No money in Tignish budget for community development group

However, council chairman Allan McInnis said his council is open to working with the community development organization.

McInnis offered that assurance during a discussion with Tignish Initiatives’ general manager, Anne Arsenault, at the annual meeting.

Arsenault expressed disappointment in not being provided funds for the not-for-profit organization this year, pointing out the Community of Tignish realizes more than $20,000 annually through taxes on properties Tignish Initiatives owns.

McInnis said council was interested in providing funding again this year, but the organization’s application was not properly filled out, even after being returned for revisions.

He explained that council put a policy in place last year requiring applicants to detail how the money it provides through grants is spent.

“Other groups filled out the application properly, and they did receive grants,” he pointed out.

“You can’t overlook the regulations for any one identity, because it wouldn’t be fair for the rest.”

Arsenault said her board didn’t feel the application process fit with what they were applying for.

Tignish Initiatives had previously received $10,000 annually from the municipality, and council was only providing $14,000 in grants for all applicants combined this year.

“It is our view, as a valuable partner, Tignish Initiatives should’ve had a line item in your budget, given our role in community economic development, or, at the very least, given a property tax rebate in the amount of our grant,” Arsenault commented.

In her presentation to council, she listed many of the projects Tignish Initiatives undertakes in the area, including securing the future of properties that otherwise would have been derelict.

Tignish Initiatives secured the DFO Catch Certification lease in 2013 and brought 22 full-time jobs to the community.

There are also seven full-time Waste Watch jobs in the community, she said.

Tignish Initiatives has three full-time and 16 full-time seasonal positions in Tignish.

It also manages a number of businesses in and around Tignish including Dalton Annex commercial building, Tignish Cultural Centre, the Tignish post office property, Tignish Treasures Gift Shop, Holiday Island Productions and Heritage Inn and gardens.

“We have actually been a revenue generator for this community for more than 20 years,” Arsenault told council.

Tignish Initiatives will get working on a district heating project in Tignish this spring with hopes of having it commissioned by fall, she added.

It also helped with beautification projects that have earned Tignish national recognition through Communities in Bloom.