October 26, 1998

To:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:Economic Development Partnership Program -

Final 1998 Grant Allocation Recommendations

Recommendation:

The Municipal Grants Review Committee on October 26, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee the adoption of the attached report (October 15, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism recommending final 1998 grant allocations under the Economic Development Partnership Program.

Background:

The Municipal Grants Review Committee had before it the following report and communications:

-(October 15, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism recommending final 1998 grant allocations under the Economic Development Partnership Program;

-(October 23, 1998) from Ms. Jill Robinson, Canadian Hairdresser and Beautybeat Magazines, requesting the opportunity to appeal the decision regarding their grant request; and

-(October 26, 1998) from Mr. Phillip Vassell, WORD Magazine, expressing appreciation for the support received from the City of Toronto.

Ms. Jill Robinson, Canadian Hairdresser and Beautybeat Magazines, appeared before the Municipal Grants Review Committee to appeal the decision on their grant request.

City Clerk

R. Dyers/tl

Item No. 5

(Report dated October 15, 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 grant allocations totalling $42,500.00. The report provides information regarding this grant program, summarizes the current and final round of grant requests, and makes recommendations regarding allocations.

Source of Funds:

The allocations recommended in this report fall within the Council-approved 1998 Municipal Grants budget of $45,160,000.00. The total 1998 budget for the Economic Development Partnership Program is $337,000.00. On July 8, 9 and 10, 1998, Council approved grant allocations stemming from this program in the amount of $294,500.00, leaving $42,500.00 to be allocated further to the grant program's final application deadline of September 11, 1998.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)Economic Development Partnership Program grants totalling $42,500.00 be allocated to five organizations, as set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3;

(2)the disbursement of the Economic Development Partnership Program allocations be conditional on satisfying the Economic Development Partnership Program Guidelines and on project specific conditions set out in Appendix 3;

(3)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Comments:

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. The primary purpose of the Partnership Program is to seed new initiatives and not to provide ongoing funding. Projects are phased out of the Program over a maximum period of five years, with funding reduced in the fourth and fifth year to 50 percent of the previous year's grant. The Municipal Grants Review Committee has received several overviews of the Partnership Program and directions recommended for 1999, as per my reports to the Committee dated May 29 and September 18, 1998.

The Economic Development Partnership Program is one of four grant programs administered by Economic Development in 1998. The Partnership Program comes from the former City of Toronto. For 1998, projects being considered for funding have to have been located within the boundaries of the former City of Toronto. Applications for funding were accepted three times this year, with the third and final application deadline being September 11, 1998.

The Partnership Program has an approved 1998 budget of $337,000.00. Of this amount, $294,500.00 has already been allocated to 14 organizations. There remains $42,500.00 with which to consider the final round of applications. Four applications for funding were received for the September 11, 1998 deadline. It is recommended that:

-project funding allocations be approved for three of the four projects: namely, the Women in Film and Television (WIFT) Mentor/Internship Program; the Green Tourism Association's Map Project; and the Word magazine initiated City Guide geared to African American tourists to the City;

-Canadian Hairdresser and Beautybeat Magazines' request for grant monies towards a beauty industry related youth job fair be turned down because the project is not targeted to the Partnership Program's eligibility criteria (job creation and the generation of economic growth); and

-to redress difficulties created this year for the Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival and Cinematheque Ontario by the amalgamation process, these two organizations, previously funded for 1998, each receive an additional $5,000.00 in order to restore their funding to their 1997 levels.

Conclusions:

On July 8, 9 and 10, 1998, City Council approved the first two rounds of the Economic Development Partnership Program grant allocations totalling $294,500.00 (Item 13 of Appendix 3 of my May 21, 1998, report to the Municipal Grants Review Committee). This report seeks approval to allocate the remaining monies in the Partnership Program totalling $42,500.00 to the third and final round of applications.

The following information is appended to this report:

(1)summary of recommended and approved allocations for the Economic Development Partnership Program for 1998 (Appendices 1 and 2); and

(2)project summaries for the final round of applicants for 1998 and recommendations for funding (Appendix 3).

