Curve Lake Community

CURVE LAKECOMMUNITY GAMING REVENUE FUND - GUIDEBOOK

COMMUNITY GAMING REVENUE FUND

Applicant Guidebook

The applicant guidebook contains detailed information concerning applicant and project eligibility to help you complete a Statement of Intent or an Application form.

PageContents

2.Organization Chart

3.Goals and objectives

4.Budget

5.Applicant Eligibility

6.Project Eligibility & Project Cost Allocation

7.Checklist Assessment for Applicant and Project Eligibility

8.Application Process

9.Approval/Appeals Process/Where to apply

10.Frequently Asked Questions

11.Glossary of Terms

ORGANIZATION CHART

The Curve Lake Community Gaming Revenue Fund is a grant program providing Curve Lake First Nation membership with the opportunity to access money allocated from Casino Rama Revenue in an effort to enhance our community.

Casino Rama Revenue is provided to Curve Lake First Nationfrom the Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership (OFNLP) as “net revenues” plus income derived from investment of those “net revenues” and “Future Generations Fund revenues”.

The community projects that will be supported must benefit the Curve Lake Community and fit one of the five designated areas of health, education, community development, cultural development, and economic development.

Goal

To establish and maintain the Curve Lake Community Gaming Revenue Fund as a continual means for funding projects/activities that benefit the CurveLake community as a whole.

Objectives

To financially support community projects/activities that do not have adequate sources of funding.

To ensure funds are approved according to the guidelines of the OFNLP and policies and procedures approved byChief and Council.

To process funding requests in a consistent, professional and timely manner.

To ensure the Gaming Revenue Fund application process is simplified to attract more projects and more community involvement.

To report regularly to Chief and Council and the Community of any changes to the policy and procedures and of any funding activity or decisions. Annual meetings will be scheduled to review previous year end activities and reports, to modify the application process (if required), and present proposed financial budgets and reports.

BUDGET

The Curve Lake Community Gaming Revenue Fund budget is based on Surplus from previous year expenditures, plus any OFNLP deposits received in the current year plus any monies remaining after reinvesting the interest of the investment accountconsidering the Canadian inflation rate at the end of each fiscal year.

2005/06
Budget / 2006/07
Budget / 2006/07 Expenses / 2006/07
Surplus / 2007/08
Budget
Distribution / 2007/08
Expenses / 2007/08
Surplus / 2008/
2009
Budget
Investment Interest / $-30,902.05 / $217,396.00
OFNLP
Deposits / $504,541.00 / $504,541.00
(f/y 05/06) / $193,583.00
(f/y 06/07)
Administrative
5% / $ 23,681.95 / $15171.02 / $8,510.93 / $33,122.35
Individual
10% / $ 44,995.70 / nil / $44,995.70 / $66,244.69
Group
Committee
40% / $179,982.80 / $7,000.00 / $172,982.80 / $264,978.77
Department
Corporation
45% / $224,978.50 / $200,000.00 / $24,978.50 / $298,101.12
Other: Chief & Council (Land Purchase)
Total Budget / $473,638.95 / $222,171.02 / $662,446.93 / $662.446.93

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

Individual Applicant: A single person applying to the fund (also referred to as the Lead applicant) whom is responsible for all aspects of the project.

Group Applicant: A group of two or more people applying to the fund to achieve a common goal/benefit to the communitymust be 75% Curve Lake First Nation status members. The Group must identify a Lead Applicant who is a status member to be responsible for all aspects of the project.

Department, Committee, Corporation: Must be recognized by the First Nation and requires a letter of support signed by the General Manager. The Department, Committee or Corporation must identify a Lead Applicant who is a status member to be responsible for all aspects of the project.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

Must be a CLFN status member (unless applying as part of a group) on or off reserve. You will need to provide proof of your status by presenting your status card to the Administrator.

Must be at least 21 years of age

Must be willing to provide a CPIC (prior to receiving funding). The cost of the CPIC can be submitted as part of the total project costs. A CPIC can be waived in the instance where payment on behalf of the Applicant can be made directly to the supplier upon presentation of an invoice.

Must be willing to provide a Credit Check. A housing or renovation loan with CLFN is acceptable. CLFN Finance Department willbe contacted to confirm that any loans with CLFN (including Economic Development Small Business Loan), are in good standing and not in arrears. A Credit Check may be waived in the instance where payment on behalf of the Applicant can be made directly to the supplier upon presentation of an invoice.

