The City of Greater Sudbury has unveiled the new application process for non-profit organizations to receive Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) funds.
The controversial fund policy was reformed in March 2016 and took away city councillors' powers to decide how the $50,000 for each of Greater Sudbury's 12 wards would be distributed.
The controversy around the funds started in 2012 when the former city council voted to take spending control of the funds away from city staff and gave it to individual ward councillors.
That led to a 2012 audit of the policy by then-Auditor General Brian Bigger, who questioned the legality of the policy and recommended spending authority be returned to staff. Councillors reformed the policy, but refused to give up spending control.
Bigger, who was elected mayor in October 2014, promised to reform the HCI Fund. After failing to agree in April 2015,
it appeared that the old policy would remain. But in a surprise move, councillors voted unanimously in December to change the policy – even the ones who had opposed reforms in April.
A revised policy was presented in early 2016, but contained language that still gave city councillors a role in deciding how the money would be spent. But the new policy, which passed in March, turned over spending control to staff.
Under the new policy a minimum of 75 per cent of the funds must go to capital projects and a maximum of 25 per cent can be set aside for community grants.
Under the changes to the policy for the administration of HCI funds, applications for funds are administered by staff from leisure services. When applications are received, city staff will review each application, evaluate it based on funding criteria, and notify applicants of the outcome of each application.
Staff from the City of Greater Sudbury's leisure services and finance departments will prepare reports to council semi-annually to notify them of successful applications.
Staff will seek council approval on capital requests in excess of $10,000, and community events/grants that exceed $1,000. These reports will also be available on the city's website for public viewing.
Grant applications must adhere to the following criteria:
- Must not be a for-profit group.
- Must clearly identify how the activity/ event addresses at least one of the Healthy Community priorities.
- Must benefit the residents of the Ward and the activity/event supported by the request must be available to residents at minimum or no cost.
- Must not be receiving other City of Greater Sudbury funding in support of this specific activity/event.
- Grant applications to purchase prizes or of goods to be used as prizes must not exceed $500.00.
Capital applications must comply with the following criteria:
- Must not be a for-profit group.
- Must support at least one of the Healthy Community priorities.
- Must benefit the residents of the Ward and contribute to a facility or service which is available to all.
- Must be in line with the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
- Must be a City infrastructure/facility.
- Must have demonstrated community support (letters of support, committed partners).
For more information regarding HCI Funds, their allocation process or how to apply, visit the City's website here or call 3-1-1.