New ‘Community Building’ Grant Program for Non-Profits

The Ontario government is investing $105 million through the new Community Building Fund to support non-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations. The funding will be used to help these non-profits recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the needs of their communities.

Details were provided earlier this week by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. 

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has been fulfilling a commitment to be there to support those struggling the most," said Minister MacLeod. "Today's investment is a critical part of our plan to support the economic and social recovery of communities across Ontario. The Community Building Fund is helping organizations whose programs and services enhance the quality of life for Ontarians and support local jobs across the province."

The fund will be administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through two program streams: 

• The $55-million operating funding stream will provide community non-profits with the support they need to help sustain their operations and create new experiences and events - such as trail systems, heritage attractions, winter activities and local sport and recreation programming - that are critical to the economic and social well-being of their communities. 
• The $50-million capital funding stream will go to municipalities and non-profit organizations to carry out sport- and recreation-facility infrastructure repairs, including retrofits and rehabilitation to meet COVID-19 public health protocol requirements and local community needs. 

"OTF is proud to be delivering the Community Building Fund on behalf of the Ontario government and actively participate in our province's recovery," said Katharine Bambrick, CEO, Ontario Trillium Foundation. "This is critical new funding for organizations that will help re-invigorate communities across Ontario." 

The operating stream of the Community Building Fund will open for applications on March 31, 2021, while the fund's capital stream will open later in 2021.