As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Town of Prescott is helping ease the financial burden of the pandemic on local nonprofits.
At this week’s council meeting, the Town agreed to provide the Prescott and District Lions Club, Prescott Curling Club and St. Paul’s United Church with a combined $5,783 in COVID relief funding. The money comes from more than $23,000 allocated to help local nonprofits pay for things like rent, utilities and insurance.
Prescott council member Lee McConnell says further funding may need to be allocated for nonprofits next year. “It doesn’t look like, with this Omicron thing, we’re out of the woods yet,” McConnell says, “and I’m thinking that perhaps the same groups that may be needing support over the last year or so, may need it again, at the very least for the first half of 2022.”
Mayor Brett Todd agrees. “We’re looking at, maybe not enforced restrictions quite yet,” Todd says, “but you’ve gotta figure that we’re gonna have a bit of a rough ride these next few weeks while we see what the full impact [of the Omicron variant] actually is.”
The remaining money that was allocated for nonprofits is being reorganized and put towards the Town’s Shop Local program. The program supports local businesses with initiatives like Prescott Proud Dollars, which can be spent at participating businesses like real money and are given out with purchases.
