Community Foundation has new initiative

The Community

Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta announced Tuesday its partnership in the Government of Canada’s new Healthy Communities Initiative, which helps support communities across the country adapt public spaces in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A partnership with the Community Foundations of Canada, and the Canadian Urban Institute, this investment will provide $31 million in grant funding to support community-led organizations in developing local, small-scale infrastructure projects that respond to the immediate needs arising from COVID-19, while building towards a more pandemic-resilient future.

“As the first anniversary of the appearance of the pandemic in our community approaches, we see a year of resilience and resourcefulness, but also of inequality,” says Charleen Davidson, executive director, Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. “We are proud to support work that reduces inequality, promotes innovative solutions, and continues to build healthy and vibrant community where everyone has a sense of belonging.”

Municipalities, charities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for funding between $5,000 and $250,000 to lead projects that help create safe public spaces, improve mobility options, and provide digital solutions to help Southern Alberta navigate the pandemic.

The first application deadline to the Health Community Initiatives is 6 p.m. on March 9. A second round of funding will be announced in May. For more information about how to apply, to explore resources for applicants, and to sing up for community mobilization sessions, visit canadahealthycommunitiesin itiative.ca. Interested organizations are encouraged to contact the Community Foundation’s Grants Coordinator, Caitlin Gajdostik, at grants@cflsa.ca prior to submitting an application.