Those planning to celebrate Canada’s confederation are being offered funding for projects in their communities.
People may celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary with up to $150,000 for a community project through Co-op Community Spaces, said a release from Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL).
Co-op Community Spaces is a funding initiative that supports projects in western Canada dedicated to recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture. Projects that are funded receive between $25,000 and $150,000, which is up from the $100,000 maximum offered in 2016. Co-op will increase total funding to $2 million in 2017 as compared to $1.5 million in 2016.
"The need to support community-led initiatives remains high in light of the economic slowdown in western Canada," said Vic Huard, executive vice-president of strategy at FCL. "Co-op will continue to give back and invest in our communities. Co-op Community Spaces provides the opportunity to celebrate western Canadian communities and the efforts of the people behind important local projects."
The program was launched in 2015 in order to protect, beautify and improve local spaces. Since its launch, it has provided $2.5 million to 37 projects, including parks, greenhouses and sports fields. The program is administered by FCL on behalf of the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) and registered non-profit organizations, charities or community service co-operatives are invited to apply online between February 1 and March 1.
Co-op needs the help of local people to fund great community projects in Western Canada and encourages everyone to tell friends and local community groups about Co-op Community Spaces by February 15 for a chance to win a $500 gift card.
Those who wish to learn more about Community Spaces, apply for funding or enter the contest may visit communityspaces.ca.
FCL, based in Saskatoon, is the 56th largest company in Canada and is the largest non-financial co-operative in Canada. It is a wholesaling, manufacturing, marketing and administrative co-operative owned by 200 autonomous retail co-operatives across western Canada, which form the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS). The CRS serves members and communities with products and services that help build, feed and fuel people in Canada. It has a total of 24,500 employees who serve 1.8 million active individual members and many more non-member customers at 2,500 retail locations in more than 500 communities.
