Some eyebrows were raised at a meeting of Quinte West’s Corporate Finance Committee last night (Wednesday) when the CITY Youth Group asked for a grant of $40,000, double what it received last year.
The Group operates a youth centre in Trenton offering all kinds of programming 5 days a week and has more than tripled in membership and programming since it began a few years ago.
The CITY Youth Group’s Executive Director, Connie Nye-Kaley explained that United Way funding would be dropping this year and that Trillium Grant funding had dried up and most of the extra $20,000 would be used to pay a manager’s salary.
Councillor Sally Freeman said the Group was saving young people’s lives and Mayor Jim Harrison said the Group was doing a great job and he hoped it could be expanded into Trenton’s east side.
The Committee approved the entire $40,000 requested. Council will make the final decision.