Funding Opportunity – Greenbelt Foundation Funding

August 17, 2022

Maximum funding amount: $80,000
Statement of Interest (SOI) due: August 31, 2022
Funding Guidelines – Please Review Prior to Submitting an SOI

The Greenbelt Foundation champions Ontario’s Greenbelt. Their Prosperous Greenbelt and Resilient Greenbelt funding streams invest in projects that protect the Greenbelt and increase environmental, social, cultural, and economic benefits, enhance the health of the Greenbelt’s natural and agricultural systems, support farmers, and foster a sustainable rural economy.

The Greenbelt Funding Guidelines outline objectives for the Prosperous and Resilient Greenbelt grant streams. Below, we have also highlighted current priorities that address key challenges facing the region and local communities:

• Pandemic recovery through supporting tourism industry partnerships, collaborations and training that create and enrich Greenbelt outdoor recreation, and agri-food, culinary and Indigenous-led experiences that boost the rural economy and support rural jobs.
• Strengthening Greenbelt agricultural and its local food systems with a focus on the fruit and vegetable sector to promote jobs and rural vitality.
• Engaging community members to increase awareness and understanding of Greenbelt benefits to the region while inspiring actions that steward the Greenbelt and engage community leaders, including reducing risks and vulnerabilities to climate change.

The program has two funding streams:

STREAM 1 – Prosperous Greenbelt supports sustainable agriculture and rural vitality in the Greenbelt. Funded under this stream are projects that generate economic activity and promote rural resilience and vibrant communities, including projects that enhance agricultural, natural, and cultural-based recreation and tourism in the Greenbelt and along its river valleys and those that engage the public to support the Greenbelt’s agricultural and natural systems, cultural heritage, and rural economy.

Fall 2022 Priority Objectives:

• Support pandemic recovery, focusing on the strong return of local visitors to the Greenbelt and rural economy by enhancing visitor experiences and increasing visits during off-peak times.
• Champion meaningful Greenbelt-related experiences around outdoor recreation, agri-food and culinary destinations, and authentic Indigenous cultural tourism experiences.
• Increase capacity for tourism partnerships and collaborations to offer and/ or promote Greenbelt experiences for local residents including Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities.

STREAM 2 – Resilient Greenbelt works with nature to increase regional resilience and the public benefits provided by the Greenbelt. This stream supports projects that invest in the Greenbelt’s already available natural solutions, including projects focused on monitoring, identifying restoration and enhancement priorities, integrating natural solutions in municipal or community-based programs, researching and mapping priorities to strengthen biodiversity, and more.

Fall 2022 Priority Objectives:

• Provide capacity for communities to identify or design natural infrastructure projects that strengthen climate resilience with a focus on stormwater management and flooding, heat management and biodiversity.
• Supporting efforts in the Greenbelt to achieve healthy forest cover and contribute to climate resilience in the region.
• Increase awareness of the benefits provided by the Greenbelt, supporting community engagement to inspire activities and actions to enhance the Greenbelt and lead change.

If you are interested in applying for this grant, please submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) through the Grant Centre no later than August 31. There is a tight window for this grant opportunity so please avoid late submissions.

If you have any questions, please contact the Funding and Grants Coordinators: Max Smith (max.smith@trca.ca) or Samuel Hale (samuel.hale@trca.ca).