Province giving boost to small communities

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on September 25, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD

The provincial government has announced it is providing an additional $3 million to Indigenous and small communities to support economic development.

The province is launching a second round of grants through the government’s Small Community Opportunity Program to further implement its plan.

Last year, 43 community-led projects were given between $20,000 and $100,000 to build capacity in local economic development, business supports and agriculture.

Eligible projects must align with the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan “and build entrepreneurship, mentorship and skills development, small business supports and/or partnerships, as well as interconnectivity and collaboration within the local community,” says the province.

Those eligible organizations can apply for grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for local community-led projects.

The province says non-profit groups can collaborate with Indigenous and small communities or communities can work together or independently “on projects that drive innovation and achieve sustainable growth and diversification. Projects must be completed within two years and have a measurable impact supporting, improving or enhancing rural and Indigenous communities, local economic development and/or the agriculture industry.”

Applications opened Tuesday.

Application criteria includes that projects align with one or more Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan strategic directives, including:

• Rural business supports and entrepreneurship.

• Support for labour force and skills development.

• Marketing and promoting rural tourism.

• Rural economic development capacity building.

Applicants must either be an incorporated non-profit organization in a rural community or Indigenous community. These are communities with a population under 20,000 residents, are removed from communities larger than 25,000 that could provide employment or services and are remote communities or communities that have – or are surrounded by – significant amounts of nature, natural resources, agricultural land and wilderness activity. They must also have a workforce that is largely focused on primary economic activity including agriculture, forestry and oil and gas.

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