As noted in my previous reports to the Municipal Grants Review Committee dated May 29 and September 18, 1998, I am recommending that the Economic Development Partnership Program continue in 1999, subject to certain adjustments that have come out of Economic Development's service area grants review.

Contact Names:

Helen Bulat,

Grant Programs, Economic Development,

Tel: 392-7355

Brenda Librecz,

Managing Director, Economic Development,

Tel: 397-4700

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Appendix 1

1998 Economic Development Partnership Program Allocations

Appendix 2

1998 Economic Development Partnership Program

Incorporating Recommendations of this Report

Appendix 3

Summary of Applications and Recommendations

(1)Women in Film and Television (Wift) Mentor/Internship Program - First Year Applicant:

Women in Film and Television (WIFT), founded in 1984, is a non-profit organization helping women in the film and television industries build, advance and sustain their careers locally and internationally. WIFT has applied for grant monies from the Partnership Program to assist in initiating a Mentor/Internship Program. The Program will provide women with an opportunity at various levels of the film and television industry to gain experience and knowledge under the guidance of more senior professionals. The program is being created to address key challenges women in film and television face, such as, large numbers of self-employed, limited availability of effective professional development programs, the requirement to learn on the job and uncertainty over training related to new technologies. Program outcomes include enhanced networking and entrepreneurial skills, and greater career opportunities for women in the creative, business and technical areas of film and television production.

WIFT is seeking $8,000.00 or 25 percent of the total project budget of $32,420.00 in accordance with the funding criteria maximum established by the Partnership Program. Strategic support for sustainable local employment opportunities and small business development within the film industry can be viewed as one of many ways that Economic Development provides support for this key Toronto sector. I recommend that the WIFT Mentor/Internship Project receive a $8,000.00 allocation.

(2)Green Tourism Association Map Project - First Year Applicant:

The Green Tourism Association is a non-profit organization committed to establishing a thriving green tourism industry in Toronto. Its main activities are as follows: co-operatively marketing urban green tourism to tourists and local residents; greening the tourism industry and developing and supporting green tourism businesses. The Association has identified a number of key co-operative marketing initiatives that it intends to pursue over the next three years. They include, but are not limited to, a Green Tourism InfoCentre; an Affiliation Package (CAA style) and a Green Tourism Map, Newsletter, Listings and Website. The Green Tourism Association is specifically seeking grant monies in the amount of $10,000.00 from the City to develop, produce, and distribute a Green Tourism Map of Toronto, which the Association views as being key to leveraging additional support for green tourism product development. The Green Tourism Map Project Budget is $112,175.00, $42,525.00 of which is based on in-kind contributions. The monies being requested for the Mapping Project fall within the maximum funding level set by the Partnership Program. This initiative falls within the Economic Development Partnership Program's mandate for 1998 to identify and sponsor local community economic development projects in the area of urban green tourism product development. I recommend that the Association receive a $10,000.00 allocation, but that disbursement of funds be contingent on Economic Development staff working with the Green Tourism Association to develop a Map prototype that very clearly identifies and articulates the activities, places and establishments that define a "green tourism experience".

(3)Black Canadian Arts/Culture/Events/ Places of Interest Toronto City Guide By Word Magazine - First Year Applicant:

The publishers of Word Magazine are seeking assistance from the Partnership Program for a tourism marketing initiative that is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at black visitors to Toronto, especially the large numbers of African American visitors coming to Toronto. The focus of the marketing campaign would be the production and dissemination of a Toronto City Guide that places an emphasis on black Canadian arts, culture and places of interest. Sections will include historical sites, clubs, restaurants, galleries, museums, unique services, organizations and events. The guide would be published yearly and posted on the Internet. The publication would be supplemented with quarterly newsletters aimed at tourism industry professionals both locally and abroad, and would be supported in part via advertising and subscription sales.

