Deadline: 24-Feb-23
The City of Ottawa is seeking applications for its Community Economic Development Funding Program to provide financial support to selected projects that are anticipated to result in:
- Resilient job creation (continuing beyond the funding period)
- Business enterprise creation (for-profits and/or social enterprises).
The program endeavours to positively impact historically under-represented segments of the Ottawa population (e.g. residents of lower income neighbourhoods, youth, older adults, rural residents, new immigrants, racialized and indigenous populations, etc.) through financial support to non-profit agencies for new, or expanded, projects that assist targeted residents to overcome identified obstacles to the creation of new jobs and/or new enterprises.
Projects should indicate how the applicant non-profit agency will increase its capacity to support the economic objectives of targeted beneficiaries beyond the funding period. Projects should indicate how targeted populations will be enabled to overcome their identified disadvantages.
Funding Information
- The CED Funding Program awards a total of up to $280,000 per year, distributed among the proposals that are selected by a jury panel of reviewers. While proposals may have inherent merits, funds are awarded only among the top-ranked projects, until the annual funding maximum is reached.
- Project funding requests may range from $5,000 to a maximum of $100,000.
Eligibility of Applicant
- In accordance with the City of Ottawa Grants and Contributions Policy, funding can only be granted to organizations that meet these requirements and follow these practices:
- Registered as a non-profit organization
- Operated in a non-discriminatory manner, as set out by the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Governed by a democratically elected Board of Directors
- Efficient, effective and fiscally responsible (demonstrated through the last two annual financial statements)
- In good financial standing with the City of Ottawa
- The following types of organizations/programs are ineligible for funding:
- For-profit organizations or ventures
- Non-profit organizations sponsoring for-profit organizations
- Organizations with a political affiliation, or which participate in political activities
- Organizations which act primarily as a funding source for other groups
- Faith-based organizations where the services/activities include the promotion and/or required adherence to a specific faith
- Organizations whose programs fall within the legislated mandate of other governments or City departments
- Provincial/national organizations, unless a local chapter/branch exists that serves the residents of the City of Ottawa specifically
Eligibility of Project
- A proposed project must demonstrate how it will create jobs in the City of Ottawa while also helping specific under-represented populations to overcome identified impediments. The project must deliver resilient (not transient) economic benefits that are expected to outlast project funding. Projects that leverage additional funding sources, and/or in-kind contributions, will receive more favorable consideration in their evaluation.
- A proposed project must:
- Demonstrate how it will positively affect the development of the local economy (jobs, businesses, organizational support capacity, etc.)
- Demonstrate how it will help targeted populations that have been historically under-represented in Ottawa’s economy to overcome identified economic impediments
- Demonstrate the need for grant support from the City
- Funding will not be provided for the following components of projects:
- Costs that are already supported, or have commitment to support, by other City of Ottawa Departments
- Any costs incurred before a funding decision is made
- Costs that are the responsibility of another funding program or level of government
- Costs that are not directly attributable to the project (e.g. salaried positions not specific to the project)
- Land maintenance or leasehold improvements
- Programs within the legislated mandate of other governments or City departments (e.g. child care services)
- Major costs such as buildings, vehicles, or large equipment;
- Direct funding to project participants
For more information, visit City of Ottawa.