A total of $100,000 to be shared by four rural communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Congratulations to the following organizations who will be receiving a portion of the $100,000 available: The Kneehill Historical Society (Three Hills, Alta.), Rimbey Agricultural Society (Rimbey, Alta.), Weyburn Agricultural Society (Weyburn, Sask.) and the Wrentham Community Centre (Wrentham, Alta.). Each of our winning recipients' projects centre around a special gathering place that brings the community together:
- The Kneehill Historical Society, Three Hills, Alta. will receive $15,000 towards a UFA Theatre and Seminar Room.
- Rimbey Agricultural Society, Rimbey, Alta to receive $30,000 for an upgraded kitchen project.
- Weyburn Agricultural Society, Weyburn, Sask. to receive $25,000 to help with their Exhibition Hall repairs.
- Wrentham Community Centre, Wrentham, Alta. will receive $30,000 towards a curling rink revitalization.
The UFA Agricultural Community Foundation (ACF) was thrilled with the response this year, receiving more than double the applications from 2023. Charitable, non-profit organizations and community service-oriented co-operatives were all eligible to apply with funding to be directed to capital projects supporting recreational, educational and cultural facilities, and programs that enrich rural life of the agricultural community.
"This Rural Communities Grant Program has been an exciting first campaign for our newly established foundation and we're very pleased with the results in our inaugural year," says Jennifer Wood, UFA ACF Advisory Board Chair. "We're able to build on the success of the former foundation who funded twenty community projects in Alberta over the past five years.
"The UFA Agricultural Community Foundation will continue to evolve with many new components being introduced over the months ahead – all with the objective of supporting projects that enrich education, recreation and culture for the betterment of agricultural communities."
To learn more about the 2024 grant recipients' projects and how they'll be applying their funding, please visit the UFA-ACF.com page or view the announcement video here.