June 11, 1998
To:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee
From:City Clerk
Subject:Economic Development Partnership Program and
Festivals and Special Events Program - 1998 Allocations and Appeals
Recommendation:
The Municipal Grants Review Committee on June 11, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities
Committee, and Council, the adoption of the attached reports (May 21 and June 8, 1998) from the Commissioner of
Economic Development, Culture and Tourism respecting the Economic Development Partnership Program and Festivals
and Special Events Program - 1998 Allocations and Appeals.
City Clerk
R. Dyers/tl
Item No. 4
(Report dated May 21, 1998, addressed to the
Municipal Grants Review Committee from the Commissioner of
Economic Development, Culture and Tourism)
Purpose:
This report seeks approval for the Economic Development Partnership Program and the Festivals and Special Events
Program grant allocations with a combined total of $379,000.00. The report provides an overview of both programs, a
description of the rationale and strategy applied and a listing of the recommended allocations.
Funding Implications:
The allocations recommended in this report fall within the Council-approved 1998 Municipal Grants budget of
$45,160,000.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) Economic Development Partnership Program grants totalling $294,000.00 be allocated to 14 organizations, as set out
in Appendix 1;
(2)the disbursement of the Economic Development Partnership Program allocations be conditional on satisfying the
Economic Development Partnership Program Guidelines (Appendix 4) and on project specific conditions set out in
Appendix 3;
(3)Festivals and Special Events Program grants totalling $32,550.00 be allocated to six organizations, also as set out in
Appendix 1;
(4) $51,950.00 be set aside for the Economic Development Partnership Program's allocation process in the Fall
(application deadline date: September 11, 1998);
(5)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
This report deals with two separate grants programs - the Economic Development Partnership Program, which comes from
the former City of Toronto and the Festivals and Special Events Program which comes from the former City of York. Both
programs were identified and combined for administrative purposes during the budgetary reporting process and both
continue to be administered in 1998 by Economic Development staff at the City of Toronto. Both programs will be subject
to a policy and program criteria review in 1998 which will have an effect on the programs in 1999. The criteria for both
grant programs are based on former City policies. Since this year is a transitional year, no requests were sought from the
other former Cities within the new City of Toronto.
Overview of the Economic Development Partnership Program and the Festivals and Special Events Program:
(a)Economic Development Partnership Program:
Applications for funding are accepted three times a year. The goal of the Economic Development Partnership Program is to
facilitate the initiation or expansion of projects which will have substantial long term economic development benefits for
the City of Toronto by contributing to the size of the local economy and/or to the generation of future economic growth and
job creation. Projects funded in the past include: Canadian Music Week; Caravan; Festival of the Future; First Night;
Moving the Economy - Sustainable Transportation Conference; ICSID - The Humane Village Congress, Gay Pride Week
Economic Impact Study and many others. At least $50,000.00 of the total program budget has been reserved each year for
new or one time only initiatives. City Council of the former City of Toronto recommended that for 1998, at least
$30,000.00 of the program budget be used for developing and implementing local economic development projects in the
cultural, tourism, food, sustainable transportation and/or green tourism industry sectors. Two projects for which allocations
totalling $30,000.00 have been recommended as part of this report, fall within this category. For 1998, events and project
being considered for funding have to be located within the boundaries of the former City of Toronto. Applications for
grants from the Economic Development Partnership Program were received on February 6 and April 24, 1998 and
reviewed in a manner consistent with the Program guidelines. The Program has a third and final application deadline of
September 11, 1998.
