Social well being and social issues are the target of the newly created Columbia Basin Trust Social Grants Program.
Oct. 12 is the deadline for projects under the program that support the social aspect of life in the basin.
This is the first time applications are being accepted to the program, and a total of $500,000 is available for project grants.
Basin residents continually try to address a range of social issues, from connecting with isolated senior citizens to ensuring young families have access to early childhood development programs, said Neil Muth, CBT president and CEO.
“Through our new Social Grants Program, we’re increasing our support of these efforts, and are excited to see what projects come forward in this first intake,” he said.
Among others, eligible projects include ones that: address the Canadian social determinants of health; address the health of children, youth, individuals, families or seniors; support the well-being of or community participation by individuals or groups of individuals who face barriers in seeking to participate in their communities, or who have been marginalized.
The Social Grants Program is a three-year pilot with an annual granting budget of $1 million. There will be two intakes per year, and granting decisions will be made by the Social Grants Program Selection Committee, a volunteer group of basin residents.
For more information about the Social Grants Program, or to download an application form, visit www.cbt.org/sgp.