RFAs: Community Environmental Enhancement and Food Security Grant (Canada)

Deadline: 14-Oct-2026

The City of Richmond’s Community Environmental Enhancement and Food Security Grant supports action-based projects that restore the local environment, strengthen ecological stewardship, improve access to affordable food, and expand urban agriculture. Individuals can receive up to $500, while eligible registered non-profit organizations can request up to $2,500 for environmental projects or $5,000 for food security initiatives.

About the Grant Program

The program supports community-driven projects that create measurable environmental or food-security benefits in Richmond, British Columbia. It encourages individuals and eligible organizations to take practical action that contributes to: Projects should produce visible or measurable outcomes rather than focus only on discussion or general awareness. Purpose of the Program

The grant aims to:

- Protect Richmond’s natural environment. - Restore or enhance local ecosystems. - Strengthen the City’s ecological network. - Encourage environmental stewardship. - Increase community participation. - Improve access to affordable local food. - Support responsible food production. - Strengthen urban agriculture. - Promote local growers. - Support farmers’ markets. - Encourage innovative responses to food insecurity. - Advance circular economy principles. Funding Streams Funding is available through two categories: - Environmental Enhancement Projects. - Food Security Projects. The applicant type, maximum request, and eligibility requirements differ between the two streams. Funding Information

Applicants should select the category that best reflects the primary purpose of their project. Environmental Enhancement Projects Environmental Enhancement Projects should restore, preserve, or improve Richmond’s unique island natural environment.

Potential activities may include:

- Native planting. - Habitat restoration. - Invasive-species management. - Pollinator-support projects. - Shoreline stewardship. - Community clean-ups. - Soil restoration. - Biodiversity enhancement. - Environmental demonstration projects. - Ecological monitoring. - Waste-reduction initiatives. - Community stewardship activities. Projects should demonstrate a clear environmental benefit and connection with Richmond’s ecological goals. Who Can Apply for Environmental Enhancement Funding?

Eligible applicants may include:

- Individuals. - Registered non-profit societies. - Environmental organizations. - Community organizations. - Youth groups. - Seniors’ organizations. - Service organizations. - Other eligible groups delivering community environmental projects. Individuals may request up to $500, while registered non-profit organizations may request up to $2,500. Food Security Projects Food Security Projects should improve food access, strengthen local food systems, or expand urban agriculture in Richmond.

Potential activities may include:

- Community food-growing projects. - Urban agriculture. - Food-access initiatives. - Support for local producers. - Farmers’ market activities. - Community food distribution. - Food-waste reduction. - Food-recovery initiatives. - Community composting. - Skills development related to food production. - Innovative responses to food insecurity. - Circular food-system projects. Applicants should explain how the proposed work will increase access, affordability, availability, or sustainability of local food. Who Can Apply for Food Security Funding?

Food security applicants must be:

- Registered agricultural non-profit societies. - Focused on food access and food security. - Operating for at least five years. - Able to demonstrate relevant experience.

Eligible organizations may include:

- Food-growing organizations. - Farmers’ market operators. - Agricultural non-profit societies. - Experienced organizations working on local food access. - Other eligible agricultural groups meeting the five-year requirement. Individual applicants are not listed as eligible for the Food Security stream. Five-Year Experience Requirement Organizations applying for Food Security funding must demonstrate at least five years of relevant experience.

Evidence may include:

- Incorporation records. - Annual reports. - Program records. - Farmers’ market operations. - Food-growing activities. - Community food initiatives. - Financial statements. - Partnership records. - Evidence of previous beneficiaries. - Public communications. Applicants should explain how this experience prepares them to deliver the proposed project successfully. Geographic Focus Projects must create direct benefits within Richmond.

Applicants should clearly identify:

- The project location. - The neighbourhood or community served. - The environmental or food-security need. - The people who will participate. - The expected local results. - How activities connect with City priorities. Projects without a clear Richmond benefit may be ineligible. Richmond’s Island Environment Richmond has a distinctive island and coastal environment shaped by waterways, wetlands, shorelines, agricultural lands, and urban development. Environmental projects may respond to issues such as: - Habitat loss. - Biodiversity decline. - Invasive species. - Soil degradation. - Pollution. - Waste. - Pressure on natural areas. - Climate-related risks. - Disconnected habitats. - Limited community awareness of local ecology. Projects should use methods appropriate to Richmond’s ecosystems and land conditions. Supporting the Ecological Network An ecological network is a connected system of natural areas, habitats, waterways, green spaces, and wildlife corridors.

Projects may strengthen the network by:

- Restoring native vegetation. -