(Community Services Recovery Fund website)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Over $1.4 million

Dozens of central Alberta community service projects receive federal funding

Aug 18, 2023 | 9:39 AM

Dozens of community service organizations in the central Alberta region received project funding on Thursday, totalling over $1.6 million, through the federal government’s Community Services Recovery Fund.

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds announced that nearly 5,500 projects are being funded across the country.

The Canadian government says while community service organizations are at the forefront of addressing community needs, many struggled during the pandemic as demand for their services increased but revenues and charitable giving decreased. They say organizations also had to develop a greater reliance on digital tools.

“Community service organizations are often the first to identify and respond to emerging needs, and they are often the ones best positioned to create real change at the local level. Through the Community Services Recovery Fund, the Government of Canada recognizes and supports the critical role these organizations play in building strong, resilient and inclusive communities. This funding will help these organizations expand their reach, build their resilience to better adapt to emerging challenges, and make a greater impact on the lives of the people they serve,” said Sudds.

The Fund was created to help community services organizations in their post-pandemic recovery to adapt, modernize and equip themselves to improve the efficacy, accessibility and sustainability of the community services they provide.

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Charities and non-profits can invest in their own organizational capacity to

• adapt the way they deliver services to support the needs of their staff and volunteers;
• buy equipment such as computers and software;
• create new ways of working, such as developing new fundraising approaches;
• provide support for staff and volunteers, such as staff training, supports for mental health and well-being; and
• develop plans to receive funding from diverse sources.

RED DEER

In the Red Deer City and County area, 15 projects were funded for a total of $1,062,026.58.

• The Lending Cupboard – “Systems Streamlined and Future Sustainability” ($31,900)
• Parkland Community Living & Supports Society – “Supporting Staff to Benefit Individuals – Training & Technological Initiatives” ($149,731)
• Shalom Counselling Centre of Alberta – “Healthy Families” ($98,083)
• Dress for Success Central Alberta Women’s Centre – “Modernizing and adapting to volunteer needs post-pandemic” ($65,324)
• Friends of Sunnybrook Farm Society – “Sunnybrook Farm Museum – Volunteer Enrichment Program” ($19,040)
• Red Deer Native Friendship Society – “Human Resources (HR) Infrastructure Rebuild” ($86,804)
• Red Deer Symphony Orchestra – “Building Awareness: Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for 2023 and Beyond” ($69,000)
• City of Red Deer Library Board – “Red Deer Public Library Youth Literacy Program” ($9,714)
• Urban Aboriginal Voices Society – “Recovering our Community & Knowledge” ($64,776)
• Boys and Girls Club of Red Deer & District – “BGC Program Service Innovation” ($75,704)
• Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta – “Collective Alberta-Project” ($40,337)
• Aspire – “Going Digital – Records Management Transformation” ($99,974)
• The Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre – “Innovation for Our New Normal” ($62,000)
• Shining Mountains (SMLCS) – “Building the Future” ($100,000)
• Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association – “Adapting Program Delivery Best Practices Gained during the COVID-19 Pandemic” ($89,639)

RED DEER COUNTY

• Habitat Red Deer – “ReStore Social Enterprise: E-Commerce Integration” ($22,000)

CITY OF LACOMBE

Three projects were funded in Lacombe worth $130,986.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lacombe and District – “Development and adaption of a digital strategy and roadmap” ($40,350)
• City of Lacombe Library Board – “Kinsmen Program Room Makerspace” ($9,036)
• Broom Tree Foundation – “Broom Tree Foundation Strategic Planning Initiative” ($81,600)

TOWN OF PONOKA

Two projects were funded in Ponoka worth $47,495.

• Ponoka Youth Centre Association – “Flex Your Head Youth Mental Health Support Program” ($16,135)
• Ponoka Family and Community Support Services Association – “BEAT THE BURNOUT, FLIP THE FCSS TABLE” ($31,360)

TOWN OF INNISFAIL

• McMan Youth, Family, and Community Services Association – “Regional Trainer – Training Department” ($99,836)

TOWN OF OLDS

• Boys and Girls Club of Olds and Area – “BGC Olds and Area Youth and Parental Supports Pilot Project” ($59,610)

TOWN OF STETTLER

Four projects were funded in Stettler worth $208,764:

• Canadian Red Cross – “Association of Communities Against Abuse” ($37,928)
• Community Foundations of Canada – “Heartland Youth Center Society” ($67,940)
• United Way Centraide Canada – “Stettler & District Family & Community Support Services” ($21,296)
• United Way Centraide Canada – “Stettler Information and Referral Centre” ($81,600)

The Community Services Recovery Fund was announced in Budget 2021 as a one-time $400 million investment. The Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada were selected as the National Funders to deliver the Fund. The Fund builds on the $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund, which funded over 11,570 projects serving vulnerable populations during the pandemic.

“Building healthy, equitable and inclusive communities across Canada requires a strong and resilient community services sector. The Community Services Recovery Fund empowers agencies to make strategic investments that strengthen their capacity and ability to deliver their mission. This funding comes at a critical time as community service organizations respond to sustained high levels of demand. United Way Centraide Canada and our nation-wide network of United Way Centraides are pleased to work alongside our partner National Funders to invest these funds equitably to support a strong and resilient network of essential community services,” said Dan Clement, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way Centraide Canada.

For more information, including a full list of funded projects, visit the National Funders’ Community Services Recovery Fund website.