Cut to grant puts VCC’s future in jeopardy

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Published on Thursday, April 28, 2016

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

For the Viscount Cultural Council (VCC), losing half of their annual grant from the Town of Neepawa came as a surprise. On April 19, the Town of Neepawa presented the first reading of their 2016-2017 budget, which included cuts to the grants distributed by the municipality to local organizations.

Kathleen Guillas, of the VCC, explained that last year, their grant was $10,000 and the year previous, it had been $12,000. This year, they will be receiving just $5,000. This money helps fund the operations of the Viscount Cultural Centre and Guillas says the loss of funding puts the centre’s future in jeopardy.  “We might not be able to be here,” she said. 

Guillas said that the organization had asked that the town commit to a reliable level of funding, so the organization can know what numbers they are working with each year. 

For now, the loss of funding will have an effect on the organization’s planned Jam Fest and market garden, two initiatives that were started last year in order to offer more summer activities to Neepawa and area residents after the loss of the Lily Festival. She said that these events, which don’t raise much money for the organization, might have to be put on hold. 

For now, Guillas said that they are looking at ways of raising more money, or cutting expenses, which might include closing the centre for the summer.