At the first Council meeting of 2023, Council awarded funding through the Community Investment Program, assisting eight local organizations and events:

  • Big Jack Classic –1stAnnual Fishing Derby$2,000February 18-20 at Buffalo Lake
  • Big Valley Kids Christmas $500Annually in December
  • Big Valley Minor Hockey $500 Big Valley Bandits (Atom) Jerseys
  • Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre Society $500 Spring Banquet and Silent Auction
  • Stettler District Agricultural Society $500 Alberta High School Rodeo Senior Provincial Finals June 1-4, 2023
  • Stettler District Music Festival $500April 13-29, 2023
  • Stettler High School Rodeo Club $500Stettler Junior & High School Rodeo August 24-27, 2023
  • Stettler Steel Wheel Stampede $2,500June 9-10, 2023

Council introduced the Community Investment Program in order to streamline sponsorship requests from community groups in a more equitable way. Sponsorship requests are accepted by the County June through December 31, and then presented to Council for consideration in January. Requests are also accepted January through May and presented in June each year. Council provides a specific amount annually through budget to assist community groups each year.

“We review all requests received at the County of Stettler, which we take in and consider twice a year in January and then again in May, and we try to assist as many community-building events we can, which add value to our community and residents,” noted Reeve Larry Clarke.

One other application received from Stettler & District Home Support Association was considered for funding, however Council felt the Community Investment Program was not the correct avenue for their funding request, and instead chose to award their full request for $4820 from the County of Stettler’s Rural Development Fund. 

Stettler & District Home Support Association provides Meals on Wheels, light house cleaning, laundry, caring companionship/respite care and hand and foot nail care to seniors and persons with disabilities with lower income experiencing social, emotional and physical and mental health difficulties. The funding received from the County of Stettler will cover staff travel time and mileage expenses for County residents accessing these services, so those are not passed on to the clients. On average, their Aides travel 7,000 km annually supporting clients in the County of Stettler aiding an average of three County clients each month. This funding will now allow them to refrain from charging rural clients mileage and travel time on top of the hourly service rate, enabling more lower-income clients in our rural area to access their services

.For more information on the County of Stettler’s Community Investment Program policy and deadlines, visit www.StettlerCounty.ca