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Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. (Lethbridge News Now)

Four Southern Alberta groups get grants for social projects

Feb 18, 2021 | 11:17 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Nearly $100,000 is going to four local organizations to support social initiatives.

The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta received grants from the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) through the federal government.

IRP provides non-repayable funds to social purpose organizations across the country to create and or grow enterprises working to solve pressing social, cultural, and environmental challenges.

“The Investment Readiness Program has been a unique opportunity for the Community Foundation and for Southern Alberta because this program is specific to social enterprise,” says Charleen Davidson, Executive Director at the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.

“We are proud to be able to support these initiatives and we look forward to seeing the results of the projects and the positive impacts and changes they will have in our community.”

The four grant recipients are as follows:

  • Medicine Hat College Foundation – $34,900
    • To create a small, sustainable social enterprise to benefit post-secondary students that provides work-integrated learning opportunities and affordable design services for non-profits in southeastern Alberta
  • Fort Macleod Historical Association – $30,802
    • To develop a sustainable business model that will present the accurate history of Indigenous Peoples, Northwest Mounted Police, and settlers in southwestern Alberta
  • Family Centre Society of Southern Alberta – $21,758
    • To support the development of a Child Care Co-op, providing employable skills and certification for caregivers with financial barriers while providing quality, flexible, and affordable childcare
  • Stitch it Forward Society of Lethbridge – $11,200
    • To develop an e-commerce website, viability study, and a business plan to promote the sale of items manufactured by sewing, knitting, or crocheting with up-cycled materials