Rural communities encouraged to apply for funding

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: July 26 2019 Strathmore Times

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

Rural communities across Alberta are encouraged to apply for a minimum of $10,000 and up to $100,000 for projects that support either recreational, education events and activities, or cultural facilities and programs.
United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) is awarding rural communities the money through its Rural Communities Foundation (RCF).
The mandate of the RCF is to improve the sustainability of farmers and ranchers in Alberta by improving access to funding for educational, recreational and cultural facilities and programs in those communities.
“The Foundation was created in 2014, through the support of UFA’s elected officials, to give back the archived equity collected by the Co-operative,” explains RCF Board Chair Harvey Hagman. “Through the formation of this Foundation, we are now able to give these monies back to those UFA communities. We’re pleased to announce today that RCF will award applications from a minimum of $10,000, up to a total of $100,000 this year.”
Hagman said applications will be accepted from July 2 until Aug. 31, 2019. The RCF board will then review the applications and announce the official winners during Cooperative Week in Canada on Oct. 16, 2019.
Groups eligible for funding include registered charities under the Canada Revenue Agency, registered non-profit organizations that are registered with either their provincial or municipal government, and community service co-operatives. All projects must align with one of the three funding categories of recreational, education events and activities or cultural facilities and programs. Projects must be completed within a two-year period and be located in a community that has a UFA presence.
“This money was always intended for our rural communities and now that we have a process in place, this will assist with the sustainability of our rural communities for many years to come,” said Hagman
For more information on how to apply for the RCF grant, visit www.RCFUFA.com.