Municipal Grants
Every year the Municipality of East Hants offers various grant programs to local non-profit and community organizations. Here are the grants currently available.
Community Beautification/Enhancement Grant
Each year the Municipality places money into the Beautification Grant fund for each District to be used for the purposes of Community Beautification and Enhancement, such as:
• grass cutting
• landscaping
• planting of trees/shrubs/flowers
• signage
• brush cutting
• garbage clean-up
These grants are available to non-profit and community organizations. To apply for this grant, please contact your District Councillor.
General Government Grant Program
General Government Grants are available to non-profit organizations that support the delivery of municipal services or provide services to enhance community well-being and the quality of life for the citizens of East Hants. The Municipality provides four types of grants:
1. Use of space at municipally owned facilities by non-profit organizations
2. School Bursaries under the Dr. James T. Snow Bursary Program
3. Grants to organizations whose mandates support the delivery of municipal
services (written application required)
4. Grants to non-profit organizations who meet the eligibility criteria set out in the
General Government Grants Policy (written application required)
To apply for a grant under this program submit your request in writing to the Chief Administrative Officer. Eligibility criteria include:
1. Program/Service Obligation ~ supports a service delivered by the Municipality.
2. Public Need/Benefit ~ service or program is broad based and all residents will
derive a benefit versus special interest group needs and benefit to specific
residents.
3. Financial Need ~ application demonstrates financial need and identifies all
other grants and fundraising activities. Copies of most recent Financial
Statements and the current year’s budget should accompany the request.
4. Quality of Life ~ service or program enhances the quality of life of residents.
Applications received prior to March 31st in any given year will be given priority.
Applications received after March 31st will be considered only if there are funds
available.
View the complete policy.
Emergency Management Operations
Each year the Municipality of East Hants offers a grant to organizations that support the Municipality’s Emergency Management Operations, such as grants to fund the purchase or upgrading of generators for community facilities, a grant to the Special Hazards Response Unit, and a grant to Ground Search and Rescue.
To be eligible for a grant under this policy you must be a Fire Department registered with the Municipality of East Hants and registered under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia, or a Community Hall or similar facility registered under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia. Eligible projects are wiring for capacity to be hooked up to a generator, acquisition of a generator of a suitable size to offer basic services to the facilities, and funding for major repairs to generators. Funding from the Municipality requires a written request accompanied by a cost estimate of the work required.
All requests for funding should be made where possible, in advance of any work being started or any expenses being incurred and must include:
a. A copy of the emergency response plan or a written commitment to develop a
plan in cooperation with the Emergency Measures Coordinator.
b. List of key contacts for the organization.
c. Financial statement for last fiscal year.
d. Budget for the current fiscal year.
f. Budget for the work to be undertaken and/or the equipment to be acquired along
with quotations.
View the complete policy.
Tourism Grants
The objective of the Municipal Tourism Grant Program is to assist community organizations with tourism related projects designed to protect and enhance community identity, values and the tourism product.
Not for profit organizations may apply for funding each year to assist with tourism development and promotion.
The following guidelines are followed in determining each funding request:
- The project should represent a traditional or established tourism attraction or activity.
- The project must have a reasonable and viable budget, and demonstrate support
from the community and other levels of government.
- There should be an established precedent for support approval for the type of
project.
- There should be a direct relationship between the tourism sector and the project,
attraction or activity.
To apply complete the application form, and return to the office of Business and Economic Development by February 28th.
Rural Economic Development Assistance Fund
To be considered for assistance under this fund, a project must be considered to enhance the economic viability of the community, create employment, and be consistent with the East Hants Economic Development Plan and the Rural Economic Development Strategy. The project must demonstrate a leveraging of the use of Municipal funds, from other levels of Government and from the community. The funding is available for capital construction projects only and not operating costs. Projects cannot be the recipient of other Municipal money through other grant programs.
Funding is available for approved projects up to 25% of the total project costs, not to exceed $100,000 for any given project. The amount awarded to any project may not be available in one fiscal period, and may be spread over a period not to exceed three years. Awards are subject to funds being available.
To apply contact JD MacCulloch at 1-888-883-4355.
District Recreation Fund
District Recreation Funds are provided by the Department of Recreation and Culture for the purpose of increasing community initiatives to provide recreational facilities, to maintain equity when dispersing public recreation funds and to increase/improve the quality and number of community recreation facilities in East Hants.
District Recreation funds are designated for use in projects pertaining to ice facilities, trails, playgrounds, outdoor sport facilities, halls, recreation centers, parks, grounds related maintenance, aquatics facilities, lifecycle analysis, needs assessments, grounds related labor, and insurance that exceeds 25% of a group’s annual operating budget.
It is the policy of council that no group or organization may access more than 1/2 of the funds not yet committed in the District Recreation Fund for its sole purpose and no group may access more than 1/2 the total cost of the project from the District Recreation Funds. Unless (a) the applicant is the only group maintaining a recreation facility in that district, or (b) there is evidence of significant community support demonstrated by written letters of support by the other community groups
In order to be considered eligible for District Recreation Funds the following requirements must be met:
• Groups must be incorporated (Under the Societies Act).
• Groups must have title or at least a 7 year lease to the property to which they wish
to apply funds, be able to demonstrate precedent in using the property in question
for recreational purposes and demonstrate no threat exists to that arrangement.
(The Municipality bears no responsibility for the legitimacy of deeds or leases
submitted for the purpose of this application).