This initiative fills a tourist information void that has been identified by African American and other visitors to this City who come here to experience Toronto's unique brand of multiculturalism and neighbourhood diversity. The project could also become a catalyst for greater participation by black businesses in the multi-billion dollar tourism economy.

The anticipated first year budget for this initiative is $59,000.00. Word Magazine is seeking an allocation that reflects the 25 percent of the total project budget funding maximum permitted by the Partnership Program. My recommendation is to allocate $14,500.00 towards this marketing initiative in one of Economic Development's key targeted sectors - the tourism industry.

(4)"Imagine" Youth Job Fair by Canadian Hairdresser and Beautybeat Magazines - First Year Applicant:

The publisher of Canadian Hairdresser and BeautyBeat magazines submitted an application requestingfunding towards a youth job fair that is to form part of the Imagine Beauty show, an annual three-day beauty products and services trade show held in Toronto. The youth job fair is oriented to make youth aware of job opportunities in the beauty/hairdressing industry. Although the notion of organizing a youth job fair in association with a well established industry trade show has merit in terms of providing information for young persons interested in a career in this field, it does not meet the funding criteria set out in the Economic Development Partnership Program and does not represent one of Economic Development's targeted sectors. I am recommending that the request for support be turned down.

(5)Cinematheque Ontario - Fourth Year Applicant:

Recommendations for funding and a description of Cinematheque Ontario's activities were provided in Appendix 3 of my May 29, 1998, report to the Municipal Grants Review Committee, entitled "Economic Development Partnership Program and Festivals and Special Events Program - 1998 Allocation Recommendations". This report was approved by Council on July 8, 9 and 10 of this year. Although Cinematheque Ontario should have had its allocation reduced by 50 percent from the previous year, in accordance with Partnership Program guidelines, Cinematheque Ontario only received a $5,000.00 reduction from 1997. Subsequent to the approval of the May 29, 1998, report, the International Film Festival Group, on behalf of Cinematheque Ontario, requested that the approved 1998 grant allocation be restored to its 1997 level. In recognition of the delays and client uncertainty created by the need to develop a new amalgamated grant approvals process City-wide, I am recommending that Cinematheque Ontario receive this additional $5,000.00, thereby increasing the City's contribution in 1998 to a total of $25,000.00. It should be noted that Cinematheque Ontario will be subject to one of two funding criteria for 1999:

-the organization will either continue to be subject to the criteria established by the Partnership Program, and as such, be eligible for a final year of support at 50 percent of the grant monies received in 1998, that is $12,500.00, or

-subject to Council endorsement, Cinematheque Ontario may be folded into a new program proposed by Economic Development to be named the "Key Sector Support Alliance Program", which will provide longer term ongoing support for select targeted sectoral initiatives, such as the International Film Festival Group, or be provided with ongoing support from the City through one of its other funding vehicles. The various options are being investigated by staff and will be reported on at a further date.

(6)Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival - Fourth Year Applicant:

Recommendations for funding and a description of Short Film Festival activities was provided in Appendix 3 of my May 29, 1998, report to the Municipal Grants Review Committee, entitled "Economic Development Partnership Program and Festivals and Special Events Program - 1998 Allocation Recommendations". As noted in item 7 above, this report was approved by Council on July 8, 9 and 10 of this year. Although the Festival should have had its funding reduced by 50 percent from the previous year, in accordance with Partnership Program guidelines, the Short Film Festival only received a $5,000.00 reduction from 1997. Subsequent to the approval of the May 29 report, the Short Film Festival organizers requested that their 1998 grant allocation be restored to its 1997 levels. In recognition of the delays and client uncertainty created by the need to develop a new amalgamated grants process City-wide, I am recommending that the Short Film Festival receive this additional $5,000.00, thereby increasing their total grant allocation from the City for 1998, to $20,000.00. It should be noted that the Economic Development Partnership Program guidelines will need to be adhered to in 1999. In the case of the Short Film Festival, this would mean that the Festival would be in its final year of funding eligibility and be subject to the receipt of grant monies not exceeding 50 percent of the grant monies received in 1998, that is, $10,000.00.