Applicant must invest 5% equity into the total project cost and indicate the source and use of the equity. The 5% does not have to be a cash contribution. 5% contribution in kind such as donated labor costs can be used as equity. The 5% contribution from the Applicant must be identified with the Application and reported in the form of receipts on the Project Report Forms.

Applicant is allowed to apply more than once per year up to the maximum. Preference will be given to first time applicants.

Applicant must be aware that The Community Gaming Revenue Fund is a Community Fund and that regular project reporting to the Community is required.

Applicant must not be in receipt of any personal gain from the project. Management of the project is strictly voluntary

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

Project must fit one or more of the 5 eligible categories:

Health

Education

Community Development

Cultural Development

Economic Development

Benefit must last beyond project funding

Project must be completed within 1 year or reimbursement of funds to the gaming Revenue fund is required.

Project must benefit the community (i.e. beautification, social betterment, improved environment)

Department, Committee or Corporationprojects must be unique and not duplicate or extend an ongoing project.

Project must not provide any personal gain to Applicant. Management of funding is voluntary.

Applicant must demonstrate that other funding sources have been approached and that funding for the project is not eligible or already exhausted.

Eligible costs to be determined on a project by project basis (i.e. materials, capital, travel)

PROJECT COST ALLOCATION

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICANT AND PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

(Please review the following criteria before submitting your request for funding. This checklist is used to assess all funding requests to ensure fairness and accountability. Please note that all project approvals are subject to the availability of funds.)

Applicant, Lead Applicant and Co-applicant (if applicable) are Curve Lake First Nation band members

Group applications have membership of at least 75% Curve Lake First Nation members

Applicant and co-applicant (if applicable) is 21 years of age or older

Applicant is willing to provide a Credit Check

Applicant is willing to provide a CPIC

Department, Committee or Corporation is recognized by CLFN and the Applicant has provided a letter of support from General Manager.

Applicant has demonstrated that the project is unique and does not duplicate or extend an ongoing project (for a Department, Committee or Corporation request)

Project/Activity falls under one or more of the 5 eligible categories of Health, Education, Community Development, Economic Development, Cultural Development

Applicant has demonstrated the project/activity will benefit the community as a whole (letters of support or petition may be required) i.e. social betterment, beautification, improved environment, healthy lifestyle, employment created, etc)

Applicant has demonstrated that the project/activity will be completed within 1 year.

Applicant has demonstrated that other funding sources have been approached and/or exhausted. If a project is partially funded by an alternate source, the amount of funding must be identified.

Applicant is not in receipt of any personal gain and that management of the project is strictly voluntary.

Applicant is able to identify where to contribute 5% equity into the project

Budgets have been provided and quotes from at least 3 sources for all project costs. Capital costs must be identified as one time; operating and maintenance costs must be identified separately.

Physical assets recommended to be purchased or built must have life-cycle costing projections (i.e. illustrate how the value of assets will decline annually.

APPLICATION PROCESS

APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Administrator notifies Applicant with results of application decision including full contracting obligations, reporting forms and applicable deadlines. Project Reporting forms include:

Progress Status Report: This form reports the progress of your project/activity as it relates to the approved budget and schedule of events proposed on your application form. The Applicant will be required to submit receipts and report on scheduled purchases or activities accomplished to date as well as the impact of unplanned conditions/activities to the project.

Project Evaluation Report: The final report on the completion of the project/activity.The Applicant will describe all activities that were accomplished as per schedule and identify any activities not accomplished with follow up action. All receipts for expenditures are to be submitted with the final Evaluation Report. Any surplus monies are to be reimbursed to the Gaming Revenue Fund with the completed Evaluation Report.

All Applicants will be requested to submit any concerns or recommendations for improvement of our application process to the Administrator.

The Administrator will ensure all documents have been signed and submitted prior to issuing any funds.

The Administrator will contact the Applicant to come in and sign for cheque issuance.

The Administrator will ensure that all project progress is reported and that the Community is kept current of all project developments.

