Five Alberta communities are sharing $100,000 from the Rural Communities Foundation, a charitable arm of UFA.
The largest portion, $30,000 went to the Nampa and District Historical Society, which is converting a no-longer-used United Church (that had been donated to it) into a cultural centre in the community southeast of Peace River.
Another donated church will have its original wood floor restored thanks to a $10,000 grant to the Drayton Valley and District Historical Society. Other recipients are the Bow Valley Riding Association in Canmore ($13,335 to build a fence around part of its riding area), the Carmangay Community Centre ($22,365 for commercial-grade flooring and noise-reducing ceiling tiles in its main hall), and the Eaglesham and District Agricultural Society ($24,300 for a sun shelter at its fairgrounds).
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The foundation provides funding for educational, recreational and cultural facilities and programs. Another $100,000 will be given away next year (see rcfufa.com for details).
Enriching community life
Another 16 Alberta organizations are receiving grants ranging from Farm Credit Canada’s AgriSpirit Fund. It gives $5,000 to $25,000 for community initiatives that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000 people.
Grants of $25,000 were awarded to the County of Athabasca (new fire engine), County of Ponoka (renos to historical hall), Manning (upgrades to community hall kitchens) and Calgary Family Peer Connections (refrigerated truck to transport food to rural communities).
Grants of $20,000 went to the Caroline & District Athletic & Agricultural Society (bleacher expansion and improvements), Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre (windows at the centre), Castor (overhead arena doors), Wembley and Champion (both for fire equipment).
Other recipients receiving somewhat smaller grants are the Blackfoot Family Lodge Society (transition home upgrades), Donalda and District Agricultural Society (community hall windows), Leduc County (upgrading of community hall furnace), Rocky View County (community centre improvements), Stettler County (ag society hall upgrades), Marwayne (rink liners and covers) and Whitefish Lake First Nation/Goodfish Lake Health Centre (new refrigeration unit for health centre).
In all, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund awarded $1.5 million to 88 community groups this year. The next application period opens March 1 (go to fccagrispiritfund.ca for more info).