(b)Festivals and Special Events Program:
The Festival and Special Events Grant Program began in 1995 with the purpose of supporting local festivals and special
events that would create local community economic development benefits, build volunteer commitment and develop strong
organizational structures and financial support. As part of this Program, festivals and special events were also viewed by
staff as important tools in rejuvenating commercial and residential districts by attracting visitors to these areas, developing
these areas as tourist destinations and instilling pride. Since the program began in 1995 eight festivals and special events
have been supported by means of the program budget for over $70,000.00. Together these festivals and events have
matched the contribution by successfully leveraging funding from private agencies including in-kind services and over
2,500 hours of volunteer support, attracting approximately 135,000 visitors. For 1998 the program will continue to fund
festivals and special events located from within the boundaries of the former City of York. In past years deadlines have
been set to coincide with approvals being made at the final Council meeting before summer break. This year Program
applications were reviewed by the Festivals and Special Events Liaison Team on May 16, 1998, in a manner consistent
with Program guidelines. No additional funding applications will be received for the Festivals and Special Events Program
in 1998.
Method of Assessment:
Under the Economic Development Partnership Program developmental projects are eligible for ongoing support for a
maximum of five years, with the maximum support in the fourth and fifth year set at 50 percent and 25 percent respectively
of the level of support provided in the third year. Projects are also funded on a one time only basis. The organizations
applying for support can be either a non-profit organization (incorporated or unincorporated) or a private business. Support
for initiatives being undertaken by private businesses must take the form of a purchase of a sponsorship or advertisement
which provides the City with a commensurate service or benefit. The program emphasis is on supporting the incubation
and development of new initiatives which will substantially impact the local economy. Priority has been given to projects
which lead to sustainable long term economic and employment benefits for the City; which have a good potential to
become self-sustaining within the five year time frame of the program; and which involve substantive partnerships with the
private sector.
Organizations applying for ongoing support in 1998 had to provide a report on the project which included financial
statements, a discussion of the activities undertaken and an evaluation of the project which addresses the extent to which
the City's economic development objectives were met.
In past years, applications were reviewed and recommendations made by a sub-committee of a Committee of the former
City of Toronto Council. This year, applications have been reviewed internally by staff following a similar allocation
strategy.
The program has three application deadlines to permit projects to be dealt with during the course of the year. The third and
final deadline in 1998 is September 11. This group of applicants will be brought forward to the Grants Review Committee
in October, and it's recommended that $51,950.00 of the budget be reserved to fund them.
The Festivals and Special Events Grant Program makes funding available to organizations initiating or carrying out
ongoing festivals and special events. Organizations applying for funding can be a non-profit (incorporated or
unincorporated) or a private businesses. However, many of the festivals and special events funded or recommended for
funding have been through community-based organizations. The program supports festivals and special events that have
the capability to display community economic development benefits, strong volunteer involvement and organizational
structure and solid event financing with private sector support. In past years, applicants have been evaluated by an
Interdepartment Festival and Special Events Liaison Team with recommendations forwarded to the Administrative
Services Committee and final decisions made by the Council of the former City of York. This year, the Interdepartment
Festivals and Special Events Liaison Team reviewed applications using the same program criteria. Its funding
recommendations will be forwarded to the Municipal Grants Review Committee. A report establishing the Festivals and
Special Events Grant Program and guidelines is available through the Clerk's office.
Conclusions:
The combined 1998 budgets for the Economic Development Partnership Program and the Festivals and Special Events
Program was approved by Council at $379,000.00.
The following information is appended to this report:
(1) recommended allocation of 1998 Economic Development Partnership Program and Festivals and Special Events
Program grants (Appendix 1);
(2) summary of 1998 applications and recommendations to date (Appendices 2 and 3); and
(3)Economic Development Partnership Program guidelines.
This report seeks approval for the 1998 Economic Development Partnership Program and the Festivals and Special Events
Program allocations totalling $318,550.00 and requests the opportunity to return to the Municipal Grants Committee with
recommendations regarding allocations for the final round of Economic Development Partnership Program applicants
further to the final application deadline of September 11, 1998.
