Grants, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, are for projects that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000 people.

Examples include refrigeration and equipment to support food waste reduction and recovery, construction of community buildings or improvements/upgrades that reduce a building’s energy footprint and various other agriculture and food-related initiatives in rural communities.

The application deadline is April 29. Eligibility requirements, past projects and application forms are at fccagrispiritfund.ca.

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“We are watching the weather situation very closely and are talking to customers daily,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO. If clients suffer cash flow problems. ”We’re ready to support them and find solutions,” he said. Those measures could include additional short-term credit, deferral of principal payments or “loan payment schedule amendments.”

The lender says customers who have financial concerns should contact their local office.

FCC also has a number of mental health resources on its website, including a self-assessment tool for stress.

Thousands deferred in loan payments

FCC also made a large number of “payment schedule adjustments” because of the pandemic.

In its 2020-21 fiscal year, the lender made such adjustments “to 14.8 per cent of the total value of outstanding loans compared to nine per cent in the previous year.” 

More than 4,900 customers deferred payments on loans totalling $5.6 billion from the start of the pandemic until the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. However, 98 per cent of its customers have since resumed making regular payments, FCC said. 

The deferred payments partly fuelled a 7.6 per cent rise in FCC’s loan portfolio, which hit $41.5 billion during the year. Net income was $813 million. 

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Over the past 17 years, grants have been given, for example, for refrigeration and equipment to support food waste reduction and recovery; construction of or upgrades to community buildings; firefighting and rescue equipment; play structures and recreation areas; and renovations or upgrades that reduce a building’s energy footprint.

Since 2004, 1,356 capital projects in rural Canada have received $16.5 million in grants.

Registered charities, municipalities and non-profit organizations interested in funding can visit www.fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements, to apply online and to view past projects.

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Nationwide, the charitable arm of the farm lender is giving $1.5 million to 92 rural community groups this year to help support capital projects.

The grants, which range from $5,000 to $25,000, are for community improvement projects such as equipment purchase and installation, energy-efficient building improvements and repairs, and the purchase of rescue and fire equipment.

One Alberta organization and two municipalities are receiving $25,000 grants: the Thorpe Recovery Centre in Blackfoot (for replacing three boilers), the Town of Taber (for purchase and installation of LED lighting), and the City of Grande Prairie (for retrofitting a rink’s ice-making equipment with an energy-efficient water conditioning system).

Receiving $20,000 are: Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society in Cochrane (new LED lights in the field house), the Everdell Community Centre Association in Clearwater County (energy-efficient dishwasher and upgrading HVAC, venting and septic systems), and the Beaverlodge Firefighters Association (vehicle extrication tools).

Others receiving grants are: Foremost Sage Club ($19,000 for LED lighting), Jarvie Fire Department in Westlock County ($16,000 for insulating shop that stores fire truck and gear), Guy-Donnelly Sportex Society ($15,000 for Sportex upgrades), Pass Powderkeg Ski Society in the Crowsnest Pass region ($15,000 for ski lodge upgrades), Smoky Lake Senior Citizen’s Drop-in Centre ($15,000 for drop-in centre upgrades), Thorsby & District Cultural and Historical Society ($15,000 for community centre upgrades), Hay Lakes & District Agricultural Society ($15,000 for Ag Society building upgrades), Athabasca Good Samaritan Food Bank ($14,000 for garden tractor attachments for growing vegetables), and the Royal Canadian Legion — Thorhild Branch No. 234 ($5,000 for building upgrades).

The next application period for the FCC AgriSpirit Fund opens March 1. Registered charities, municipalities and non-profit organizations interested in funding can visit fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements, to apply online and view past projects. Over the past 17 years, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund has given $16.5 million to 1,356 projects.

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The initiative supports meal programs in 100 schools across the country and since its inception, has provided more than 50 million meals. According to Food Banks Canada, more than four million Canadians — both working and unemployed — live with food insecurity and hunger. More than one million people go to their local food bank every month.

Donations are being accepted until Oct. 18. The campaign culminates with supporters driving a tractor and trailer through communities to collect donations for food banks.

For more information, including a list of most-needed food items, go to fccdriveawayhunger.ca.

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The fund provides grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for community improvement initiatives, such as capital expenditures on equipment purchase and installation; energy-efficient building improvements; and repairs and purchasing of rescue and fire equipment.

Since the fund’s creation in 2004, it has given $13.5 million to nearly 1,200 capital projects. Last year, 17 community groups in Alberta received funding.

To see past projects, eligibility requirements, and to apply online, go to fccagrispiritfund.ca.

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The fund awards up to $500 for a wide range of projects including achievement days, skill-building workshops, field trips, public speaking competitions, and the purchase of club supplies.

In total, the fund gave grants totalling $114,250 to 233 4-H clubs across the country.

4-H Canada has close to 25,000 members and more than 7,700 volunteers. The next application period opens in summer 2019.

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To mark the 15th anniversary of the program, teams drove tractors through various communities to collect food and donations for 15 days this fall. The effort in Alberta generated more than 570,000 meals. (A meal is defined as one pound of food with each $1 donation considered the equivalent of three meals.)

As part of the program, FCC also contributed $100,000 to 100 schools for their meal programs.

The post Drive Away Hunger food drive surpasses target appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“The current debt-to-asset ratio in agriculture remains lower than the 10-year average… and farm liquidity remains healthy,” said JP Gervais.

A relatively low debt-to-asset ratio provides financial flexibility and represents lower risk, while liquidity reflects the ability of producers to absorb fluctuations in farm input prices, demonstrate patience with their marketing plans, or take advantage of unexpected opportunities, the farm lender said.

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It’s the 15th year for the campaign by the Crown ag lender, which is marked by “tractor tours” across the country. In Alberta, these will take place this year in the Lethbridge area (Oct. 11 in Lethbridge and Oct. 15 in Coaldale and Taber), Lloydminster region (Oct. 11 in Paradise Valley and Edgerton, and Oct. 12 in Lloydminster), and Olds (Oct. 15).\

As part of the campaign, FCC is donating $100,000 to school meal programs, including two dozen in Alberta. Since 2004, the campaign has raised enough funds for more than 40 million meals.

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