Additional opportunity for funding through CARDS program

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Groups seeking funding from the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development in Saskatchewan (CARDS) program have until April 23 to submit their applications to the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD).

The CARDS program is an initiative to foster the increased long-term growth, employment and competitiveness of Canada’s agricultural and agri-food industry. The program is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and administered in Saskatchewan by the SCCD.

The organization’s Executive Director Laurie Dmytryshyn says that, while the program is winding up, some money remains available for new applicants.

“A few of our completed projects are coming in below budget,” Dmytryshyn said. “Because of this under-spending, we now have residual funds available for new project applications.”

Since 1995, the CARDS program has provided over $20 million to more than 900 projects in Saskatchewan, assisting them in leveraging over $46 million in total funding. The program includes five areas: Industry and Rural Resource Development, Business Development Activities, Capital Equipment Purchases, Value-Added Development, and Environmental Stewardship.

Dmytryshyn says the Industry and Rural Resource Development area was designed to enhance and strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector through funding for resource development.

“We funded quite a few conferences, workshops, and information packages,” she said. “An excellent example of a project assisted under this category is the partial CARDS funding provided for the display at the Pork Interpretive Centre.”

The program has different criteria targeted to for-profit and non-profit projects.

“If it’s a for-profit organization, we’ll provide a grant in the amount of 50 per cent of the eligible cash costs,” Dmytryshyn said. “If it’s a non-profit organization, we can fund up to 70 per cent. This is where a lot of our commodity associations or food processing groups might fit.”

Another very active area has been Business Development Activities.

“This program area was designed to develop, commercialize, and market new value-added agricultural products and processes in the province,” Dmytryshyn stated. “It will fund market assessments and development, feasibility studies, business plans, prototype development and related activities.”

Dmytryshyn notes that projects applying in the Capital Equipment Purchase category must involve the adoption of technology that is new to the province. An applicant may receive up to 10 per cent of the purchase cost for the new equipment.

Projects in the Value-Added Development category tend to be initiatives launched by industry associations. “The intent of this category is to assist industry in expanding value-added initiatives in processing, and marketing,” she said.

The final category, Environmental Stewardship, aims to increase understanding and support the development of environmentally friendly practices.

While this will be the final round of funding under CARDS, SCCD continues to operate the CARDS program’s successor, the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) initiative. The next deadline for ACAAFS applications is April 16. Details on both programs, along with application forms, are available at www.sccd.sk.ca.

For more information, contact:

Laurie Dmytryshyn, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development
Phone: (306) 975-6849
E-mail: dmytryshynl@sccd.sk.ca
Website: www.sccd.sk.ca