Rural community groups can qualify for AgriSpirit funding from $5,000 to $25,000 for capital improvement projects, such as emergency services equipment, playgrounds, community gardens and care homes.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is accepting applications for its AgriSpirit Fund from registered charities and non-profit organizations until June 20.
The FCC AgriSpirit Fund will donate $1 million in funding to rural community groups across Canada for capital projects this year.
Successful projects in the past have also included hospitals and medical centres, childcare facilities, fire and rescue equipment, food banks, libraries and recreation centres.
Canim Lake Band was a recipient in the South Cariboo last year, successfully obtaining $8,100 in funding towards a greenhouse for its Building Economics through an Agriculture Diversity and Sustainability project.
Among others, 2010 funding recipients in B.C. also included $5,000 to upgrade school fields in Agassiz; Chilliwack got $11,250 for fire department equipment and $6,000 to restore a Longhouse building; Creston received $24,500 for its community greenhouse; Maple Ridge obtained $5,000 toward an SPCA animal shelter; and $10,000 went to Midway for its community garden.
For a project to be considered for funding, it must meet specific criteria and the project must be completed before December 2013, with selected projects announced in December 2011.
More information, eligibility requirements, examples of past recipients and online applications are available at www.agrispirit.ca.