One of the sectors that have been hardest hit by the pandemic is getting some help financially from the province.
On Wednesday, applications will open up for the operating stream of the Ontario government's new Community Building Fund.
A total of $105-million in new money will be administered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation and is meant to assist the non-profit sector in recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is $105-million to help them not only survive but prosper going into the future," explained MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex Monte McNaughton.
The operating stream will provide financial support for non-profits and Indigenous communities in the arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation industries.
According to McNaughton, the money is meant to be used to help organizations sustain operations as well as to help them with creating new attractions, experiences and events.
A total of $55-million of the $105-million is being allotted for the operating stream of the fund. Funding amounts awarded to successful applicants will range from $10,000 to $250,000.
"There's small non-profit groups that are supporting tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations all the way up to larger ones," said McNaughton. "That's why the amounts will vary."
Applications for the operating stream will be accepted until April 28 at 5 p.m. According to McNaughton, applicants shouldn't expect to wait too long to find out if they will receive funding.
"I know there's going to be a fairly quick turnaround," McNaughton said. "The goal is to get the money out to these non-profit organizations to ensure that they can continue surviving through COVID-19."
Later in the year, applications will open for the capital stream of the Community Building Fund.
The remaining $50-million of the fund will go towards infrastructure projects at recreational facilities.
According to McNaughton, no exact date has been given for when applications will open for the capital stream, although it's expected to be sometime in the summer.
"The capital stream will be used for municipalities and non-profit groups to retrofit buildings, rehabilitate buildings or expand," he explained.
More information on the Community Building Fund and the application process can be found by clicking here.