Contact Names:
Helen BulatRon Nash
Economic Development Partnership ProgramFestivals and Special Events Program
Toronto City Hall Office (392-7355)York Civic Centre (394-2889)
--------
Appendix 1
1998 Economic Development Partnership Program and
Festivals And Special Events Program Allocations
Applicant 1997 1998 1998
Allocation Request Recommended
Economic Development Partnership Program:
1. Contact
Photography
Association - Business
Forum & Photography
Incubator-$35,000.00 $20,000.00
2.Riverdale Community
Business Centre -
Tourism
Marketing Initiative- 25,000.0010,000.00
3.Heritage Skills
Development Centre/
Co-op Bakery Project- 26,500.0020,000.00
4.Beaches International
Jazz Festival/Economic
Impact & Marketing
Study- 70,000.0015,000.00
5.Festival Alliance
Toronto Project - 20,000.0020,000.00
6.Canadian Aboriginal Festival20,000.00 50,000.0020,000.00
7.Short Film Festival20,000.00 30,000.0015,000.00
8.Street Style/Leading-
Edge Fashion, Arts
and Music Festival50,000.00 50,000.00 50,000.00
9.Toronto International
Film Festival50,000.00 50,000.0050,000.00
10. Cinematheque25,000.00 25,000.0020,000.00
11. Toronto Theatre
Alliance/T.o.tix 16,000.00 16,000.0016,000.00
12. Tabia Marketing
Project25,000.00 25,000.0025,000.00
13. Toronto Tourism
Awards 5,000.00 5,000.00 $5,000.00
14. Caribana 8,500.00 8,500.00 approved
Festivals And Special Events Program:
