Swift Current has revealed their local applicants in their bid to the 2023-24 Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program.

So long as a non-profit group plans to use the money to help promote sports, culture or recreation within Swift Current, they are eligible to apply under the City of Swift Current's application.

This year, 71 different applications are going into the City's bid.

Nicole Spenst, the events and program manager for the City of Swift Current, presented the list of local applicants to city council.

"The City of Swift Current is allocated funding through the Community Support Grants of Sask Lotteries based on our population size," explained Spenst. "We then take that money and allocate it to non-profit sport, culture and recreation groups within our community."

The City expects that their bid will garner a total of $114,900, based on the current population. This money will be distributed to groups based on their individual needs. 

The events and activities that will be supported by this money must be operating from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. If anyone applies for anything outside this time frame, they are disqualified. 

Applications were being accepted by the City during a five-week period, ending on February 14, 2023. Of the 72 received, only one was rejected as it needed to meet the various criteria considered upon evaluation. This one rejection was of the Swift Current Repair Cafe because the grant money would not help get residents involved with sports, culture, or recreation in this endeavour. 

"We look to ensure 75 per cent of the residents participating in the activities are from the City of Swift Current," said Spenst. "We also look to ensure that the program is providing sport, culture, and recreation." 

In total, almost $225,000 was requested in funding through the community grant applications. Everyone who applied should receive some support from the City. 

"We are very fortunate to have some amazing non-profit sport, culture, and recreation programs in our community," said Spenst. "Organizations that help to provide programs to keep us healthy in our community. These programs are vital in ensuring that we have quality opportunities to stay active."