Lake of Bays approves new Environmental Projects Grants Program
Lake of Bays Council approved a new Environmental Projects Grants Program (EPGP) for the Township, in the April 9th meeting.
The program starts this spring, and the Township will award grants to individuals and organizations that offer projects, events, or services that enhance environmental stewardship and sustainability.
According to the staff report, $10,000 has been allocated to assist projects that support, create awareness, and preserve the environment in the following ways:
- Inform the community about local flora and fauna with projects, events, and services that focus on caring for and cohabitation with local plants and animals.
- Encourage the use of community and pollinator gardens, native plants, and green space development.
- Create awareness about corrosion control and sustainable water management and retention, with projects that include prevention and runoff, and utilize recycled water systems, such as rain barrels, cisterns, dry wells, and rain gardens, and reduced impacts from increased precipitation.
The grants are as follows: - $500 for small projects that focus on habitat conservation, restoration, or enhancement.
- $1,000 for projects that focus on preservation or enhancement of biodiversity within ecosystems.
- $5,000 for projects that protect, restore, or manage quality of water and the health of the watershed.
Council will determine the amount of funds that will be set aside for the program in the Operating Budget each year.
There will be two intakes annually in the second and fourth quarters. Funding for the fourth quarter will depend on the funding available from the second quarter.
The report adds that the Watershed fund “has a higher threshold for support ($5,000); therefore, applications are proposed to be reviewed by the review panel during the fourth quarter for projects taking place in the following calendar year.”
The Township will have a staff committee set up as the EPGP Panel who will administer grant funds.
If funding requests exceed the allocated annual $10,000, Council may consider increasing the EPGP fund based on projects demands from the community.
Councillor, Mike Peppard, said, “This looks like a fantastic program.”
He expressed the importance of getting the word out to the community groups and suggested Council get involved with gaining exposure for the program.
Mayor, Terry Glover, advised that the program will be on social media and other online streams.
Councillor, Rick Brooks concurred that the success of the program will depend on its exposure, including creating awareness with their lake associations. He said, “There’s going to be uptake if we let them know what it’s all about, because it’s great for them to be able to have ideas but not know how they can fund it or how they get support. Here’s a situation where we’re not giving them a handout, we’re giving them a hand up.”
More details are available in the EPGP policy and application guidelines.
