Sports, adult arts, animal welfare and environmental organizations are once again eligible to apply for grants from provincial gambling revenues.
The B.C. government had declared these groups ineligible when it cut the budget for community grants in 2008.
The total fund remains at $135 million, where it was set last year by Premier Christy Clark.
Clark had restored $15 million of the $36 million that had been cut from the fund. Reinstated groups will receive $8 million, with $6 million allocated to adult arts, culture and sports organizations. The remaining $7 million will fund groups affected by reductions the past three years.
Clark appointed former Kwantlen University president Skip Triplett to hold hearings around B.C. She and Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong released Triplett's report Wednesday in Victoria. They promised to find a way to provide multi-year funding instead of making community groups apply every year for grants.
"Obviously we're happy to have some money reinstated," said David Stapley, project manager of the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy. "Groups hopefully would receive a higher amount, and of course if wouldn't be this year. They wouldn't actually receive their money until 2013."
Amounts received will depend on the manner in which applications are processed, he added.
While the pot is smaller, Stapley said government has expanded the eligibility and the criteria.
"What that means is more groups would likely apply," Stapley said, noting the CVCS received no funding one year. "We'll see what happens next year when we apply."
He applauds the regional district board for forwarding the issue at the past Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
"They weren't the only local government to bring that issue forward," Stapley said, noting a motion to restore gaming funds passed unanimously. "We're moving in the right direction."
“It is very exciting to hear the premier say that funding the arts is a high priority for her and this government,” Matthew Payne, president of the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria, said in a statement.
Clark said financial pressure made it difficult to maintain the grant budget at $135 million, and did not allow restoring it to its 2008 peak of $156 million.
The Province will also increase support for other organizations such as fairs, festivals, youth arts and community service that have suffered funding cuts the past three years.
The Province takes in about $1 billion a year from casinos, pub games, online gambling and lotteries.
Triplett's report said the grant program was established in 1998 to replace revenue that charities raised by running their own casinos and bingo games. Over the years, eligibility rules were changed several times, but the purpose of the grant program was never formally defined.
The Province will conduct a special intake of applications from Jan. 16 to Feb. 13 to ensure groups are eligible for funding this fiscal year. Interested organizations will be required to apply online.
With file from Tom Fletcher, Black Press