15. African Culture
Restoration
Association-Annual
Marcus Garvey
Day Celebration - 13,728.00 2,000.00
16. Urban Harvest
Community
Association -
Urban Harvest
Oakwood Village
Festival Of The Arts 5,500.00 9,000.00 5,000.00
17. Weston BIA - Weston
End Of Summer Blast 5,000.00 10,000.00 4,500.00
18. Portuguese Outreach
Committee - Portuguese
Youth Festival 5,358.00 8,500.00 4,850.00
19. York Children's
Carnival Committee -
Eglinton Junior
Carnival Parade13,200.00 15,000.00 11,200.00
20. Weston Bia -
Weston Santa
Claus Parade$5,500.00$10,000.00 $5,000.00
Appendix 2
1998 Economic Development Partnership Program and Festivals
And Special Events Program Budget Status
Incorporating Recommendations Of This Report
Project |
1997 Budget &
Approved
Allocations |
1998
Funding
Requests |
1998
Recommended
Allocations |
1998
Budget &
Approved
Allocations |
Total Budget |
$340,908.00 |
|
|
$379,000.00 |
A. Total / New Projects |
|
$190,228.00 |
$87,000.00 |
|
B. Total / Ongoing
Projects |
|
$320,000.00 |
$231,550.00 |
$8,500.00 |
C. Total / A. + B.
Projects |
|
$510,228.00 |
$318,550.00 |
|
D. Total Unallocated |
|
|
$51,950.00 |
$370,500.00 |
A. New Projects:
Toronto EDPP - |
|
|
|
|
Contact Photography
Association |
|
$35,000.00 |
$20,000.00 |
|
Riverdale Tourism
Marketing Initiative
(Local Economic
Development Project) |
|
$25,000.00 |
$10,000.00 |
|
Co-op Bakery Project
(Local Economic
Development Project) |
|
$26,500.00 |
$20,000.00 |
|
Beaches Jazz Festival |
|
$70,000.00 |
$15,000.00 |
|
Festival Alliance
Toronto |
|
$20,000.00 |
$20,000.00 |
|
York Festivals - |
|
|
|
|
Annual Marcus
Harvey Day Celebration |
|
$13,728.00 |
$2,000.00 |
|
B. Ongoing Projects
Toronto EDP - |
|
|
|
|
Canadian Aboriginal
Festival |
$20,000.00 |
$50,000.00 |
$20,000.00 |
|
Street Style |
$50,000.00 |
$50,000.00 |
$50,000.00 |
|
Short Film Festival |
$20,000.00 |
$30,000.00 |
$15,000.00 |
|
International Film
Festival |
$50,000.00 |
$50,000.00 |
$50,000.00 |
|
Cinematheque |
$25,000.00 |
$25,000.00 |
$20,000.00 |
|
Toronto Theatre
Alliance |
$16,000.00 |
$22,500.00 |
$16,000.00 |
|
Tabia Marketing
Project |
$25,000.00 |
$25,000.00 |
$25,000.00 |
|
Toronto Tourism
Awards |
$5,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
|
Caribana |
$8,500.00 |
|
|
$8,500.00 |
York Festivals - |
|
|
|
|
Weston End of
Summer Blast |
$5,000.00 |
$10,000.00 |
$4,500.00 |
|
Portuguese Youth
Festival |
$5,358.00 |
$8,500.00 |
$4,850.00 |
|
Eglinton Junior
Carnival Parade |
$13,200.00 |
$15,000.00 |
$11,200.00 |
|
Weston Santa
Claus Parade |
$5,500.00 |
$10,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
|
Urban Harvest
Arts Festival |
$5,500.00 |
$9,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
|
(A copy of each of Appendices 3 and 4 referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members of Council with
the agenda of the Municipal Grants Review Committee for its meeting on June 1, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the
office of the City Clerk.)
--------
(Report dated June 8, 1998, addressed to the
Municipal Grants Review Committee, from the
Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism)
Purpose:
This report addresses one of the recommendations adopted by the Municipal Grants Review Committee at their meeting of
June 1, 1998, requesting that the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report on providing an
additional $4,000.00 on a pro-rated basis to those groups listed under AYork Festivals@ and that the event dates be
included with the report.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that applicants for Festivals and Special Events Grants listed in the report of May 21, 1998, not receive
an additional $4,000.00 on a pro-rated basis.
Funding Implications:
There are no further funding implications associated with this report based on the recommendation.
Background:
The Festivals and Special Events Liaison Team met on May 15, 1998, to review six applications within the former City of
York for financial assistance under the Festivals and Special Events Grant Program. As part of the process, a Festivals and
Special Events Liaison Team consisting of staff from the former City of York was set-up in 1995 to review applications for
funding and to provide recommendations to Council regarding funding and in-kind services.
On the basis of the Festivals and Special Events Liaison Team review, it was recommended in the report of May 21, 1998,
that all six applicants to the program receive grant funding. This recommendation was based on the purpose of the grant
being to provide "seed" funding to community organizers of festivals and events so that organizers could use such leverage
to secure additional funding from sponsors and to commit in-kind contributions and volunteer support. The aim of the
Festivals and Special Events Grant Program is to develop, within these community based organizations, a growing level of
self sufficiency and buy-in from sponsors.
Festivals and Special Events 1998
Funding Requested, Recommended and Event Date
Festival /Event |
Requested |
Recommended |
Event Date(s) |
Annual Marcus Garvey Day Celebration |
$13,728.00 |
$ 2,000.00 |
August15, 1998 |
Junior Carnival Parade |
15,000.00 |
11,200.00 |
July 26, 1998 |
Portuguese Cultural Festival |
8,500.00 |
4,850.00
|
September 12,1998 |
Urban Harvest Oakwood Village
Festival of the Arts |
9,000.00 |
5,000.00 |
September 26,1998 |
Weston End of Summer Blast |
10,000.00 |
4,500.00 |
September 5-7, 1998 |
Weston Santa Claus Parade |
10,000.00 |
5,000.00 |
November 29, 1998 |
Conclusions:
While the Festivals and Special Events Liaison Team does not recommend additional funding on a pro-rated basis, it does
support funding at levels recommended in the May 21, 1998, report entitled Economic Development Partnership Program
and Festivals and Special Events Program - 1998 Allocations.
Contact Name:
Ron Nash, York Civic Centre
Tel: 394-2889