Courtenay council approved $20,000 in two new grants this week to Comox Valley initiatives.
Council approved the annual schedule gaming funds distribution, and the Comox Bay Care Society’s Care-A-Van program will receive $15,000 this year.
Council also gave the green light to contribute $5,000 toward Elevate the Arts 2013.
The City has received 10 per cent of net gaming revenues from Chances Casino since February 2008.
Courtenay received $842,796 in gaming revenues in 2012, and since 2008, the City has received nearly $3.5 million.
Gaming funds are distributed to societies managing Courtenay arts and cultural facilities, such as Courtenay and District Museum, which is slated to receive $50,000 this year, the Comox Valley Art Gallery, receiving $65,000, and the Sid Williams Theatre Society, receiving $105,000.
Funds will also go to council initiatives, public safety and security, social and societal initiatives, infrastructure works and green capital projects and innovation.
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Council also approved including $5,000 towards an Active School Travel initiative in the 2013 and 2014 budgets.
The Comox Valley Board of Education approved spending $10,000 towards the project if other community groups chip make up the other $20,000 to make up the $30,000 cost.
The initiative is designed to increase active travel to school, making safer, healthier schools.
According to a Courtenay staff report, École Puntledge Park Elementary, École Robb Road Elementary and Cumberland Elementary School have been chosen as three pilot schools for the initiative.
