The Abbotsford Community Foundation (ACF) has announced that applications for the 2019 Agricultural Enhancement grants are now being accepted.
Marcus Janzen, chair of the ACF’s agricultural enhancement grants committee, said grants of up to $50,000 are available – to a total of $100,000 – with this year’s focus on the revitalization of unused or under-utilized farmland in Abbotsford.
“We’re looking for projects that will have positive economic, social and/or environmental outcomes as a direct result of receiving the grant,” Janzen said.
He said the projects should work towards increasing both the capacity and productivity in the use of the farmland for food production.
“We have a particular interest in projects involving land parcels of 10 acres or less that will enhance our agricultural community by increasing productivity and sustainability through innovative practices.”
RELATED: Five Abbotsford farms receive grants
RELATED: New social media campaign highlights what’s great about Abbotsford
ACF board chair Lorna Hart said ACF has distributed more than $640,000 in grants to benefit agriculture in Abbotsford since 2013.
“We are celebrating our 40th year of giving this year and these grants demonstrate ACF’s ongoing commitment to inspiring, impacting and investing in our community,” she said.
Interested applicants are asked to visit the grants section at abbotsfordcf.org to find the program guidelines, which involves both a letter of intent (LOI) and an application process.
Those applicants for whom their LOI is given a green light will be sent the full application package.
Deadlines to submit the LOI are April 2, and the full application is due by April 15.
ACF is partnering with the City of Abbotsford in this program.
Information cards for the grants will be available at their booth at the Pacific Agricultural Show from Jan. 24 to 16 at Tradex.
Contact Wendy Neufeld at wendyneufeld@abbotsfordcf.org or 604-850-3755 for more information.