Deadline: 23-Jun-21
Applications are now open for the Ontario Community Environment Fund to protect human health and the natural environment.
These funds are collected from environmental penalties and can be used for local projects that support the restoration of areas impacted by the effects of pollution.
Funding Information
- In 2021, they are making $900,000 available for the Ontario Community Environment Fund.
- The minimum funding request is $5,000.
- Areas wise contribution:
- Southwest: $306,151.65
- West-Central: $43,298.00
- Eastern: $62,864.40
- Northern: $475,009.52
- Central: $0 – funding is not available in 2021
Eligible Projects
Funding is available for two different kinds of environmental improvement projects. These include projects that focus on:
- Increasing environmental restoration and remediation activities which repair environmental harm. For example:
- planting trees, shrubs or plants to help mitigate and adapt to climate change
- rebuilding fish habitat and creating fish spawning beds
- stabilizing stream banks and creating buffer strips to reduce nutrient run-off
- restoring streams to improve habitat and water quality
- Resilient communities and local solutions to environmental issues. For example:
- improving the resilience of natural ecosystems by restoring wetlands and preserving areas of significant environmental and ecological importance
- installing rain gardens to reduce the risk of flooding and help communities adapt to climate change
Ineligible Projects
Projects that are not eligible for funding under OCEF include:
- research, education and/or awareness projects – projects must include a direct benefit to the environment to be eligible
- projects with a funding request of less than $5,000
- projects located outside of an eligible region
- infrastructure or large-scale capital improvement projects
- land acquisitions
- projects that provide a direct benefit to the ministry or that are located on ministry property (such as provincial parks) or include ministry involvement
- projects requiring an individual or class environmental assessment (EA) unless already completed or a class EA category A project
- activities required under statutes or regulations, or that are the mandated responsibility of an organization or government agency
Eligibility Criteria
The fund is open to:
- First Nation and Métis communities and organizations
- schools, colleges and universities
- conservation authorities and conservation foundations
- municipalities
- incorporated not-for-profit organizations
- incorporated community-based groups
Ineligible Organizations
- provincial or federal government departments, agencies, boards and commissions
- individuals
- for-profit organizations
For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-community-environment-fund