Provincial government makes $3 million available for small and Indigenous rural communities to grow their economies
An additional $3 million has been earmarked by the Alberta government for rural Indigenous and small communities to “grow their economic footprint.”
The funding represents the second round of grants through the government’s Small Community Opportunity Program, said a recent news release.
Last year, grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for 43 community-led projects were granted to help build agriculture capacity, small business supports and economic developments in these communities.
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RJ Sigurdson, minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, said in the news release that “the Small Community Opportunity Program continues to provide financial backing for Indigenous and small communities to tackle challenges and tap into opportunities to grow their local economic footprint.
“By building capacity in small businesses and the agriculture industry, these rural communities will have a strong foundation to grow and thrive.”
Applicants must be an incorporated non-profit organization in a rural or Indigenous community. Rural communities are defined as those that have a population of fewer than 20,000 and are removed from communities larger than 25,000 people.
Funding eligibility hinges on projects aligning with the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan that launched in December 2022. These include entrepreneurship, mentorship, skills development, small business supports and/or partnerships, as well as interconnectivity and collaboration within the community.
Eligible groups can apply for grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for local, community-led projects. Projects must be completed within two years and have a “measurable impact” supporting, improving or enhancing rural and Indigenous communities, local economic development and/or the ag industry.
