Fort Frances council to consider hiring grant writer

Fort Frances town council has called a special meeting for Monday.

It is to discuss the creation of a new staff position.

Administration wants a person responsible for overseeing government grant applications.

The job is now handled by various staff, whose workloads, according to administration, are already at capacity.

A report to council notes that the increasing complexity of grants and the information required supports the need for a full-time position.

“Comparable small municipalities across Ontario are routinely securing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in external funding annually through proactive grant management and coordinated financial oversight, demonstrating the clear value of dedicated capacity in this area,” states the report filed by Mia Sexton, Human Resources Manager.

“By establishing this role, the Town will significantly enhance its ability to pursue and secure new funding, maintain full compliance with increasingly complex federal and provincial requirements, support major capital and strategic initiatives, and strengthen long-term fiscal planning.”

The report adds that without a coordinator, the town faces the risk of missing out on funding opportunities, being non-compliant with grant terms, and experiencing delays with projects.

It does not indicate if the town has lost out on any grants in the past by not having a coordinator.

Pending council’s approval, administration recommends a salary of between $81,848 and $98,862.