senior athletes from across the Fraser Valley, the organization is listed as an Agassiz group.
PACs from AESS, Kent Elementary and Harrison Hot Springs Elementary have also received funding this year: $6,300 for AESS, $5,860 for Kent Elementary and $2,020 for Harrison Elementary.
Funding for some organizations in the human and social services has been released, however, Agassiz-Harrison Community Services is not currently on the list for the year-to-date grant funding report from the province. The final announcement for grant funding in this area will be released at the end of February. Last year AHCS received $28,500 from community gaming grants.
The province has yet to release the recipients for the public safety, environment and capital project grants. All are expected to be notified by the end of November.
grace.kennedy@ahobserver.com
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