Committee approves grant funding for community-building projects

The City’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today approved funding for applications to the Rural Community-Building Grants Program. The City’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today approved funding for applications to the Rural Community-Building Grants Program. The program supports rural community improvement projects undertaken by non-profit organizations. The five projects approved today would receive a total of $63,200.

• The Kanata Sailing Club, located in Ward 5 (West Carleton-March), would receive nearly $17,500 to help acquire a new dock extension and boat port to enhance the facility, as well as a new rigid inflatable rescue boat to improve safety.
• The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation would receive $30,000 to build the next phase of an accessible outdoor boardwalk at Baxter Conservation Area, connecting to the previous phase and the interpretive centre.
• The Osgoode Youth Association would receive $2,700 to support an 11-week, teen-focused, youth mental health pilot in Greely, featuring two-hour drop-in sessions focused on activities like cooking, crafts and games.
• Rural Family Connection would receive $10,000 to help renovate the storage area at the Metcalfe Nursery School with enough new storage for each child to be assigned their own individual space.
• Metcalfe Farmers’ Market would receive more than $3,000 to help improve its operation with new banners and a decal for its trailer.

The City will continue to accept grant applications until the annual budget is fully allocated. Please consult the grant program guidelines for information on how to apply. The Committee also approved a zoning amendment to increase the permitted size of an event space proposed as an on-farm diversified use within an existing building northwest of Richardson Side Road and Huntmar Drive. The building houses a cider processing operation and farm stand, and the applicant proposes to operate an associated event space within the building. The amendment would retain an Agricultural parent zoning and would provide site-specific relief to increase the permitted size of the proposed place of assembly. Recommendations from today’s meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, March 12.