Community Pandemic Recovery Fund

Community Pandemic Recovery Fund

In response to the wide-ranging impact of the community, Kawartha Lakes Council made available a Community Pandemic Recovery Fund (CPRF) of $500,000. The purpose of the funding was to provide support for programs and services that assist residents in meeting their basic human service needs.

Eligible organizations include non-profit and community service providers in the broader health and human services sector. Organizations must be an incorporated non-profit organization or registered charity. The goals of the CPRF were to encourage the necessary collaboration and sharing of resources, foster the essential innovation of operations and practice, build capacity to foster long-term stability, and to establish intentional progressive planning.

Community Pandemic Recovery Task Force wraps up successful term

At the October 5, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting, a report to Council offered sincere thanks to the task force members including: Co-Chairs Heather Kirby of Kawartha Lakes Food Source and Amy Terrill of BGC Kawartha Lakes, Councillors Ron Ashmore, Pat Dunn, Doug Elmslie and Tracy Richardson, Penny Barton Dyke, United Way of Kawartha Lakes, Marina Hodson, Kawartha North Family Health Team, Lynda Nydam, Children’s Services Council of Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton, Pam Stuckless, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. Staff representatives included former Kawartha Lakes Fire Chief, Mark Pankhurst and Director of Human Services, Rod Sutherland.

The Community Pandemic Recovery Fund distributed $288,000 to 15 organizations to support operating costs, technology, personal protective equipment/sanitizing for operations and program development in response to COVID-19.

The Task Force also recommended that Council waive the 50% matching contribution for the Community Project Capital Funding Program for 2021 and 2022 to ensure community organizations could move forward with important projects. Visit the dedicated webpage for more information on the recipients and the projects involved.

A variety of workshops and information sessions were developed and delivered in 2020 and 2021 aimed at building capacity in community agencies for critical skills such as grant writing, social media and digital literacy, mental health supporting strategies. More workshops are on the way including:

• Strategic planning after COVID-19
• Wellness Support for Employees and Volunteers
• Legal and HR Implications for COVID-19
• Online Fundraising
• Event Planning Online
• Communications
• Volunteer Succession Planning
• Change Management
• Grant Writing

Subscribe to the municipal calendar of events to be made aware of upcoming workshops.

To track continued recovery progress, the municipality will complete an annual “vital signs” survey of community services, reporting results to all participants and publishing results starting in 2022.

If you have any questions about the CPRF, please email hrussett@kawarthalakes.ca or call 705-324-9870 ext. 3228.

Read more about Economic and Community Recovery efforts on our Jump In Kawartha Lakes website.

Second round

Additional funds granted to six community organizations involved in pandemic recovery in Kawartha Lakes

On June 15, 2021, the second round of funding under the Community Pandemic Recovery Fund (CPRF) was adopted by Council. The Fund was established in January 2021 and the first round of funding totalling $245,000 was awarded in March. The purpose of the funding is to provide support for programs and services that assist residents in meeting their basic human service needs.

The second round of funding was approved by Council in April and the successful applications are listed below. All six applications totalling $42,500 in requests were recommended to Council by the Evaluation Committee.

“We are thrilled that these community organizations were able to access the second round of funding. Coming out of the pandemic, their work will continue to be a critical lifeline in the health, safety and well-being of residents. It will benefit people of all ages, from children to seniors. We are grateful to Council for supporting this funding,” commented Heather Kirby of Kawartha Lakes Food Source, Co-chair of the Community Pandemic Recovery Task Force.

The balance of CPRF funds not awarded ($6,662.48) under the Community Pandemic Recovery Fund will be returned to the City Reserve.

First round

The first application period closed March 1 and the Community Pandemic Recovery Fund Evaluation Committee has reviewed all applications and awarded $245,000 to the qualifying organizations listed in the chart below. The balance of $205,668 in Lindsay Legacy CHEST Funds that was not awarded has been released to the Lindsay Legacy CHEST Fund Grant Committee and their distribution process will be reinstated.