Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is giving $1.5 million through its FCC AgriSpirit Fund to 85 community groups across Canada to support rural capital projects.
“At FCC, we applaud all Canadian non-profit groups that invest time and energy to support their fellow citizens,” said Perry Wilson, FCC vice-president of Ontario operations. “Through the AgriSpirit Fund, FCC supports causes that contribute to a sense of community and help improve the quality of life for rural residents. It’s one of the ways FCC gives back to the communities where our customers and employees live and work.”
This year, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund awarded between $5,000 and $25,000 for various community improvement initiatives that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000 people.
Over the past 19 years, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund has supported 1,529 projects, an investment of $19.5 million.
The next application period opens April 1, 2023. Registered charities, municipalities, First Nations and non-profit organizations interested in funding can visit www.fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements, to apply online and view past projects.
In Ontario, the following projects are receiving funding:
| Organization | City | Amount | Project |
| Dresden Sidestreets Youth Centre | Dresden | $10,000 | Upgrade the youth centre kitchen with new cupboards, countertops and appliances. |
| Elgin Residential Hospice | St Thomas | $20,000 | Develop a community garden and greenspace for the hospice. |
| Erin Agricultural Society | Erin | $25,000 | Update the furnace, entry doors and add an outside vestibule for the Exhibits Hall. |
| Forest Agricultural Society | Forest | $20,000 | Purchase new coolers and an on-demand water heater for the fair grounds. |
| Georgian Riding Association for Challenged Equestrians | Georgian Bluffs | $10,000 | Upgrade the tack room with new LED lighting and insulation. |
| Glengarry Highland Games Foundation | Maxville | $22,000 | Upgrade the community centre’s entrance doors to increase accessibility. |
| Mnaasged Child and Family Services | Muncey | $25,000 | Purchase refrigeration equipment for the family services building. |
| Municipality of Bayham – Straffordville Hall Foundation | Straffordville | $25,000 | Purchase new kitchen appliances for the community centre. |
| Municipality of Kincardine – Kincardine Curling Club | Kincardine | $8,500 | Upgrade the kitchen facilities at the curling club. |
| Municipality of Oro-Medonte – Edgar Community Hall Association | Oro-Medonte | $20,000 | Upgrade the exterior and interior of the community hall. |
| Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board | Douro-Dummer | $10,000 | Create an accessible playground structure. |
| Saugeen First Nation | Saugeen First Nation | $22,500 | Purchase a vehicle for the food bank to distribute fresh produce across the community. |
| Shelburne and District Fire Department | Shelburne | $25,000 | Purchase and install a breathing air compressor and filling station at the fire department. |
| St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community | Goderich | $19,000 | Upgrade the community centre’s front entrance to improve accessibility. |
| The Corporation of the County of Brant | Paris | $16,000 | Support the construction of a new community centre in Cainsville. |
| The Corporation of the Municipality of St. Charles | St. Charles | $13,000 | Purchase and install compost units for the community to divert food waste into soil for area residents. |
| Town of Pelham – Royal Canadian Legion, Talbot Trail Branch (Branch 613) | Fonthill | $25,000 | Purchase refrigeration equipment for the community centre. |
| Township of North Stormont – Avonmore Community Athletic Association | Avonmore | $20,000 | Install LED lighting in the park. |
| Township of Norwich – Norwich Fire Service | Norwich | $9,000 | Purchase iPads for the fire department to speed up fire emergency response times. |
| University Hospitals Kingston Foundation | Kingston | $20,000 | Purchase procedure lights for the facility’s ambulatory care area. |
| Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society | St. Eugene | $20,000 | Upgrade and install new flooring in the agricultural hall. |
FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture and food lender, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $44 billion. Our employees are dedicated to the future of Canadian agriculture and food. We provide flexible financing, AgExpert management software, information and knowledge specifically designed for the agriculture and food industry. As a Crown corporation, we provide an appropriate return to our shareholder, and reinvest our profits back into the industry and communities we serve. For more information, visit fcc.ca.
