City gives youth groups in Summerside $250,000 to help with programming

Summerside has signed a five-year, $250,000 funding agreement with two youth groups in the city, BGC Prince County and Generation XX.

The city will give the two organizations $25,000 each over the next five years to cut red tape and make it easier for them to run programming.

These groups provide after-school programs, mental wellness support and skill-building workshops, among other programming.

Adam Binkley, executive director of BGC Prince County, said the guaranteed funding will help with planning in the coming years.

"It allows us to plan ahead of time. In this day and age, sometimes you don't get funding, you get it from year to year as opposed to knowing five years in advance," he said.

"It's absolutely amazing to know the amount we are going to receive, and for the duration."

Under the agreement with the city, the two organizations will ensure the continued delivery of:

• Youth empowerment programs that promote leadership, confidence and community involvement.
• Safe, inclusive environments where young people can access mentorship, wellness support and peer connection.
• Education and skill development through hands-on learning, workshops and youth-led initiatives.
• Community collaboration through joint programming, events and shared efforts to support youth and families in need.

'Opens the doors of opportunity'

The five-year commitment means the organizations won't have to re-apply for funding every year. 

Binkley said the money allows BGC to hire more staff, expand and have more programs for youth in Prince County. It also gives them a clear sense of how much money will be available and for how long. 

He said funding will not only go toward programming, but also will help support the 109 people BGC Prince County employs.

"I think it opens the doors of opportunity for increased programming, and I think it shows what partnerships can do and what collaboration can do to provide the best professional programming for the children, youth and families of our city."

Summerside Mayor Dan Kutcher said city is looking to do more of this type of investment to help support non-profit organizations.

"One of the burdens that they face is having to do these annual applications for funding, especially if that funding... keeps coming each year," he said. "Being able to provide that certainty to organizations... with municipal funding and support goes a long way."