The UFA Rural Communities Foundation is once again taking applications for its community grant program, which doles out $100,000 annually.
This is the grant’s fourth year, says foundation chair Harvey Hagman.
“We have seen the difference our grants have made to the communities and their projects,” said Hagman. “We made the commitment to give away $100,000 a year for five years and COVID-19 has shown us the importance of these grants. Our goal is to help keep rural Alberta communities sustainable.”
The foundation’s mandate is to improve the sustainability of farmers and ranchers in Alberta by improving access to funding for educational, recreational and cultural facilities and programs in Alberta, the organization says.
Groups eligible to apply include registered charities under the Canada Revenue Agency, registered non-profit organizations who are registered with either their provincial or municipal government and community service co-operatives. The project must be located within 200 kilometres of a UFA location and must be completed within two years.
Pamela Schaub, president, Drayton Valley and District Historical Society, said the $10,000 grant they received allowed them to refinish the floor of a historic church and tell the story of the early days of Drayton Valley.
The professionally refinished floor now brings the church floor back to its original 1937 glory.
“Without the grant we would be fundraising for another five or seven years. We can now use the church to help tell of all the celebrations that took place in the church and area,” said Schaub.
Application forms are available online at rcfufa.com, with the deadline being August 31. Recipients will be announced in October, during Co-operative week.
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