At ARAC, we approved the recipients for the first batch of Rural Community Building Program Grant applications. Final approval will rise to council next week. I am so pleased to see community groups in Osgoode Ward taking advantage of this grant program.

The Marionville Citizen’s Committee: $15,000 to support the acquisition of an LED changeable message sign to replace a 30-year-old sign in the village of Marionville. It will allow for ease of communication of events and increased safety of changing messages

The Metcalfe Agricultural Society: $10,800 to support acquisition of two sets of aluminum bleachers for the purposes of spectator seating at the Metcalfe Fairgrounds;

The Cumberland Township Historical Society: $6,800 to support the digitization of their collection of files and to upload to their website and backup on a hard drive, before sending the originals to the archives;

The Nepean, Rideau & Osgoode Community Resource Centre, on behalf of the Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective: $9,768 to support the training of mentors in communities throughout the rural wards to be better able to handle mental health issues. This project would be partially funded as the RCBGP funds are not eligible to be used for food and therefore only $8,568 will be allocated.

After approval $118,832 remain available to groups in 2026. Applications will be accepted for the rest of the calendar year, until the program funding envelope is fully allocated. Reach out to my office if you need support applying.