City's grants aid community groups and agencies

The City funds a number of community groups and agencies to provide or assist in the delivery of programs and services. Grants leverage the work of community volunteers to provide services to communities most in need. As part of the grants review process, increasing the accountability of our grants program will ensure the City continues to benefit from this valuable program. The City will also continue to coordinate with other levels of government the assistance it provides to community groups.

The total 2003 Consolidated Grants net budget request is $37.045M of which $35.218M represents the base budget and $1.827M is for new enhanced services.

The City provides grants for many organizations with a variety of goals. Some of the programs funded last year included:

• Centres for Senior Citizens
• Organizations for Youth
• Lifeskills centres
• Welcome Babies programs
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• Services for low-income/unemployed young people
• Business Improvement Associations
• Major cultural organizations like the Toronto Symphony and Opera
• Harbourfront
• Numerous arts organizations across the city
• Drug and violence prevention programs
• AIDS education and prevention programs

Council will begin examining the 2003 City Budget on December 3. Standing Committee reviews will begin the week of December 9 and continue throughout December and into January 2003. Final approval of the capital and operating budgets by Council is scheduled for late February 2003.