Providence City Council to Create Youth Sports Fund & Grant Program

Nov 7, 2019 | 0 comments

Tonight Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) will be introducing an amendment to the Code of Ordinances that would set-up a fund specifically for the support of Providence non-profit youth sports programs. The amendment is being co-sponsored by Council President Pro-Tempore Michael Correia.

The fund is being set-up as a way to deter panhandling or soliciting by these organizations. The fund will require that any youth sports group which receives funding from the program will be prohibited from panhandling or soliciting on or around any roadway or where traffic is present.

“As I travel around the City I often see young athletes ‘canning’ at some of our City’s busiest intersections,” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “As a mother that gives me great concern that these young people are risking their personal safety to get the funds they need to support their programs, and I asked my team to look at how we can mitigate ‘canning’ and help provide the support that these groups might need.”

The Youth Sports Fund & Grant Program will be held in a separate permanent fund of the city and will be held in trust by the City Treasurer. The fund will be administered by the City’s Recreational Advisory Board who will grant funding to Providence-based local non-profit youth sports organizations. The fund will be seeded with $40K annually through an appropriation from the City’s budget. The fund will support funding for equipment, costs associated with travel to compete, and to participate in sports-related activities.

City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia added, “I am thrilled that we have found a way to support our local non-profit youth sports programs that do so much for our community and our young people. This fund will provide access to those groups that need it, and is set-up to ensure that we are supporting as many of our youth sports organizations as we possibly can.

Once the amendment is passed and the fund is created the City Treasurer will work with the Recreational Advisory Board to help implement a grant submission application.

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