Lacombe County council approved $102,070 in Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) project funding for 2027 at its Oct. 22 council meeting.

The allocations will support community programs serving children, youth, families and seniors throughout the county.

The approved amount is $4,000 above the $98,070 recommended in the agenda report, with funding included for Youth Unlimited Central Alberta’s young families programming. Administration had recommended no allocation for that program, citing uncertainty about other funding sources following its recent reintroduction and limited project funds.

Lacombe and District FCSS will receive the largest allocation at $26,125, followed by Alix Mirror Wellness Supports Society at $18,355 and Bentley Community Services at $13,690.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lacombe and District will receive $6,000 for mentoring programs. Youth Unlimited Central Alberta will receive $6,000 for youth programming in addition to the $4,000 for young families programming.

Friends of Mirror Library Society will receive $5,400 for community engagement programming.

In Blackfalds, Abbey Centre Camp Curious and FCSS seniors programs will each receive $4,000. Another $4,000 will go to Lacombe FCSS programming serving Clive, Mirror and Tees.

BGC Wolf Creek Lacombe and Eckville and Community Youth Society will each receive $2,500. Eckville Recreation Board’s summer camp and Eckville & Area Children’s Playgroup will each receive $2,000.

Alix Family and Community Support Society will receive $1,500 for its income tax program.

According to the agenda report, staff assessed applications based on the amount requested, previous funding, the number of county residents served, the groups being supported and geographic distribution across the county.

Most applications involved programs for children and youth, although several agencies also sought support for seniors and other adults.

The project allocations are one component of the county’s broader FCSS funding. The school social work and extended home support programs receive the majority of that funding.

The report lists the county’s 2027 provincial FCSS grant at $317,320, unchanged since 2023. The county must contribute at least $79,330 in municipal funding to receive the provincial grant.