Author: TW_ADMIN_01

Purpose: To establish a policy that ensures an accountable, objective, and fair process for funding requests.

Policy: The Town of Wentworth may award funding, as permitted by law, on an annual basis to groups that provide programs or services to the citizens of Wentworth. The Wentworth Town Council will consider funding requests during its annual budget work sessions in March and April. Town Council and Staff will conduct the following analysis when considering funding requests:

• Funds requested must be expended for the benefit of the citizens as a whole and not solely for the benefit of particular persons or interests.
• Funds may only be granted for programs, services, or activities that the Town has authority to support directly. Towns/Cities do not have the authority to provide funding to schools. The Town may consult with legal counsel to determine whether it has the authority to support a project.
• Based on the nature of each request, Town Council will provide clear guidelines and directives as to how the funds should be spent.
• Upon completion of the project, a report must be submitted to the Town Council including information on how the project benefitted the citizens of Wentworth, and a detailed list of the expenditures made with funds provided by the Town.

Procedures:

1. Application Process

• The Funding Request Application is available on the Town’s website and in the Finance Office at the Wentworth Town Hall.
• All agencies/groups who wish to be considered for funding must complete an application and return it to the Finance Office on or before February 24th. Applications received after February 24th will not be considered for the upcoming annual budget unless the applicant can demonstrate extraordinary circumstances that warrant consideration of the untimely submitted application.
• Applications that are incomplete will be deemed ineligible for funding that year.
• Submission of a complete application does not guarantee funding.
• Applicants must attend a Council meeting to present their request to Council and answer any questions that Council may have about the application.

1. Review & Funding Process

• Eligible applications will be reviewed by the Town Administrator and the Finance Officer.
• A recommendation for funding and, if funding is recommended, a proposed funding amount will be presented to the Town Council for consideration as part of the annual budget process.
• Upon Town Council’s approval of the annual budget, grant notification letters will be sent to all who submitted applications for funding, whether or not the request was approved.
• Applications do not automatically renew. Agencies that have received funding in the past must reapply for funding annually.

Funding Criteria: Applications will be reviewed and recommended for funding based on the following criteria. All applicants should:

• Submit a completed application by published deadline.
• State the community need for services and provide a service that meets the descriptions in the policy statement above.
• State achievable, outcome-based goals and outline a plan to meet goals.
• Demonstrate diversity of funding sources.
• Council reserves the right to request information regarding the current financial condition of any grant applicant.

Requirements to Receive Funding:

• An annual performance report documenting the use of the Town’s funds and the accomplishments of the program will be submitted by any recipient of funds at the end of the Town’s fiscal year.
• The Town Council, at its discretion, may require an examination of any group/agency’s financial statements.
• Failure to comply with any of the above requirements may result in suspension of current funding and/or elimination of future funding.

Contact Us:
Phone: 336-342-6288
Fax: 336-342-0322

Website: www.townofwentworth.com
Email: townhall@townofwentworth.com

Mailing address:
PO Box 159
Wentworth, NC 27375
Street address:
124 Peach Tree Road

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