For a number of years, the City of Penticton has been trying to find a way to streamline the city’s grant process, one of the most time-intensive part of the annual budgeting process.
Related: City grant requests take a hit in budget
Each year, as part of the budget process the city receives requests for grants-in-aid from many community groups that have, at times, reached a total of nearly $1 million.
It’s a lot of paperwork for the community organizations to fill out, and a lot to process. In the past, city council has considered asking for help by farming the evaluation out to other groups, like the financial committee.
This year, they’re hoping to smooth things out by using an online grant application software for filing the 2019 municipal grant requests.
The software streamlines and automates the process making it easier for applicants to apply and track their applications, according to the city.
“That’s certainly our desire in implementing this software. Now they will go through the process of going into an online form, where the form is easier for them to fill out. They can communicate to us through the grant software, they will submit it online rather than having to scan and email documents to us or having to drop them off at city hall,” said Angela Campbell, the city’s controller.
The new system is expected to streamline the process on the other end.
“They will all come through the software, we can run reports on the software, compile the information, instead of taking the grant reports that are sent to us and having to manually compile it in a spreadsheet form for council,” said Campbell. “We will be able to run reports on the applications online and provide that to council.”
Groups looking to file a grant application can do so now through the online portal. Grants applications are due by Sept. 28.
“The municipal grant program is for non-profit organizations that demonstrate a financial need to assist with providing services to the residents of the City or hosting local events that positively impact the community”, said Campbell.
More information on the grant program and policy can be found on the City’s’ website on the municipal grants page http://www.penticton.ca/EN/main/city/municipal-grants.html. Questions about the grant program can be directed to grants@penticton.ca.
Steve Kidd
Senior reporter, Penticton Western News
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