APPEALS PROCESS

If the Administrator has refused to fund a project that the Applicant feels is eligible, the Applicant has the right to appeal to the Community Gaming Revenue Fund Committee. If the Community Gaming Revenue Fund Committee supports the decision of the Administrator and also refuses to fund the project, the Applicant can then appeal to Chief and Council at which time a final decision will be made. It is the responsibility of the Applicant and the Administrator to provide all support documentation to be presented to Chief & Council. The appeals process is based on the organizational structure found on Page 2 of the guidebook.

WHERE TO APPLY

Please forward original Statement of Intent or Application forms to:

Gaming Revenue Fund Administrator

CurveLake Community Gaming Revenue Fund

Curve Lake, Ontario K0L 1R0

Phone: (705) 657-8045 Fax: (705) 657-8078

Email:

COMMUNITY GAMING REVENUE FUND – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

QUESTIONANSWER

How do I know my project is eligible?We encourage involvement of the Gaming Revenue Fund Administrator to ensure documents are accurate and that applications are processed in a timely manner. Page 8 of the Guidebook provides assessment criteria to help applicants determine project eligibility.

How much money do I need to apply?5% of the total project cost is required. If you cannot provide the 5%, you may consider fund raising (bake sale, dance, 50/50 draw) to help offset the required 5%.

Does the 5% contribution have to be cash?No, the 5% contribution can be donated in the form of labor, equipment or materials, but must demonstrate that the cost is at least equal to 5% of the total project cost.

Where or to whom do we pay the 5% contributionthe 5% equity must be reported as an expense

If we are paying in cash?of the project in the form of a paid receipt.

If the donated labor or material is worth more thanNo. One of the rules of the fund is that there be

the 5% required contribution, do I get paid for the no personal financial gain from the project.

difference?

Do I qualify for funding if I have an outstandingYes. You are okay to have a debt with CLFN outstanding debt with CLFN? (housing or renovation loan), but your account

needs to be in good standing and not in arrears.

I am a CLFN member, but live outside of You can still access funding, but the benefit must

CurveLake, Can I still apply for funding?Be within the CurveLake Community.

Can a group of people or team apply for You can apply as a group, but you need one lead

funding?applicant and 75% of your group must be CLFN status members.

What if my project benefits only a portionThis project would be considered eligible especially

of the Curve Lake Community – for instanceif the project makes our Youth stronger or the Seniors

Youth or Seniors?healthier. The benefit would be a stronger, better

Community.

How long does the process take?Review of the Statement of Intent for your project should

be completed within one week. The overall process for

funding a project should not take more than a month

providing all documents are completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership (OFNLP):Established by First Nations to monitor the operation of Casino Rama Revenue.

Gaming Revenue Fund: A Grant program based on net revenue and future generations monies distributed by OFNLP on behalf ofCasino Rama net revenue.

Grant: A grant approved by the Gaming Revenue Fund Committee to an eligible individual for an eligible project that does not have to be repaid.

Lead Applicant: The person responsible for managingall aspects of the project/activity who will liaise with the Administrator and the Community Gaming Revenue Fund Committee.

Individual Applicant:A single person applying for project funding to the Gaming Revenue Fundintending to manage projects fitting within the eligibility criteria of applicants and projects. This person is also referred to as the Lead Applicant,

Group Applicant:A group of two or more people applying to the Gaming Revenue Fundintending to manage projects fitting within the eligibility criteria applicants and projects. 75% of the Group must be Curve Lake First Nation status members.

Community Benefit: All approved projects/activities must demonstrate100% benefit to the entire Curve Lake Community. Letters of support or petitions may be submitted to help demonstrate this benefit of social betterment, beautification, improved environment, healthy lifestyle, employment created etc.

Statement of Intent: A summary of the project submitted prior to the formal application to assess applicant and project eligibility.

Application: A summary of the project/activity detailing proposed costs, budgets and financial proposals and forecasted project completion dates.

CPIC: A criminal reference checkobtained from the Anishinabek Police Services in Curve Lake that may be included as part of the project cost.

Credit Check: Confirmation from CLFN Finance will be requested to see if your debt with CLFN (mortgage or renovation loan) is current and in good standing (not in arrears).

Life cycle costing projections: A report showing the yearly decline in value of assets either built or purchased (this is similar to the depreciation of a vehicle).

Capital Costs: One-time costs for purchases of machinery, equipment, and buildings with a value of over $500.00.

5% Equity: the applicant must contribute 5% of the total project costs into the project. This can be contributed in cash, purchases or labour donated to help offset project costs.