Soldotna City Council members on Wednesday will consider five applications from groups seeking $1,000 through the city’s mini grant program.

In all, five groups are vying for one of the two $1,000 grants available for the current cycle. Awards are limited to $1,000 per recipient per fiscal year. Applications for the current program cycle were accepted by the City of Soldotna from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.

According to the special meeting packet, applications came from Bridges Community Resource Network, Inc. for the 2023 Project Homeless Connect Event; from Cajun Moose Nutrition for the grant opening of a retail store; from Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat Partnership for a Science Symposium; from Surfbyrds Board Art for T-shirt printing; and from Lakeside Falls, LLC for a triathlon meant to raise funds for Alzheimer’s disease awareness.

Applicants will have the opportunity to present to city council members during Wednesday’s special meeting. Council members will then vote on who they would like to receive the grant.

Programs eligible to be funded through the grant include those designed to improve the quality of life of the community, to preserve and promote the area’s history, to provide basic human needs or to improve health services, among other things.

Programs ineligible to be funded through the grant include those that support a political candidate or issue, religious programs or events, large programs that may require years to complete or travel requests for groups or individuals, among other things.

Recent recipients of grant funds include Chera Wackler with the Peninsula Period Network, who has since been elected to the city council, and Jeanne Acton of Bearly Threaded Quilting.

More information from each applicant can be found in the Soldotna City Council’s March 8 special meeting packet at soldotna.org.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.