WESTLOCK — The Westlock community is getting a big boost to help area organizations and non-profits fill a need, thanks almost $300,000 in grants from the Westlock Community Foundation (WCF).
In a press release June 26, the WCF announced the 2024 grant recipients, awarding $294,700 to 17 local groups and individuals to support a range of community projects and initiatives in both the Town of Westlock and Westlock County.
Westlock Community Foundation executive director Katie Robertson said they are “incredibly proud to support these impactful projects that address critical needs and enhance the quality of life in our community,” and called the dedication and innovation of these organizations “truly inspiring.”
Last year, the WCF distributed $210,000 federal dollars via the Community Services Recovery Fund, but this is the first year the foundation is disbursing its own grant money.
“We’re already seeing some of the results of this funding going into the community,” said Robertson in a follow-up interview June 26, noting the youth in action grant for a dog park shelter, to Paige Tymkow. “They’ve already built it. So we have a new dog park shelter at the Westlock off-leash dog park.”
This year’s grants were distributed in four categories — community priorities, learning and literacy, rural resiliency, and youth engagement.
This year, grants under community priorities include $25,000 to the Westlock and District Food Bank for their ‘feeding our community’ project, $18,500 to the Cultural Arts Theatre Society for a digital video project, $15,000 to the Busby volunteer fire department society for the medical first response program.
The Westlock and District Community Hall Society is receiving $40,000 for a boiler replacement, while the Westlock and District Agricultural Society is getting $40,000 for barn roof replacement.
The Westlock Legion - Branch 97 will see a grant of $39,100 for building maintenance and the Progressive and Coordinating Organization Agricultural Society is receiving $24,000 for the Fawcett Community Hall and Arena renovation.
The Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill will use a $40,000 grant for ski inventory and storage upgrades, while the Westlock Golden Age Club will use its $5,000 grant for weatherproofing upgrades and the Westlock Independence Network is receiving $10,000 for growing leadership.
The Westlock Learning and Literacy grant is being given to one recipient — the Westlock Inter-Municipal Library, which is getting $10,000 for providing mobile library services to underserved communities in the Westlock region.
The rural resiliency grant recipients include the Westlock WECAN, who are receiving $5,100 for distribution support and quality control, while the R.F. Staples agriculture program is banking $5,000 for agricultural curriculum development. The
Westlock Community Garden is receiving $5,500 for growth initiatives and the Gateway Research Organization in Westlock is netting $6,000 for new intercrop research.
The Youth in Action grant recipients include Eva Larson with Pembina Hills School District, who is receiving $1,500 for the Heroes project and Paige Tymkow with the Westlock Rotary Club used a $5,000 grant for a 2024 dog park shelter project.
WCF granting committee chair, Debbie McCoy highlighted the rigorous selection process and noted the committee “carefully reviewed each application” to ensure funds are allocated to initiatives that will “make a significant and lasting impact.” “We are excited to see the positive outcomes these grants will foster,” said McCoy via the press release.
Board chair Wayne Peyre, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to community development and to “building a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community.”
“These grants are a testament to the collaborative efforts of our donors, volunteers, and community partners who share our vision for a better Westlock,” said Peyre.
Robertson said the grants announcement also provides an opportunity to encourage other groups and organizations to think about projects that could better the community.
“We also hope that it inspires people to think bigger in our community,” Robertson concluded.
