Funding Opportunity: Healthy Communities Initiative
On February 9, the federal government unveiled the Healthy Communities Initiative: a $31 million investment to support communities as they create and adapt public spaces to respond to the new realities of COVID-19.
With funding between $5,000 & $250,000, the Healthy Communities Initiative aims to support local placemaking efforts. Local governments, charities, Indigenous communities and nonprofits are all welcome to apply.
Deadline: March 9, 2021 (Note: a second round of funding will take place in May 2021)
A wide variety of projects are eligible for consideration: pop-up bike paths, community gardens, art installations or Wi-Fi hot spots or other programs and services. The three key streams are:
- Safe and vibrant public spaces - Community projects that create and adapt public spaces, or programming and services for public spaces that improve open spaces, parks, commercial main streets, and access to other amenities. Community projects that adapt public spaces to meet public health guidance.
- Mobility options - Community projects that deliver a range of transportation and mobility options or adaptations that permit physical distancing through solutions that increase safe social connectivity, walkability, bike-ability and access to public transit. Community projects that improve pedestrian and cyclist safety through roadway, sidewalk or crosswalk improvements and adaptations.
- Digital solutions - Community projects that provide digital solutions that use data and technology in innovative ways to connect people and support healthy communities. Community projects that use digital technologies and solutions to encourage citizen engagement, use open data, online platforms or physical digital devices for public benefit.
An overview of eligible projects can be found in the Applicant Guide. Equity will be a key focus of the evaluation process, and applicants will be asked about their community engagement activities and their own organization’s practices around equity.
Visit http://healthycommunitiesinitiative.ca to find out more about how to apply, explore resources for applicants and sign up for community mobilization sessions. Funding for this program is being administered by Community Foundations Canada.
Key Resources
- Community Foundations Canada – Healthy Communities Initiative – http://healthycommunitiesinitiative.ca
- Applicant Guide (PDF)
- Equity Guidance
- Upcoming events on grant writing, placemaking, mobility, and digital solutions theme