Funding increased for community development

“The Rural Growth Initiative is helping rural communities with important projects that may not have otherwise been possible.”

Culture Minister Cory Deagle

P.E.I. is ramping up support for rural community development, offering increased funding opportunities for local non-profits, Indigenous groups and municipal bodies.

Under the community capacity building stream of the rural growth initiative, eligible projects stand to benefit from a funding boost.

Now, recipients can receive up to 75 per cent of project costs, previously capped at 50 per cent, with a maximum funding ceiling raised from $20,000 to $50,000.

Additionally, the initiative is broadening its scope to allocate more resources toward fostering inclusion and driving economic expansion.

“We are making positive changes to our Rural Growth Initiative program based on feedback from recipients so that we can meet client needs, increase proactive planning, and have the greatest impact," said Culture Minister Cory Deagle.

“The Rural Growth Initiative is helping rural communities with important projects that may not have otherwise been possible."

Projects eligible for funding must demonstrate a commitment to bolstering community or organizational capacity, whether by facilitating population growth, economic activity, or improving service provision in rural areas.

Potential initiatives include strategic planning, infrastructure development, economic diversification strategies, diversity initiatives and skills enhancement programs.

Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has injected more than $23 million into more than 750 projects across rural P.E.I.