Community Grant Program (St. Marys)

Overview of the Community Grant Program (St. Marys) program:

The St. Marys Community Grant Program provides funding to eligible applicants whose projects, programs, activities, or events align with the Town’s strategic priorities. The program is designed to enhance community life, foster economic growth, and create an inclusive and vibrant town environment. Under the Culture and Recreation priority, the program supports initiatives that promote active, engaged, and healthy residents while positioning culture as a key economic driver. Projects may include recreational, leisure, and cultural activities that increase participation and revenue, revitalize the Downtown as a safe and culturally vibrant gathering space, and enhance the use and cultural vibrancy of town parks. The Balanced Growth and Economic Development priority focuses on attracting and retaining youth and newcomers while strengthening the social fabric of St. Marys. Projects may support community engagement, tourism, and the promotion of the Town’s unique amenities, Downtown, and riverfront. Initiatives that expand local arts, theatre, public art, and other cultural offerings, as well as those that improve streetscapes and leverage downtown architecture to enrich the cultural experience, are also encouraged. The Housing priority supports projects that contribute to an inclusive and accessible housing environment, fostering the attraction and retention of youth, newcomers, and workers. Projects may focus on creating flexible, affordable, and attainable housing options, including rentals, to meet the needs of residents of all abilities. The overarching goal of the St. Marys Community Grant Program is to strengthen the community by funding initiatives that support recreation, cultural development, economic growth, tourism, and accessible housing, creating a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient town.

Benefits of the Community Grant Program (St. Marys) program:

• The Community Grant Program is intended to provide funding that is supplemental to the overall financial requirements to carry on a planned project, program, activity, or event. The Community Grant Program is not intended to be the sole source of funding for a project, program, activity or event.
• A successful recipient of the Community Grant program may receive a cash grant of up to $5,000 for the planned project, programs, activity or event. Applicants must provide a budget with their application to clearly show how Community Grant funds will be used.
• As a guide, Council will normally only provide grant funds up to 25% of the project budget, or $5,000, whichever is the lesser amount. For projects where there is a demonstrated significant, unique, or exceptional financial need, and where 25% of the project budget is less than $5,000, Council may waive the 25% granting cap and approve grant funds up to $5,000.

Eligibility criteria of the Community Grant Program (St. Marys) program:

• Eligible applicants include:
• Charitable organizations and foundations registered as a charity with the Canada
• Revenue Agency
• Organizations incorporated as not-for-profits
• Sports groups and associations where the majority of members are minors.
• Clubs, groups and associations where the majority of members are minors.
• Volunteer groups and Community Clubs/Groups providing services in the Town of St. Marys
• Service Clubs providing services in the Town of St. Marys
• Eligible applicants must be located in or provide services to the St. Marys community. Eligible applicants must be able to demonstrate that any Community Grant funding received will directly support a St. Marys-based projects, programs, activities or event that will benefit the community of St. Marys.
• Applicants who are located outside the Town of St. Marys will only be considered if they can demonstrate a clear benefit to the St. Marys community within their grant application.
• Eligible applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need, and how denial of grant assistance would impact their ability to carry out the planned projects, programs, activity or event.
• The Community Grant Program is intended to provide funding that is supplemental to the overall financial requirements to carry on a planned project, program, activity, or event. The Community Grant Program is not intended to be the sole source of funding for a project, program, activity or event.
• Eligible applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have thoroughly explored grants and funding from other sources, including fundraising, sponsorships, donations, and/or Federal/Provincial grant programs. Applicants who have, or will have, funding from alternate sources must disclose this funding as a part of the budget submitted in support of the
• Community Grant Program Application. If no other sources of funding have been pursued, applicants are required to provide information on the reasons why other opportunities were not explored.
• Special projects, programs, activities and events that are of regional significance and that the Town may wish to be a partner in shall be brought directly to Council through a staff report that outlines how such a partnership will support the strategic priorities of the Town.