Township Opens New Grant, Offering Up to $5000 for Environmental Protection and Sustainability Projects

(Lake of Bays, ON) The Township of Lake of Bays has launched a new Environmental Projects Grant Program. This grant opportunity will provide financial support to initiatives that directly contribute to enhancing the quality of life for Lake of Bays residents while prioritizing the improvement of water quality and ecosystem health. Through this program, staff and council aspire to engage our community in projects, events, and services that promote sustainability, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship.

The program will offer support for a wide range of environmental projects with initiatives centred on native plant restoration and landscape conservation, educational programs on local flora and fauna, community gardening, pollinator-friendly gardens, and green space development, as well as efforts dedicated to erosion control and sustainable water management.

For organizations and individuals interested, the Environmental Projects Grant Program offers three distinct funding streams to accommodate projects of varying scales and scopes:

• Habitat Fund: Up to $500 for small-scale habitat conservation, restoration, and/or enhancement projects.
• Biodiversity Fund: Up to $1000 for initiatives contributing to the preservation and/or enhancement of biodiversity within ecosystems.
• Watershed Fund: Up to $5000 for comprehensive projects focused on protecting, restoring, and/or managing watershed health and water quality.

The application window is currently open for the Habitat Fund and Biodiversity Fund until June 30th, 2024, with applications for the Watershed Fund being reviewed and considered starting October 1^st, 2024.

"We're thrilled to launch the Environmental Projects Grant Program, an important initiative giving our community the power to make a real difference and take tangible steps towards preservation and sustainability," said April Best-Sararas, Director of Planning Services for the Township of Lake of Bays. "We invite individuals and organizations committed to environmental stewardship to apply for this Grant Program and contribute to the preservation of our natural heritage."

For more information, including program guidelines and application procedures, please visit LakeofBays.on.ca/Grants.

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Media Contact:

April Best-Sararas – Director of Planning Services
Township of Lake of Bays
abest-sararas@lakeofbays.on.ca
705-635-2272 ext. 1252