City of Saskatoon could double Winter City grants next season
$25K given out this year; funded crokicurl, storytelling teepee
A grant program designed to make Saskatoon winters a little more bearable could be getting some extra money next year.
In 2017, the Winter City Community Grant program gave out $25,000 to a number of winter-friendly activities, including the Wanuskewin Winter Festival, the storytelling teepee during the Winterruption Festival and the crokicurl rink near Broadway Avenue.
Now, administrators are recommending city councillors double the program to $50,000 for next winter.
A community working group is also asking that the individual grants amount become more flexible, raising the current cap of $5,000, as well as allowing micro-grants for smaller projects.
The group is advising that a matching grant be provided to attract funding for larger projects, and to allow businesses to apply for the money if they have community partnerships in place.
The Winter City strategy was given $350,000 total in this year's budget, which funds everything from temporary warming huts to community engagement.
The grant issue will be brought up at the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services committee on Wednesday morning.