The Co-op Community Spaces initiative was created with the aim of improving local spaces across Western Canada. The program supports capital projects that improve recreational spaces, focus on environmental conservation, and that help establish urban agriculture projects.
Now in its tenth year, Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and affiliated Co-op locations across Western Canada have announced that applications for the program are now open, and this year will see $1 million in funding available to support these projects.
“Marking our tenth year of the program is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate how Community Spaces helps us build sustainable communities together,” announced the vice-president of strategy for FCL Pam Skotnitsky in an official statement.
The project aims to support additional protection measures for existing public spaces, as well as to help communities as they undergo improvements and beautification efforts in these areas.
Since the launch of the Co-op Community Spaces program a decade ago, $12.5 million has been distributed to 175 projects across Western Canada that range from educational spaces to community gardens and improvements to a variety of recreational facilities.
“The 175 projects funded through the program thus far conserve nature, provide urban agriculture space and create places where we can come together to play and build relationships,” Skotnitsky added.
The community-focused program is administered by FCL on behalf of more than 160 independent Co-op outlets across Western Canada.
FCL is based out of Saskatoon and focuses on providing these independent Co-ops support with leadership, strategic development, as well as wholesaling, manufacturing, logistical, operational, and marketing support. Together, FCL along with these individual outlets forms the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) that helps serve communities better from Vancouver Island to northwestern Ontario.
The CRS represents more than 26,400 employees who serve over two million active members as well as many more non-member customers through more than 1,600 retail locations in over 650 communities.
More information about the locally invested, community minded FCL and CRS can be found online at fcl.crs and at co-op.crs.
To learn more about Community Spaces or to apply for funding, visit CommunitySpaces.ca.
