Funding Opportunities and Circular Economy
Circular Economy Webinar Series
The Vancouver Island Coast Economic Developers Association (VICEDA) has been working on a Circular Economy Accelerator Project and the results will be presented in a series of webinars focused on different sectors. The program provides hands-on support to businesses north of the Malahat and on the Sunshine Coast who seek to adopt circular economy principles, reduce waste and emissions, increase revenue, and develop innovative practices. The webinar series is comprised of four free online presentations – three industry-specific workshops that will cover how businesses in the industry can incorporate circular principles into their operations and the steps involved, and one workshop for local government that will conclude the Accelerator Program pilot by showcasing business transformations and key trends and opportunities. The workshops are as follows:
Fostering a Circular Economy in Tourism and Hospitality | May 17, 10-11 am
Fostering a Circular Economy in Construction | May 31, 10-11 am
Fostering a Circular Economy in Food & Beverage Processing | June 14, 10-11 am
How Local Government Can Support a Circular Economy | June 28, 10-11:30 am
This program is delivered by Vancouver Island Coast Economic Developers Association and Synergy Foundation with support from Island Coastal Economic Trust and regional VICEDA partners: City of Campbell River – Local Government, City of Nanaimo Local Government, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce, Municipality of North Cowichan, City of Port Alberni Local Government, and Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization.
Funding Update
1. BC Arts Council – Arts-Based Community Development
The Project Assistance: Arts-Based Community Development program supports organizations to engage professional artists in the development and delivery of projects that provide arts-based community development impacts and benefits to a specified community. Through collaborative, community-based, arts-centred activities, these projects provide a tangible and active understanding of arts and culture as a path to health, well-being, human dignity, and social transformation.
Eligible Applicants: All applicants are encouraged to confirm their eligibility and the eligibility of their project with a Program Advisor prior to applying. All applicants must:
Be a professional or community arts organization working in collaboration with a specified community OR Be a community organization whose focus is not arts and culture, working in collaboration with a specified community OR Be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) community organization or Indigenous government in B.C. that offers dedicated arts and culture activities, and working in collaboration with a specified community. Refer to the program guide for more eligibility information.
Deadline: deadline is 11:59 p.m on May 17, 2023.
Maximum Funding Amount: There is no maximum request amount, but A-BCD grants typically range from $15,000 to $30,000
NOTE: Applications are submitted through the Grant Management System. New applicants must register and create a profile in the online system. Once the registration request is submitted, it may take up to four business days to process your request.
Contact information: Program Advisors can be contacted Clayton.Baraniuk@gov.bc.ca 250-978-9839 | Krista.Patterson@gov.bc.ca, 236-478-2550
Program guide and more information can be found on the BC Arts Council website at https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/program/arts-based-community-development/
Additional BC Arts Council grants have deadlines in May 2023 and can be found here https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/program/ Please check them out and share with your networks!
Canadian Council of Arts – Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples
The Long-Term Projects component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds First Nations, Inuit and Métis professional artists, cultural carriers, arts/cultural professionals, groups, collectives and arts/culture organizations. Grants provide support for any combination of eligible Creating, Knowing and Sharing activities for projects lasting more than 1 year, up to 3 years.
Eligible Applicants: First Nations, Inuit and Métis professional artists; First Nations, Inuit and Métis arts/cultural professionals; First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural carriers; First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups; First Nations, Inuit and Métis for-profit organizations that have been in operation for at least 2 years; First Nations, Inuit and Métis not-for-profit organizations not currently receiving core funding
Deadline: for Long Term Projects is June 14th 2023 – refer to the deadlines and notifications page for additional details.
