Oakville has grants of up to $2,000 available for projects that enhance local community

The Town of Oakville is inviting members of the community apply for a grant of up to $2,000.

The Community Activation Grant provides financial assistance of up to $2,000 to local nonprofits, community organizations, residents, and informal groups.

It empowers local residents to champion projects that bring people together and enhance community belonging through small-scale events, activities, and programs contributing to the overall well-being of Oakville residents.

To qualify for a grant, projects should:

• Help promote a sense of community belonging
• Be small-scale community events, activities, and programs with 250 or fewer participants
• Enhance community capacity to unite people around shared interests, raise awareness, and improve public spaces
• Increase access to community participation
• Enrich the vibrancy and livability of Oakville for everyone

Applications need to be completed at least two months prior to the proposed activity.

“Your application must demonstrate how the initiative is enhancing a sense of community belonging and meet eligibility requirements,” said a Town spokesperson.

“It will also be evaluated based on how easily the project can be implemented and prioritized based on initiatives that don’t quality for support through other town grants and funding availability.”

Approved grant submissions will require applicants to enter into an agreement for the disbursement of funds and submit a final report within 60 days of the initiative detailing how the funds were spent.

Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:

• Individual residents
• Informal or ad-hoc groups of residents, or residents’ associations consisting of at least five Oakville residents
• Non-profit organizations that operate under the authority of a volunteer board, committee, or individual elected or appointed by the general membership or group

To be eligible, events, activities, programs, and similar initiatives must be free and take place in Oakville and demonstrate that the project does at least one of the following:

• Fosters a sense of community belonging
• Addresses isolation and loneliness amongst older adults
• Increases access to programs and services for equity deserving groups
• Promotes mental health and wellness
• Promotes physical literacy and wellness
• Promotes arts and culture

For more information or to apply, visit the Town of Oakville website.