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 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, pictured below, 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 Children's Art and Literacy Centre (for the Children's 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.
