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Five community groups are in the running for one of the Town of Amherst’s ‘A’ Fresh Start Initiative community support grants.
Representatives from Autism Nova Scotia Cumberland Chapter, the Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association, Eat Plants-Run Wild, the Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter and the Multicultural Association of Cumberland are now preparing the 10-minute presentations they will pitch to the public and council during a meeting scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 13 at the Community Credit Union Business Innovation Centre.
They are vying for a share of the $17,500 that is available in this first of two ‘A’ Fresh Start Initiative grant opportunities that will be staged this year.
Amherst has accepted the challenge.
From May 31 to June 16, the town will be battling communities from across the country in the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge as it seeks to be declared Canada’s most active community.
“We’ve been saying for awhile that Amherst is one of the most active, healthy communities in Nova Scotia and that’s one of the reasons we love to live, work and play here,” Recreation Direct Bill Schurman said. “This is an opportunity to show that not only are we one of the most active, healthy communities in this province, but we are the most active community in the country.”
Amherst town council approved spending $482,110 on community support grants during a special council session on May 21.
Of that fund, $372,110, will be raised via a residential, resource and commercial community support area rate of 7.1 cents per $100 of assessment.
The money raised by the area rate will be used to fund the community support grants issued by council during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, including those given to organizations and granted to groups via the “A” Fresh Start Initiative. It will also be used to cover a $100,000 grant to the YMCA, fund the tax exemption and tax reduction policies was well as the “A” Festival, holiday events, Canada Day, the winter carnival and other events such as Music in Victoria Square and the Tree for Boston.
The dedicated work of VON Cumberland was recognized on May 17 when Deputy-Mayor Sheila Christie proclaimed May 20 to May 26 VON Week in the Town of Amherst.
Christie read the proclamation moments before assisting VON Cumberland board president George Baker and Coun. Terry Rhindress raise the VON flag at the corner of Church and Albion streets.
The deputy-mayor noted VON Cumberland site nurses, home-support workers, other staff and volunteers have been caring for the lives and well-being of Amherst residents since 1938.