The Grants Ad Hoc Committee (GAC) met on October 30, 2008, at 12:01 p.m. in the Chair's Boardroom, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

___________________________________

* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Councillor Moore presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION GAC-1-2008:

That the agenda for the October 30, 2008, Grants Ad hoc Committee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS - Nil

4. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS

a) 2009 Community Programs Funding Update

Received

Sandra Solonik, Acting Manager, Community Services and Special Projects provided an overview of the Community Funding Programs Update report.

Sandra Solonik highlighted details on the Renewable Project Fund for 2009. Currently, sixteen applications have been received. Twelve of these applications were recommended for funding in the amount of $232,500 for the 2009 budget. She provided details on the Multi-Year Operational Fund 2007 to 2009. Thirty-six agencies are requesting continued funding for 2009 for a total of $1,530,612 for the 2009 budget.

Sandra Solonik reported that there were ten applications received for funding from the Strengthening Organization Effectiveness Fund (SOEF) to date during 2008. Seven of these applications were approved for a total of $60,605. It is anticipated that the entire 2008 budget of $75,000 will be spent by year end. For the Region to jointly support capacity building initiatives for Peel non-profit agencies it is recommended the 2009 budget continue to support the SOEF funding for a total request of $100,000.

Sandra Solonik gave an update on the Volunteer Mississauga Brampton Caledon (VMBC). VMBC through the community consultation and Review of Volunteerism in Peel report have developed a vision for VMBC and business plan. An Executive Director was hired in September, 2008 and she will be responsible for the goals VMBC has outlined for 2009 which include:

• To establish an organizational base;
• To select, purchase and adapt an interactive database;
• To build a cross sectoral membership;
• To establish fund development and an approach to the business sector;
• To begin proactive strategies to connect with community organizations and targeted programs/services;
• To begin social marketing of the program;
• To establish community partnerships.

Sandra Solonik stated that the VMBC will be seeking a total revenue of $448,630 through various funding sources to support their implementation plan in 2009. The recommendation is for the Region of Peel to provide the VMBC with $77,000 in funds for 2009.

Councillor Paterak asked if the $77,000 in funding was a one-time or sustained funding. Sandra Solonik responded that it was one-time funding.

Councillor Moore questioned if the VMBC had, at one time dissolved and was this was the same organization that was applying for funding. Sandra Solonik responded that the Volunteer Centre of Peel had dissolved several years ago and that the VMBC was developed through the feedback of community consultation and now operated under a different board.

Councillor Paterak stated that the Region could consider providing funds to assist organizations in developing strong boards of directors. Sandra Solonik replied the SOEF fund and the Peel Learning Institute (PLI) are, able to assist community organizations with board and senior staffing challenges.

Sandra Solonik outlined the vision of the Peel Learning Institute (PLI) which is to strengthen the capacity and ensure sustainability of non-profit agencies in Peel Region by enhancing the leadership of human service professionals. The goals of the PLI for 2009 include:

• Development of the PLI infrastructure;
• Securing funding;
• Marketing the PLI;
• Establishing a web presence;
• Developing strong and productive partnerships;
• Providing programs and services to the target audience.

Sandra Solonik reported the PLI will be pursuing various funding sources to support their 2009 budget needs. She stated that the recommendation is for the Region of Peel to provide the PLI with $100,000 in funding for 2009.

Councillor Mahoney stated she was not aware of the PLI and suggested there would be a number of non-profit agencies that would be interested in the services they provide. Councillor Mahoney asked how the PLI promotes the services it provides. Sandra Solonik responded that the PLI is a new program. PLI connected with the community and provided them with the concept of leadership development in Peel through the needs assessment funding by the Trillium foundation. In addition PLI conducted a leadership training pilot in the spring of 2008 which was very successful and highly praised by its community participants. PLI plans for 2009 include addition marketing and creating a web presence.

Councillor Mahoney requested further details on the PLI. Sandra Solonik undertook to provide additional details on the PLI including their business plan.

Chair Kolb arrived at 12:21 p.m.

Sandra Solonik reported on the Community Investment Review which took place from October 2007 to April 2008. This joint effort with the United Way was a comprehensive process including a literature review of social policy funding recommendations and stakeholder consultations with 500 Peel residents, service providers and community leaders. The focus of the review was to look at all forms of community investment and the resulting report produced 11 recommendations.

Sandra Solonik noted that the 11 recommendations fell within three key areas:

• Learning From the Community which outlined the communities’ desire to do things differently, move forward and pursue a more strategic approach around community investment;
• Community Investment Priorities which emphasized the need for a common thread of building capacity at the individual level, family level including children and youth as well as at the neighbourhood and community level;
• Leadership Roles identified that the Region of Peel should continue to focus on advocacy by supporting collaborative approaches and neighbourhood development.

Sandra Solonik presented an update on Community Investment Report. A report will be released to stakeholders and the community in November, 2008. Following the release of the report, the United Way and the Region of Peel will jointly meet with current funded agencies to discuss the findings. The report will also be shared with key committees and there will be a community forum held in the Spring of 2009 to share the overall strategy with the public.

Sandra Solonik advised that through the Community Investment Strategy development process the United Way and the Region of Peel are focussed on building on current undertakings in the community along with building relationships with other funders.

Councillor Moore questioned if there would be any additional community programs funding requests beyond the ones contained in the report. Sandra Solonik responded that the Renewable Project Funding closed in August and that there would not be any further requests for funding.

Councillor Paterak asked if the groups currently receiving multi-year operational funding from the Region will apply again in 2009. Sandra Solonik answered that every group receiving multi-year funding plans to apply next year.

Councillor Paterak questioned if the application process for multi-year operational funding could be altered to ensure that the three year funding cycles do not all end in the same calendar year. Sandra Solonik stated that the proposal would be taken under consideration along with the feedback provided by the community in the Community Investment Report and that she would bring recommendations to a future Grants Ad hoc committee. Keith Ward, Commissioner of Health Services stated that there is a need to review the funding system to determine where and how to invest in the community.

Councillor Moore asked if staff could indentify which of the current funded agencies services the priority areas indentified in the Community Investment Review and the community organizations that support them. David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Peel responded that a chart would be prepared which would list the priority areas and the funded organizations that support each one.

Chair Kolb asked if staff could identify other funding sources each agency receives. He stated this would provide the committee with a greater understanding of the level of investment outside of the Regional funding and provide the Region with an opportunity to commend those funders for their community support in Peel. Sandra Solonik stated that each applicant during the application process identifies all sources of funding so this information would be provided to the committee.

RECOMMENDATION GAC-2-2008:

That the proposed funding levels as outlined in the report of the Commissioner dated September 26, 2008 titled 2009 Community Programs Funding Update be included in the 2009 budget submission.

5. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

6. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

7. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

8. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Grants Ad hoc Committee is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Regional Administrative Headquarters, Council Chamber, 5th floor, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Ralph Martin, Committee Clerk, (905) 791-7800, extension 4330 or to ralph.martin@peelregion.ca.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.