Facility Loans

Assessment Process for Facility Loans

The current approval process for facility loans has the Board delegating authority to a sub-group to make loans within the total budget and within the constraints of the programmes. If there are any variations in the assessment, these return to the Board for further discussion.

The new Board discussed this process during the meetings held at the Annual Congress 2022 and asked for a review. They felt that these were significant decisions and approval for the loans should be made by the Board itself and that Commissions could take a role in the assessment process.

It is therefore proposed that when an application is received, World Curling Staff will conduct a preliminary assessment (including, but not limited to, the current liability commitment of the Member Association sponsoring the request, if the formal aspects are fulfilled, etc). The pack is then sent to the Technical and Finance Commissions for feedback before the Board takes a decision.

The Technical and Finance Commissions will be given four weeks to review the documents and raise any questions or clarifications to go back to the applicant. The applicant will then be given the opportunity to respond. Depending on the scale or volume of these responses, the Commissions will be given another two to four weeks to finalise their feedback for the Board, who will make a final decision.

The Technical Commission feedback will be limited to the facility and business plans. The Finance Commission would be tasked to review the Business Plan to evaluate the risks associated with making the loan.

New Facility Loan Programme

World Curling offers interest free loans for the development of new dedicated not-for-profit curling facilities. A loan to the maximum value of $USD 50,000 per sheet is offered over a ten-year period to suitable projects. The loan is repaid in eight equal annual instalments starting on the third anniversary of the payment of the loan. The loan must be guaranteed by the Member Association who will be held liable for the repayments.

Applications for this programme should be made to the World Curling Secretariat in electronic format and should include the following details:

  • DEVELOPMENT PLANS: information on how the facility will be used, what development work is planned to grow the sport within the rink and in the local area
  • LOCATION: detail on the location, any neighbouring facilities and the demographics and accessibility of the area
  • TYPE OF FACILITY: new build, or conversion of an existing building
  • PLANS: Detailed architects plans for the proposed building / conversion
  • OWNERSHIP: Details on the ownership arrangements for the facility
  • MANAGEMENT: If not the owner, then who will operate / manage the building?
  • BUSINESS PLAN: a detailed Business Plan showing an itemised cost for the building or conversion of the facility, sources of funding for financing the build, projected income and expenditure statements for the first ten years of operation, a detailed cashflow for both the build phase and the first ten years of operation
  • GUARANTEE / SECURITY: details of the guarantee/security that will be offered to cover the loan.

Additionally, finance will only be provided for facilities dedicated to curling and no other ice sports, only if financial need is demonstrated and the project will not go ahead without the loan. No loans will be made without security or guarantees of repayment.

The Loan Agreements are subject to an Administration Fee of $USD 450 + Value Added Tax (VAT) payable when the application is made and not to be reimbursed in case an application is rejected due to material deficiencies in the project/application package.

Environment / Energy Efficient Loans

Under a new scheme World Curling will now offer loans to Member Associations who are seeking to improve the Energy Efficiency / Environmental Merits of an existing curling rink. World Curling will provide a loan of up to $USD 100,000 or 50% of the costs involved in the project — whichever is the lower amount — based on the costs of purchase and installation of the Energy Efficiency / Environmental measures taken.

The loan is offered over ten years and is repaid in eight equal annual instalments starting on the third anniversary of the payment of the loan. The loan must be guaranteed by the Member Association who will be held liable for the repayments.

Applications for this programme should be made to the World Curling Secretariat in electronic format and should include the following details:

  • DEVELOPMENT PLANS: information on how the facility will be used, what development work is planned to grow the sport within the rink and in the local area
  • LOCATION: detail on the location, any neighbouring facilities and the demographics and accessibility of the area
  • PLANS: Detailed plans for the proposed work including technical drawings if relevant
  • OWNERSHIP / MANAGEMENT: Details on the ownership and management arrangements for the facility
  • ENERGY SAVINGS / ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT: detailed information on the work planned and the expected outcomes including projected energy savings and environmental impact assessment
  • BUSINESS PLAN: a detailed Business Plan showing an itemised cost for the work, sources of funding for financing it, projected income, and expenditure statements for the first ten years of operation, a detailed cashflow for both the work phase and the next ten years of operation
  • GUARANTEE / SECURITY: details of the guarantee/security that will be offered to cover the loan.

Loans will only be offered to not-for-profit facilities that are dedicated to curling unless exceptional circumstances can be proved.

This loan is not available to projects funded under the New Facility Loan Programme.

The Loan Agreements are subject to an Administration Fee of $USD 450 + Value Added Tax (VAT) payable when the application is made and not to be reimbursed in case an application is rejected due to material deficiencies in the project/application package.

Deferred Payment Scheme (Stones, Scrapers, Ice plant)

For major capital items, we are able to provide a Sale with Payment Deferred scheme (PD) on certain items including curling stones, ice scrapers and Ice Plant.

Costs will be spread over 5 years. Currently all payments are due 31st December.

The full amount of VAT on total sale price has to be paid at time of shipment of the equipment as do any freight costs.

Preference for purchases under this scheme will be given to new facilities and projects that increase the number of curlers playing the sport, a lower priority will be given to replacing existing items, provision for the replacement of which should have been made during the lifecycle of their use.

To receive support under the PD a Member Association must:

  • Apply in writing to the World Curling Secretariat stating the item(s) required.
  • Supply details of where the item(s) will be used and stored and who will be responsible for them.

If your request to purchase is approved a PD Contract will be issued for signing then we would normally help make arrangements for the supply of the item(s) requested.

Please note that the facility receiving the support must be not-for-profit.

Under the current rules, an application can be made to our Development Assistance Programme (DAP) to cover the costs of the annual repayments.

If you do not keep up your payments then the equipment will be reclaimed by World Curling and you will be responsible for the cost of shipping the equipment back.

The Member Association must make no commitment to purchase any equipment which they hope to buy under the PD prior to receiving written approval of the application from World Curling.

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