Farm Credit Canada (FCC) continues its commitment to bolstering the Canadian rural landscape with a significant $1.5 million investment. This funding, delivered through the FCC AgriSpirit Fund, has been distributed to 86 diverse community groups across the nation.
With a track record spanning two decades, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund's efforts have been nothing short of transformative. Perry Wilson, the FCC senior vice-president of Ontario operations, expressed his pride in the extensive array of projects and organizations the fund has supported. Over its 20-year history, this initiative has championed 1,615 projects with an astounding cumulative investment of $21 million.
This year, the contributions ranged between $5,000 and $25,000, with each grant targeted at community enhancement projects in cities, towns, or Indigenous areas with populations below 150,000. From upgrading community centres in Zurich to fostering sustainable food production in Leamington, each project aims to enrich the quality of life for its residents.
Communities and groups eager to partner with the FCC AgriSpirit Fund in the future can mark their calendars for spring 2024, the next application window. Interested parties, be it registered charities, non-profits, municipalities, or Indigenous governments, can find application details and eligibility criteria on the FCC AgriSpirit Fund's website.
As Canada's foremost agriculture and food lender, FCC's unwavering dedication to the industry is clear. By consistently reinvesting into the heart of Canada's rural communities, FCC ensures a prosperous future for the nation's agriculture sector.
- Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotowangag Resource Council Inc.
- Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls
- $11,000
- Purchase a large cooler and freezer to provide fresh produce to the community.
- Burford Agricultural Society
- Burford
- $9,000
- Purchase and install fencing throughout the fairgrounds to control access by vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
- Caldwell First Nation
- Leamington
- $25,000
- Create a year-round food production greenhouse for the members of the Caldwell First Nation.
- Corporation of the Municipality of Bluewater
- Zurich
- $22,500
- Upgrade the community centre’s front entrance to improve accessibility and install LED lighting.
- Corporation of the Municipality of Huron East
- Seaforth
- $17,000
- Purchase and install exterior windows and make accessibility improvements to the main washroom at the community centre.
- Corporation of the Town of Pelham
- Fonthill
- $15,000
- Purchase a commercial-grade beverage cooler, refrigerator, freezer, recycling station, and food waste bin for the Centennial Park concession stand.
- East Elgin Community Assistance Program
- Aylmer
- $8,500
- Purchase a commercial freezer to increase storage capacity at the food bank.
- Everdale Place
- Hillsburgh
- $25,000
- Expand the kitchen work area and upgrade the washrooms to increase the capacity of people at the farm.
- Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre
- Penetanguishene
- $12,000
- Develop a community garden and greenspace to support those fighting cancer.
- Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation
- Kingsville
- $17,500
- Install heating and cooling systems to offer public access to the learning center year-round.
- Kenilworth Public School - Upper Grand District School Board
- Kenilworth
- $20,000
- Purchase an accessible playground structure.
- Mississauga First Nation
- Blind River
- $13,000
- Purchase commercial appliances for the community greenhouse to preserve food and reduce food waste.
- Niagara Nutrition Partners
- St. Catharines
- $19,000
- Purchase freezers, fridges, and conveyor toasters to reduce food waste and increase infrastructure to support school nutrition programs.
- Regional Food Distribution Association of Northwestern Ontario
- Thunder Bay
- $25,000
- Purchase two refrigerated containers at Weaganow First Nation to increase the capacity to receive food deliveries for the community.
- Shepherd's Cupboard Foodbank - Rotary Club of Shelburne
- Shelburne
- $13,000
- Purchase two standup freezer units to increase the food bank's storage capacity and food rescue.
- The Corporation of the County of Northumberland
- Cobourg
- $18,000
- Install a Heat Recovery System for a fresh, filtered, temperature-controlled air supply to facilitate high-hygiene food production at the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre.
- The Corporation of the Town of Hanover
- Hanover
- $12,000
- Purchase a new air bag system for the fire department to use in automobile, farm equipment, and industrial rescue operations.
- The Municipality of Central Huron
- Clinton
- $13,500
- Purchase a dryer for Personnel Protective Equipment for the fire department.
- Wahnapitae First Nation
- Capreol
- $12,000
- Create a greenhouse to extend the growing season for the community gardens.
- Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Association
- Essex
- $17,000
- Resurface the arena flooring to increase safety and comfort.