Municipalities have experienced significant financial impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada are providing operating funding support to municipalities through the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST). This funding is provided as part of the Safe Restart Agreement. This program will support municipalities by funding incremental costs and reduced revenues associated with the pandemic and actions taken in response to it. MOST funding may only be used for eligible operating expenses or operating losses or deficits incurred between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Any funds not used before March 31, 2021 must be returned to the Government of Alberta. Municipalities that received MOST funding are required to submit a Statement of Funding and Expenditures (SFE) by July 2, 2021 that reports on the use of MOST funds and captures basic information to which the funding was applied. Flagstaff County’s allocation is $383,506.
While Flagstaff County experienced additional expenditures and revenue losses due to COVID-19, not-for-profit organizations that provide facilities and services/programs for County residents have also undoubtedly been financially impacted. Examples of these organizations include, but may not be limited to, 4-H clubs, museum organizations, recreation facilities/societies, community hall groups, etc.
Eligible expenses are those related to COVID-19 and include:
- Personal protective equipment
- Supplemental cleaning
- Supports for vulnerable populations
- Replacement of reduced revenue
- Increased staffing
At the February 10, 2021 Council Meeting, Council passed:
Resolution #FC20210210.1006 THAT Flagstaff County utilize $383,506 of the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST) funding to be allocated on an application basis to not-for-profit organizations to help cover the additional costs/expenses of programs/services/facilities in the Flagstaff Region that have been financially impacted by Covid-19. The application process and adjudication of applications will be completed by a committee that includes administrative staff and 2 Councillors, with recommendations to be brought back to the March 24, 2021 Council meeting.
Resolution #FC20210210.1007 THAT Clr. Herle and Clr. Eckstrand be appointed to the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST) grant funding committee. The Committee approved an application form and application process; applications were accepted from February 19ᵗʰ, 2021 – March 11ᵗʰ, 2021 at 11:59PM.
High level analytics and application details include the following:
- 65 applications were received
- Total funding requests were $1,014,323.
- The smallest funding request was $406; the largest funding request was $75,000.
- The average funding request was $15,605.
Applications were received from organizations including, but not limited to agricultural societies, arenas, curling clubs, community centers, seniors’ centers, libraries, golf clubs and community service groups.
Due to funding requests being so much greater than available MOST funding to distribute, the committee used the following guidelines for distribution:
- A maximum of $10,000 was awarded to one organization.
- Utilities, insurance, and other operating costs incurred from April 2020 – March 2021 are not “Covid-19” impacts; an organization will be compensated only for reduced revenue because of Covid-19.
- Forecasted Covid-19 impacts after March 2021 are ineligible.
- Costs related to PPE, supplemental cleaning, and vulnerable populations will be prioritized for full reimbursement (this totals approximately $44,000 across all applications).
- Golf clubs were able to remain open and earn revenue through much of the 2020 season; funding was allocated for PPE/cleaning costs, however not reduced revenue.
- All six curling clubs in the region applied; $5,000 was allocated to each.
- Six agricultural societies applied; requests ranged from $5,000 – $35,000 per society. They were awarded a maximum of $10,000, consistent with other organizations.
- Libraries were allocated a maximum of $2,000.
All applicants that applied prior to the deadline of March 11ᵗʰ received some amount of funding for their organization, allowing funding to impact a diverse group of organizations across the Flagstaff Region.
Recipients
Click HERE for a list of MOST grant recipients.