Apply Now: Neighbourhood Connection Grant (Canada)

Deadline: 31-Oct-26

The Neighbourhood Connection Grant provides up to $500 in reimbursable expenses to St. Albert residents for neighbourhood gatherings and activities that strengthen connections among local residents. The one-time grant requires no matching contribution and is available to eligible residents aged 18 or over, subject to program rules on eligible expenses, public purpose, and event approvals.

Neighbourhood Connection Grant: Overview

The City of St. Albert Neighbourhood Connection Grant supports resident-led activities that bring neighbours together and strengthen community relationships. The program is intended to reduce financial barriers to hosting neighbourhood events while encouraging a stronger sense of belonging, participation, and community spirit. Funding can support gatherings and activities organised for a street, neighbourhood, or broader local community in St. Albert. Why the Neighbourhood Connection Grant Matters Neighbourhood-based activities can help residents build relationships, improve social connection, and create more welcoming local communities. The grant supports resident-led initiatives by providing modest financial assistance for eligible event and activity expenses.

The program focuses on activities that:

- Bring neighbours together. - Encourage community participation. - Strengthen relationships between local residents. - Create opportunities for social connection. - Provide a public community benefit. - Help residents develop stronger neighbourhood networks. Grant Amount and Funding Details Eligible applicants can receive up to $500 in reimbursable expenses.

Key funding details include:

- Maximum grant: $500 per event.

- Matching funds: Not required.

- Funding type: Reimbursement for eligible expenses.

- Frequency: One-time allocation per event, activity, or project.

- Food expenses: No more than 20% of the maximum grant amount can be spent on food.

- Purpose: Funds must be used for a public community purpose.

Applicants should ensure that proposed expenses comply with the City’s eligible-cost requirements before organising the event. What Can the Grant Support? The Neighbourhood Connection Grant is intended for neighbourhood-focused gatherings and activities that create opportunities for residents to connect.

Examples may include:

- Neighbourhood social gatherings. - Community-building activities. - Resident-led local events. - Activities designed to bring neighbours together. - Initiatives that encourage participation and social connection. Projects should demonstrate a clear benefit to the neighbourhood rather than serving a private or individual interest. Who Is Eligible? The grant is available to individual residents of St. Albert who are organising an initiative for their street or broader neighbourhood.

Applicants must:

- Be residents of St. Albert. - Be at least 18 years old. - Organise an eligible neighbourhood-focused event, activity, or project. - Sign the application personally. - Be responsible for receiving the funding. - Complete the required final reporting. - Have no outstanding grant reports due to the City of St. Albert. Who Is Not Eligible? The following applicants or activities are not eligible: - Businesses. - Community groups. - Church groups. - Political activities. - Activities benefiting private interests. - Advocacy activities. - Proselytizing activities. - Projects without a public community purpose. Only one application per household and one application per project, event, or activity is permitted. Key Conditions for Applicants Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their proposed event complies with applicable City requirements. If an activity takes place in a public space, applicants must obtain any necessary approvals before holding the event. The City also encourages prospective applicants to discuss their proposal with a Community Services staff member before submitting an application. This can help applicants understand program requirements and determine whether their proposed activity is suitable for funding. How to Apply Applicants should follow these steps when preparing their application: - Develop a neighbourhood activity or event. Identify how the proposed activity will bring residents together and strengthen neighbourhood connections. - Check eligibility. Confirm that you are a St. Albert resident aged 18 or older and that the proposed activity meets the program’s public-purpose requirements. - Prepare the proposed expenses. Identify the costs that will require reimbursement and ensure that food spending does not exceed the permitted limit. - Discuss the proposal with Community Services. Applicants are encouraged to contact City staff before submitting their application to discuss the project. - Obtain required approvals. If the event will take place in a public space, secure any necessary permits or approvals. - Submit the application. Complete and submit the required grant application with the requested project and expense information. - Organise the approved activity. Use the funding only for eligible expenses and ensure that the event serves a public neighbourhood purpose. - Complete final reporting. After the activity, provide the required information to the City to account for the grant. Important Restrictions Applicants should carefully consider the program’s restrictions before applying.

The grant cannot be used for:

- Political activities. - Private interests. - Advocacy. - Proselytizing. - Activities that do not provide a public community benefit. Food expenses are also restricted to 20% of the maximum $500 grant, meaning no more than $100 of the grant can be allocated to food. Tips for a Strong Application Applicants can improve the clarity of their proposal by: - Clearly explaining how neighbours will participate. - Showing how the activity benefits the wider neighbourhood. - Providing a realistic expense plan. - Keeping the focus on community connection rather than private benefit. - C