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Important dates
Open for applications: September 24, 2024
Application deadline: December 20, 2024
Funding decision notification: Spring 2025
Overview
The Small Community Opportunity Program provides grants to solve challenges and find opportunities in rural areas. Indigenous and small communities, as well as non-profit groups they work with, may receive between $20,000 and $100,000 for local projects. By building capacity in the agriculture industry and small business, these rural communities will grow their economic footprint.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Indigenous communities, Metis Settlements and small communities may apply if they meet the following characteristics of rural communities:
- have a population less than 20,000
- have a limited geographic proximity (100 km or further) to population centres with more than 25,000 people that could provide employment and services
- may be remote or have in them, or around them, a significant amount of nature, natural resources, agricultural land and wilderness areas
- have a workforce largely focused on primary economic activity, including oil and gas, agriculture and forestry
Eligible rural communities may work together or independently on local projects, or they may collaborate with non-profit organizations that are:
- non-profit entities incorporated under Part 9 of the Companies Act or the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act with an economic development mandate
- a federally incorporated non-profit must partner with a provincially registered non-profit
- a legal non-profit entity located in Alberta that is owned and controlled by an Indigenous community that has at least 51% ownership
- an agricultural society organized under the Agricultural Societies Act (Alberta) or under The Agricultural Societies Ordinance, ONWT 1903 c17, or any earlier ordinance relating to agricultural societies
- an organization designated in the Agricultural Societies Regulation as a society for purposes of the Agricultural Societies Act (Alberta)
Eligible projects
Eligible projects must align with one or more of these strategic directions in the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan:
- rural business supports and entrepreneurship
- support for labour force and skills development
- marketing and promoting rural tourism
- rural economic development capacity building
In addition, the project must address one or more of these priority areas:
- entrepreneurship and mentorship
- skills development
- small business supports
- partnerships, interconnectivity and collaboration
Projects must be completed within 2 years from the date the grant agreement between Alberta’s government and the recipient is signed. Grant recipients must ensure their project will be sustainable beyond the 2-year funding and have a measurable impact supporting, improving or enhancing one or more of the following:
- rural and Indigenous communities
- local economic development
- the agriculture sector
Ineligible projects
Projects will not be eligible for grants through the Small Community Opportunity Program if they:
- focus on regional economic development
- support economic development enabling infrastructure
Funding may be available for these types of projects through Alberta’s Northern and Regional Economic Development Program.
Funding
Applicants may apply for grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for each project. The grant may fund up to 90% of eligible project costs and the applicant must fund at least 10%.
Eligible project costs
Project costs eligible for the grant include:
- skills development training
- training equipment and supplies
- salary expenses for new staff to deliver a project
- equipment and supplies to deliver the project, such as computers, software, office supplies and more
- eligible travel costs for hotel, meals and mileage based on the Alberta Travel, meal and hospitality expenses policy
- promotion and marketing activities related to the project
- project administration up to 10% of the total eligible project costs
- any other expense the Government of Alberta deems eligible under the Small Community Opportunity Program
The project must start when funding is distributed and be completed within 2 years. Large projects may receive funding installments, with most funds provided at the onset.
Matching funds
Applicants may cover their portion of eligible project costs by matching funds from their organization with monetary payments, awards and donations, or grants from one or more of the following:
- municipal government
- federal government
- for-profit enterprises, non-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions
- private sector programs, such as corporate social responsibility initiatives
Grant recipients cannot receive any other Government of Alberta funding for their project or related activities. The Small Community Opportunity Program will also not accept in-kind contributions.
How to apply
Step 1. Read the guidelines and the plan
Step 2. Gather required documents
Read the program guidelines to learn which documents you will need to refer to when applying online.
Step 3. Apply online
You will need to create a user account and log into the online application portal before applying online.
- All applications must be submitted through the online application portal.
- Applicants will be prompted to create an Alberta.ca account with a secure login name and password when logging in for the first time.
- Once the account has been created, applicants will gain access to the online application portal.
- Only a ‘basic’ account is required to access the online application portal. Your account does not need to be verified with your ID.
- If you have issues creating or accessing your account, call the Alberta.ca account team at: 1-844-643-2789 or email [email protected].
After you apply
All submissions go through a multi-stage review process, starting with an administrative screening to check for completeness and eligibility under the grant guidelines.
A selection committee will complete a competitive review process that evaluates the project based on the following categories:
- description and opportunity
- alignment with capacity building priorities and strategic directions in the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan
- economic impact
- budget
- management
- sustainability
- agriculture-related
As the Small Community Opportunity Program has limited funding, not all eligible applicants will be awarded a grant. Applicants will be notified about the status of their submission by email.
Reporting
The grant agreement outlines the reporting requirements and schedule. Recipients must regularly report on the project’s financial status and outcomes achieved. If the project scope or deliverables change after the Grant Agreement is in place, the recipient must contact the Small Community Opportunity Program. Both parties must agree to amend the Grant Agreement to accommodate the changes.
2023-24 Grant recipients
Contact
Connect with the Small Community Opportunity Program:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-FARM (3276) (in Alberta)
Phone: 403-742-7901
Email: [email protected]