• Groups operating community halls and church halls are eligible to apply as long as
they are used for activities of a recreational nature and accessible to the general
public. Religious sanctuaries (without halls or public meeting place) are not
eligible.
• Priority will be given to Groups who are not in contravention of the ideals of Healthy
Active living as per the Office of Health Protection and Promotion nine focus areas:
healthy eating, healthy sexuality, injury prevention, addiction prevention, injury
prevention, physical activity, sport & recreation, and tobacco control.
• Schools and Student Advisory Council’s are not eligible to apply, however, a Home
and School, Parent Teacher Association or a Community Group developing facilities
on school properties may apply, as long as they have a letter from the school board
that: Acknowledges Municipal funding for school improvements and gives permission
to place recreational structures on school property. Acknowledges the community
use of this site (in so far as it does not interrupt school schedules). Acknowledges
the Boards ownership of and responsibility for any funded equipment, agrees not
to remove any equipment funded by the program to another school, or until such
time as the equipment is no longer needed or appropriate to that school. At that
time it is to be offered to the host community for removal to another location of the
communities’ choice.
• Groups applying for (1) Playground apparatus must provide proof the equipment
under consideration meets all CSA standards, including ground preparation. (2)
Trails must be built to N.S. Trails standards.
Groups are expected to include with their applications; Proof of incorporation, proof of lease/deed (if not submitted within the last 3 years), most recent annual financial statement, written quotes/estimates (at least 2 per item) to support costs figures, councilors/executives signature(s), proof of insurance, recent bank statement, annual general meeting report, bylaws, proof of need/letters of support, list of board of directors and the operating budget.
To apply complete the application form and submit to the Department of Recreation & Culture by January 31st.
Community Grant Program Fund
The Community Grant is designed to encourage community recreation in a manner consistent with the recreation principles, goals and plans of the East Hants Municipal Council. In addition it is to be used to improve the quality and quantity of community recreation opportunities by financially assisting groups with New Recreation & Culture Initiatives, Leadership, Youth Programming and Aquatic/Outdoor Skating Programs.
Community Grants are received and assessed on an “as needed” basis. In addition, it is the policy of council to approve only one community grant per year (April 1st - March 31st) per group.
It is also a policy of Council to encourage community commitment to an initiative by not exceeding community contributions to projects being considered for grant assistance.
Community Grants are assessed under the following five categories:
New Recreation Initiatives
Financial assistance may be provided to groups creating new recreational opportunities or expanding existing programs/activities to reach a new/different user group. Fundamental items include promotions, facility/equipment rental, leadership costs and supplies. Grants from this category will not exceed $250.00, and are of a one-time-only nature.
Leadership Program
Financial assistance may be provided to recreation groups seeking aid to offset the costs of supplying “qualified” leadership for a community recreation program. “Qualified” refers to leadership positions that demand certification or accreditation of those filling them. Assistance may also be provided to volunteer individuals/group representatives to attend trainings or motivational events that will improve the quality of leadership available to East Hants residents.
Youth Programming
Financial assistance may be provided to groups delivering recreational programs to those 19 years and younger. Specifically, aid would be considered for; the purchase of equipment with a lifespan of three years or more. Travel which encourages the involvement of East Hants youth in competitions that are over and above the regularly scheduled events normal to that activity. In this, two categories will be considered:
a) Elite sport travel to assist youth to attend events of an inter-provincial caliber.
The applicant must have achieved the right to attend via competition. Group
funding will not exceed $25 per East Hants athlete, and the group must be
representative in name of East Hants or an East Hants Community. Individual
funding will not exceed $100 per person and will be available to athletes
competing in individual events or by East Hants Youth representing the province.
b) Recreational travel to assist youth to attend events of a less intense or
competitive nature that are sanctioned by a parent organization.
Aquatic / Outdoor Skating Program
Financial assistance may be provided to groups promoting or offering aquatic/outdoor skating opportunities to or for residents of their communities. This may encompass such means as:
• Off-setting travel costs to an appropriate facility for lessons for groups traveling 25
kilometers or more (one way).
• Assisting with costs incurred in providing lessons at a site within the community that
is 25 kilometers or more from the East Hants Pool. (The LE Shaw Memorial Pool will
be the only exception to this.)
• Assisting with costs associated in providing outdoor community skating
opportunities. i.e. rinks, ponds, lakes etc.
Event Hosting Grant
Groups or organizations are also eligible to apply for one Event Hosting grant in addition to a Community Grant per year (April 1st – March 31st). Financial assistance may be provided for community groups who are hosting any of the following types of events:
1. Recreational, Program, League or Season Finale, Competition or Display—This
could include in-house presentations for recreational or non-traditional activities.
Only Associations or Not-for-Profit organizations will be eligible. Grants from this
category will not exceed $200.00.
2. Provincial or National Level Tournament—This would recognize the significance of
groups or teams who are taking on responsibility for hosting a larger event, which
might include folks from out of the community or out of province. Grants for this
category will not exceed $250.00
Recognizing that not all organizations are of a competitive nature consideration will be given to provide opportunities for these groups to receive funding.
• Event or competition must be to meet the needs of children and youth.
• Emphasis will be given to those events that promote healthy physical activity.
• Events must be open to the public to view and be within the boundaries of the
Municipality of East Hants.
• The Municipality of East Hants must be recognized as a sponsor.
• Organization must provide proof of insurance, noting coverage for the event.
• Must acknowledge that they are a Fair Play facility and/or organization.
• The applications will be considered on an “as received” basis.
To view the policy and apply complete the application form and submit to the Department of Recreation &.