Almost $750,000 is being lined up to be spent on this year’s community grants throughout Richmond.

City council will next week be asked to approve allocating $546,054 to the Health, Social and Safety Program, $97,100 to the Parks, Recreation and Community Events Program and $94,300 to the Arts and Culture Program.

The handouts are a marginal increase on last year, mainly due to a cost of living increase, which is built into the grants system.

The major beneficiaries in the health and safety program, as recommended by city staff, could be: Canadian Mental Health Association (Richmond) — $34,000 for its meal program and operating expenses; Chimo Crisis Services — $47,000 for crisis response and community education; Family Services of Greater Vancouver — counseling services; Richmond Addiction Services — $198,377 for problem gambling prevention and substance misuse prevention.

In the parks and recreation grants, Steveston Community Society could receive the biggest helping hand — $50,000 to support low-cost summer programs; City Centre Community Association — $10,000 for after-school recreation programs; Richmond Agricultural and Industrial Society — $11,000 to support the Salmon Festival and the Steveston Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market.

There could be a number of $10,000 grants approved from the arts program, including the BC Childrens Art and Literacy Centre (for the Childrens Arts Festival); Richmond Community Orchestra and Chorus Association and the Richmond Music School Society.

All of the recommended grants have to be approved by city council.