Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is investing $1.5 million through its FCC AgriSpirit Fund to support 83 rural community projects across Canada that improve the spaces, services, and infrastructure people rely on every day.
“Strong rural communities are built by people who recognize a local need and take action,” said Justine Hendricks, FCC president and CEO. “Through the FCC AgriSpirit Fund, we’re proud to support local projects that strengthen the places where people live, work and gather. These investments reflect FCC’s commitment to the long-term vitality of rural Canada and to the communities that help our agriculture and food industry thrive.”
Funding ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 support projects focused on food security, agricultural and community infrastructure, accessibility, energy efficiency, recreation and emergency services. Together, these investments help rural communities meet local needs and build capacity for the future.
Since 2004, FCC's AgriSpirit Fund has supported 1,861 projects and invested $25.5 million in community improvement projects in cities, towns and Indigenous communities with fewer than 50,000 residents across Canada.
Registered charities, non-profit groups, municipalities and First Nations, Métis or Inuit governments/communities interested in funding can visit www.fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements and view past projects.
In Ontario, the following projects are receiving funding:
Organization | Community | Amount | Project | Aamjiwnaang First Nation | Aamjiwnaang First Nation | $11,000 | Relocating and expanding a community greenhouse to increase production capacity and create space for training and programming. | Belgrave Community Centre Board | Belgrave | $25,000 | Creating a fully accessible playground and recreation space with inclusive play features and improved site accessibility. | Corporation of the County of Elgin | Talbotville | $25,000 | Purchasing training props and support equipment for a live fire training facility to enhance firefighter training and emergency response preparedness. | Corporation of the Township of Bonnechere Valley | Eganville, Township of Bonnechere Valley | $25,000 | Upgrading arena refrigeration, heating recovery systems, solar generation, lighting, and building controls to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. | Cycles of Life for Supportive Transitional Living | Ingersoll | $25,000 | Installing a second walk-in freezer to expand food rescue, storage, and distribution capacity. | Food Rescue Hub | Woodstock | $25,000 | Establishing a centralized food rescue and distribution hub, including transportation infrastructure, to recover, store, and redistribute surplus food. | Glencoe Agricultural Society | Glencoe | $16,000 | Upgrading fairgrounds lighting with energy-efficient fixtures to improve safety, visibility, and support community events. | Highgate District Agricultural Society | Highgate | $15,000 | Completing facility repairs and infrastructure upgrades to enhance the safety, functionality, and longevity of the community park and fairgrounds. | Canadian Peace Museum | Vankleek Hill, Hawkesbury, and Cornwall | $10,000 | Creating dedicated food storage space with refrigeration, shelving, and volunteer workspace to support community food distribution efforts. | Mattagami First Nation | Mattagami First Nation | $25,000 | Developing food-growing, food storage, and horticultural learning infrastructure to support community food initiatives and traditional knowledge sharing. | Norwich District Curling Club | County of Oxford | $10,000 | Replacing the facility’s deteriorating roof system to improve energy efficiency, structural integrity, and long-term sustainability. | Renfrew and District Food Bank | Renfrew | $25,000 | Expanding food recovery and meal production capacity through enhanced food processing and preparation infrastructure. | Right To Food | Turnor Lake and Birch Narrows | $10,000 | Establishing a community garden with raised beds, Indigenous plants, and outdoor gathering space to support local food production and cultural learning. | Safe N Sound Residence | Owen Sound | $24,000 | Purchasing commercial refrigeration equipment to expand food recovery, safe storage, and food distribution capacity. | Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) | Chippewa of the Thames First Nation | $10,000 | Expanding a traditional food and medicine garden to support land-based learning and food production. | The Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society | Drayton | $21,000 | Installing an elevator lift to improve accessibility to the second-floor hall within the agricultural building. | Whitesand First Nation Band 190 | Whitesand First Nation | $20,000 | Equipping a cultural learning facility to support traditional food harvesting, preservation, and food security activities. |
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