Recipients of gaming grant funding are in a less-than-celebratory mood despite the latest round of disbursements from the provincial government.
Following the release of $1.1 million to 98 Prince George groups on March 24, a further $516,055 was announced on April 8, most of it a top up to organizations who already received money in the first round.
The extra cash raised the total to $1.6 million, but it still amounted to significantly less than the $3.8 million distributed to 141 groups over the course of the 2010-11 fiscal year and even groups who did qualify for funding under new criteria are feeling the pinch.
Between the two announcements, Prince George Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) received $57,500 compared to $85,000 last year and cuts to services will be made, said executive director Jamie Kranrod.
"We've had to lay staff off, we've had to shorten work weeks and the direct result of that is we've had to cap intake inquiries from both volunteers and from children," Kranrod said.
There is still a chance groups will receive more money but they will have to wait until the next "application cycle" later in the year.
For human and social service groups like BBBS, the cycle starts Aug. 1 and ends Nov. 30 and the final notification on who will receive money from that round is Feb. 28.
After receiving $60,000 last year, AimHi has been given $15,000 for 2011-12 so far. Lee Miners, the organization's supplies and properties co-ordinator said AimHi will be able to make ends meet until the next round of funding but worried about the smaller groups.
"The big issue, of course, is smaller agencies are going to have a very difficult time putting that money out on the hope that this [additional funding] will eventually come about," Miners said.
With Christy Clark the new premier, responsibility for game grants has been moved to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Miners noted.
"With a new ministry, we don't really know if there are going to be further changes between now and when those grants come out too," Miners said.
A call to the Northern Interior Community Association on Friday afternoon was not returned.
