SUBJECT:
Title
2026 Grants to Communities Process and Evaluation Criteria
Department
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Operations
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Meredyth Muth, Director of Administrative Services and Operations
end
Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
end
For time estimate: please put 0 for Consent items.
Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
Cost as Recommended: $80,000
Balance Available: $80,000
Fund General Fund
Line Item Number: 100-10-110-57540-000000
New Appropriation Required: No
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
Following the approval of the 2025 Grants to Communities, the Town Council requested an opportunity to discuss the program and the application evaluation criteria prior to the 2026 process which opens September 1. Council should review and discuss the process and give staff direction if the Council would like changes for 2026.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Discussion of the process and review criteria along with any desired changes.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• The evaluation process and criteria used for the program are detailed in the presentation.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
In 2013, the program was formalized by resolution and adopted with specific procedures. Those procedures and the evaluation criteria were updated in 2022 and in 2024.
Eligibility is restricted to applicants recognized as community service organizations, organized and federally designated for tax purposes as non-profit corporations, and/or chartered chapters of state or national lodges or service organizations that engage in charitable or community service activities, and public schools located in Erie (both in BVSD and SVVSD).
The Program has two categories of grants funded on an annual basis: Events and Health and Human Services Programs. The level of funding authorized by the Board will determine the number of overall grants funded for that fiscal year. For 2025, the budget for the program was $80,000 and staff requested the same amount for 2026.
priorities
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
☐ Attractive Community Amenities
☒ Engaged and Diverse Community
☐ Prosperous Economy
☐ Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
☒ Small Town Feel
☐ Safe and Healthy Community
☐ Effective Governance
☐ Environmentally Sustainable
☐ Fiscally Responsible
attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation
2. Existing Grants to Community Organizations Policy & Procedures
3. Sample of 2024 Grantee End of Year Reports
4. List of 2022 - 2025 Grantees and amount awarded