Maximum Funding Amount: maximum of $300,000
Contact information: Program Officers can be reached at creatingknowingandsharing@canadacouncil.ca
To see the deadlines for other Canadian Council of Arts funding programs, visit https://canadacouncil.ca/funding/grants/deadlines
2. BC Investment Agriculture Foundation- Perennial Crop Renewal Program
The Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP) is a multi-commodity program that provides cost-shared funding that will be available to BC-based perennial crop producers to remove unproductive, diseased, or unmarketable cultivars; and to adopt growing systems that are better suited to environmental conditions and market demands, based on sector-specific opportunities. Funding will also be available to perennial crop associations and stakeholder groups to conduct sector development projects that evaluate or define agronomic and market opportunities. The PCRP will provide as much as $15 million to support multiple sectors with potential agronomic and market opportunities. Funding will help farmers adapt to environmental and market conditions by supporting the removal, diversification or planting of perennial crops, ensuring British Columbians enjoy local produce for years to come.
Eligible Applicants:
Stream 1: Sector Development Projects – BC perennial food crop industry association or sector stakeholder group.
Stream 2: Removal Projects – BC perennial food crop producer. The applicant must be the owner or lessee of the land.
Stream 3: Sector-Specific Planting Projects – BC perennial food crop producer. The applicant must be the owner or lessee of the land to be planted.
Deadline: Application intake opened April 28th and are accepted on a continuous basis until funding is fully committed. The review dates for each application batch for the 2023/24 fiscal year is as follows:
The first date for review is May 25, 2023* (if a high volume of applications is received prior to May 25, IAF will review applications on an earlier date to expedite funding)
Subsequent review dates are: June 30, 2023, July 31, 2023, July 31, and November 30, 2023
Maximum Funding Amount:
Stream 1: Sector Development Projects – Max $100K with 100% funding
Stream 2: Removal Projects – Max $100K ($5000 per acre)
Stream 3: Sector-Specific Planting Projects – Max 300K with 75% funding
Contact information:
Applications and more details for the Perennial Crop Renewal Program are available online: www.iafbc.ca/pcrp
Mill tradespeople and technicians can access specialized entrepreneurship training and coaching to gain the foundational business skills they need to start and grow their own business. Through a $2.95-million grant to Hubspace, the new Build Your Own Future (BYOF) program will provide foundational business skills to prepare participants to start and grow their own businesses. The program will include training in finance, marketing and sales, operations, project management, health and safety, customer service, leadership, and diversity. In addition to offering participants intensive and customized support for their business startups, those who complete the training are eligible for a $5,000 grant to cover qualified business startup expenses.
Deadline – Continuous. The first workshop series is happening in Houston, BC, from May 29th to June 2nd (attendance can be virtual or in person).
Contact information – Program staff can be reached at info@hubspace.ca or (250) 563-2663 and visit https://www.hubspace.ca/byof/ for more information.
One pager attached.
4. StrongerBC Future Skills Grant
The grant will help learners access eligible short-term skills training to further their careers, upgrade their skills and enhance their productivity, giving them access to well-paid, high opportunity occupations. Learners can choose from a growing list of more than 400 programs and start training in September 2023.
Eligible Applicants: The StrongerBC future skills grant is open to British Columbians aged 19 years or older – regardless of financial need.
Deadline: Registration for the September semester is open now.
Maximum Funding Amount: covers up to $3,500 per person for eligible short-term skills training at public post-secondary institutions.
Contact information: Program staff can be reached at futureskillsgrant@gov.bc.ca
Program examples: There are programs on Marketing in the Digital Economy (through NIC), Office and Clerical Training (through NIC), Web Design for Small Business Owners (through VIU), Environmental Monitoring for Construction Projects (through VIU), Event Management (through VIU), Business Administration Essentials Micro-Credential (online at Royal Roads),
Learn more www.workbc.ca/futureskillsgrant
Other Updates:
Province’s new StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan has been launched (press release).
The Declaration Act Engagement Fund will help support First Nations’ involvement in efforts to implement the Declaration Act Action Plan and align provincial laws with the UN Declaration, as required under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act). The fund will help First Nations offset costs associated with provincial engagement on the implementation of the Declaration Act. The flexible fund could support staffing, training, community-level meetings and other resources required to enhance government-to-government work. The one-time $200-million fund will be administered by the Indigenous-led New Relationship Trust and be available to all First Nations in B.C. (see press release).