Saint John pilot funds security upgrades for businesses affected by crime
local business in Saint John has received roughly $48,000 to deal with crime in the city.
According to a council report, the city approved 13 applications as part of its new Community Resilience Fund.
The fund, approved by council in December, was launched as a two-year pilot program with up to $250,000 available annually to support small businesses and non-profits affected by crime, including property damage, safety concerns and increased security needs.
The city introduced the program along with its Community Safety and Security Team, another two-year pilot program created in response to residents’ concerns about safety and disorder in Waterloo Village, uptown Saint John and the Thorne Avenue–Rothesay Avenue corridor.
The applications were screened by the city’s Community Resilience Fund committee, which received 18 applications in total.
However, according to the report, the committee primarily recommended projects focused on preventive security measures, including surveillance systems, lighting, fencing and surrounding improvements.
“As the first intake of this pilot program, this round demonstrates strong alignments with program objectives and clear demand for initiatives that improve safety and reduce vulnerability to crime,” said staff in the report.
Applications were assessed based on eligibility criteria and a prioritization matrix that took into account:
• Demonstrated need and impact
• Alignment with program objectives
• Reasonableness and eligibility of costs
• Broader community benefit
• Geographic distribution and equity
The maximum reimbursement organizations are eligible for is $7,500.
According to the list of recipients, excursion provider Aquila Tours received $4,813 to upgrade its alarm systems, doors and windows. Maritime Complex Inc. received $7,500 to restore its security door “until a replacement could be source and installed,” and install a security camera system to cover the entire building.
Like Maritime Complex, Kaleidoscope Social Impact — a non-profit dedicated to poverty reduction — received $7,500 to upgrade its security system and add a locking chain-link fence.
Container Village AREA 506 received roughly $371 to add security cameras. Drapery company Albert’s Draperies received $5,873.29 to install new fencing and improve its security system. First Step Housing, a non-profit that provides housing for homeless pregnant women, received $7,500 to remove dense shrubbery, secure the area beneath its balcony with enclosed storage and remove a side ramp.
Other companies and organizations, such as Lancaster Baptist Church, received $655 for security cameras. The Resource Centre, a non-profit, received $4,425 for yard cleanup, fencing and a security camera to monitor its back area. Bar Five and Dime received $1,856.68 for security cameras. Consulting company Resonance Advisors received $1,551 for security cameras and upgrades to door locks. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Saint John received $5,561 for security cameras, and Delish Gourmet Rolled Ice Cream received $144.61 to upgrade security in the shop.
This is the first intake round of the pilot. According to the report, city staff will continue to promote and increase awareness of the program in future rounds.
To ensure accountability and the proper use of funds, recipients who have not yet completed their projects will be required to submit receipts and outcome reports within 90 days before funding is released.
