MLA Broyce Jacobs

With the school year upon us, and the provincial legislative session soon to resume with a new Premier, we are looking ahead to making progress for Alberta’s future.  
The commencing of session will require me to be in Edmonton more often, so I was pleased to attend many events throughout the constituency this past month. They included the grand opening of the Cardston Outfall Project and the Alberta Farm Safety Center Annual Dinner & Social in Raymond.  I also joined the Milk River seniors attheir monthly luncheon social.  
I had the pleasure and honour this month to present Community Facility Enhancement Grant cheques to the Chief Mountain Recreation Association for facility upgrades to their senior’s centre, the Magrath Lions Club for equipment purchases for the Diamond Willow Park,and the Cardston & District Association for the Handicapped for the facility upgrades to the Bargain Barn.  Also, I presented two Community Initiatives cheques to the Taber Rodeo Association for facility upgrades to the Taber Rodeo Arena, and to the Town of Taber Library Board for equipment purchases for the Taber Library.
Are you involved with an Alberta nonprofitor charitable organization?  Do you donate financially to these organizations? If the answer is yes to either question, you’ll want to know that applications are now being accepted for the 2011 Community Spirit Program donation grant.
Eligible charities and nonprofitorganizations can receive up to $25,000 per year (to a maximum of $50,000 over three years) as long as they’re incorporated and/or registered in Alberta and have been operating for a minimum of one year.  The grants are donor–driven, meaning they are based on – and encourage – Albertans’ cash donations to their favourite organizations.  
One of the key benefits of the donation grant is its flexibility:  organizations can use grants to support operations, programs and/or capital projects.  Since 2008, the program has distributed $52.9 million to 5,031 successful applicants throughout the province.  
To be eligible, an organization must be incorporated and/or registered in Albertaand operating for a minimum of one year.  It must also demonstrate it has received a minimum total of $1,000 in eligible cash donations from individual Albertans over a completed 12-month period.
Applications are being accepted until December 31.  Visit www.communityspiritprogram.cafor more information.  
It’s always a great pleasure to be able to meet constituents of all backgrounds and ages. If you have any questions, concerns or issues you’d like to discuss, please feel free to contact my office in Cardston at 403-653-5100 or in Taber at 403-223-0001. I can also provide congratulatory scrolls for birthdays 65 years and older and wedding anniversaries in five year increments, starting at 25 years.