Deadline: 17-Sep-21
The City of Chestermere is seeking applications for Vitality Grants Program to encourage community building and inclusion and strengthen connections in neighbourhoods.
Funding Information
- They offer a grant of up to $500 to support your idea to help connect and engage residents in their neighbourhood and communities. They believe that the best people to effect change in a community are the ones within it.
Project Considerations
- Reporting Matters – Have someone on your project team keep track of your budget. Count how many people were impacted by this work and record how this made a significant change in your community/neighbourhood.
- Accountability – Project leaders will review and agree to roles and responsibilities outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Chestermere.
- Planning, planning, planning – Put time and energy into putting your proposal together. Projects need to be completed in the same year grant is awarded.
- Community development focus – They want to support initiatives that will enhance the quality of life for residents. Grants cannot fund salaries, fundraising events, or ongoing operating expenditures.
- Coordination – Event and festival based projects will need to coordinate with the City’s event guidelines depending on type and size. Visit Host an Event for specific details.
Project Ideas
- Project Idea: Tool Lending Project
- Purpose: Neighbours share tools without having to purchase them for themselves.
- Example of How: A Project Lead surveying/organizing what tools the block or neighbourhood could use or would like to have as a block or community sharing program. Purchase the tools and plan where the tools would be kept (maybe the purchase of a shared shed), plan what the usage policies would be and a sign in/out process.
- Goal/Outcome (WHY): To enhance/build community connections.
- Project Idea: Making Wind Chimes, Bird Houses, or Door Wreaths for the block
- Purpose: Acquainting neighbours with each other and creating a community participation event.
- Example of How: A Project Lead organizes and purchases materials for the block/neighbourhood families to build or create their own wind chime, bird house, or door wreath.
- Goal/Outcome (WHY): The activity promotes families doing something fun together and builds community connections.
Additional Project Ideas:
- Neighbourhood Clean-up
- Creating a Free Bike Exchange Program
- Family Skate
- Implement a Park Bench for the block
- Hot Chocolate Neighbourhood Party
Note: some activities would require checking the safety parameters as well as gain City approval in some cases, which would be part of the Lead and Organizers duties.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Vitality Grant is available to residents and community groups who wish to lead neighbourhood projects, community building projects, festivals or cultural/community events that are inclusive and engage Chestermere residents in active participation.
For more information, visit https://chestermere.ca/vitalitygrants