Area foundations offer $1.3M for local COVID recovery projects
Article content
Got any ideas on how to make London better after the pandemic?
Maybe something nice in a public space, a community garden or free Wi-Fi and more art in a park. Or improvements to crosswalks and transit to allow for safe distancing.
Those are some of the possible ways London and area organizations can spend between $5,000 to $250,000 for projects that “help create safe and vibrant public spaces, improve mobility options, and provide digital solutions . . . to build back better in the COVID-19 recovery,” the London Community Foundation announced Wednesday.
It and other Southwestern Ontario foundations are getting $1.3 million from a $31-million federal fund, called the Healthy Communities Initiative, aimed at helping community groups develop small-scale projects to help in the recovery.
“Public spaces are the glue to our communities: they enable a feeling of belonging and of social cohesion. They are a big part of what makes communities safe, vibrant and connected,” said Lori Runciman, the London Community Foundation’s grants director, in a release.
“As the London and Middlesex region faces increased isolation due to COVID-19, the Healthy Communities Initiative will help our community to connect safely and will benefit the mental and physical well-being of our residents.”
Funding will be distributed in two rounds: about $537,000 will be available in the first, $806,000 in the second. There is also a national funding application available in both rounds.
Local governments, charities, Indigenous communities, and registered non-profit organizations are among groups eligible to apply.
The first-round application period is open now and closes March 9. A second application period launches in May. To learn more, visit www.lcf.on.ca/chci.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.