Focus and Funding

Only projects that contribute to the growth, prosperity or quality of life of rural Alberta will be considered. A project must demonstrate how it supports the community and it must involve the community and/or communities where it is to be implemented.

The Fund defines ‘rural’ as the approximately one million Albertans who live outside of Calgary and Edmonton. This would include all mid-size cities. A community and/or communities can be defined as geographic (e.g. municipality) or interest (e.g. education) based. It can be a combination of both. It could also be a group of communities (i.e. involving a region).

The Fund is particularly interested in considering projects that fit the priorities of comprehensive community planning processes or where a broad cross-section of the community is involved.

Project applicants must provide 25% or more of the overall cost of the project. The Fund’s minimum contribution level is $50,000 and its maximum is $5 million. There are restrictions on eligible costs and contributions

Rural Alberta’s Development Fund wants its funding support to go to projects that have tangible outcomes. Its priorities are to:

• Promote economic development in rural communities
• Build community capacity
• Facilitate opportunities to access health services
• Expand learning and development opportunities
• Sustain and enhance the quality of rural Alberta’s environment
• Provide opportunities for rural youth
• Engage and support seniors
• Encourage the participation of Aboriginal people

The Fund will consider a wide spectrum of projects but they must respond to one or more of the following activity areas or pillars:

• Economic growth
• Community capacity, quality of life and infrastructure
• Rural health delivery
• Learning and skill development