‘A’ Fresh Start Community Initiative grant finalists announced
The ‘A’ Fresh Start Community Initiative grant finalists were announced by Amherst town council on Monday, May 25, 2021.
Selected from 12 applications, the Top 5, in no particular order, are:
- Amherst Little League Baseball, which is requesting $5,000 to buy equipment for its new Girls at Bat program.
- The Bridge Adult Service Centre, which is requesting $825 for a Disability Pride Day.
- The Cumberland Museum Society, which is requesting $4,000 to host a Nova Scotia Backyard Kitchen Party series.
- Fundy Winds Marsh, which is requesting $8,510 to aid in the design of an accessible and safe outdoor space for all community members.
- The Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter, which is requesting $4,000 to expand their Creepy Carnival fundraiser.
The Top 5 now have until June 9, 2021, to make a five-minute video explaining why they should receive an ‘A’ Fresh Community Initiative grant, how much money the project requires and how it will be spent.
The videos will be placed on the town’s social media between June 14, 2021, and June 18, 2021. Residents will be asked to vote online or via paper ballot on the order in which they believe the awards should be granted. People are encouraged to watch all five videos before voting.
The voting procedure will be made public upon the posting of the videos to social media. All votes must be received by the town no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 20.
The rankings determined by this vote will then be presented to Amherst town council members, who will have also viewed the video presentations. Council will consider those rankings in making the decision on the placing of the awards.
Council has the final say on those rankings and the amounts given to the grant recipients. These will be announced at their June 28, 2021, council meeting.
In order to qualify for an ‘A’ Fresh Start Community Initiative grant, the event or initiative had to be new or one that enhances a current program. Normal ongoing operations of an organization do not qualify for the grant.
