Item - 2017.CD22.6

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to allocate, issue and enter into agreements for up to $450,000 in grants through a call for proposals to selected proponents and report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on awards made to the selected grant recipients for the following initiatives:

a.  To support effective Black youth leadership programs including rites of passage, civic and community leadership in support of recommendation 1.3 in the Interim Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

b.  To a not-for-profit organization, in collaboration with Social Development, Finance and Administration to develop a Social Development Plan and support the re-development of Alexandra Park as part of the Downtown West Study.

c.  To an Indigenous led organization to build the capacity of indigenous organizations to respond to service needs and engage their communities in recognition of the City's Statement of Commitment to build the capacity of Indigenous organizations.

d.  To pilot approaches to support emerging neighbourhoods as identified in the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020 to continue to engage residents and build resident leadership to support neighbourhood planning activities.

2.  City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to include in the 2018 budget submission an additional $450,000 to Community Services Partnership Budget to support ongoing partnership development, for consideration in the 2018 budget process.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee:

1.  Requested the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee in the first quarter 2018 on a strategy for collecting disaggregated employment data on positions funded through the Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP).

2.  Requested the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report to the January 2018 Community Development and Recreation Committee meeting on the cost and policy implications for ensuring that all positions funded through the Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP) meet the City's Fair Wage Policy.

This report highlights the impact of the Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP) grants, comprised of six grant programs which represent $32,611,814 million in funding in 2016 for 1,432 projects and programs, serving a total of 1,248,436 residents including many designated groups. It notes the continuing pressures not-for-profits face to secure adequate, sustainable funding to respond to community needs and underscores the need for better systems to gather and report on grant impacts.

The report recommends a one-time funding allocation to build capacity for Black leadership in response to the Interim Anti-black Racism Action Plan. Additionally, three capacity building grants to support the development and implementation of a Social Development Plan as part of the Alexandra Park Re-vitalization, enhance resident leadership in the four Emerging Neighbourhoods as part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020 and expand access to services and events for Indigenous Peoples.