Major Contributions Program
Program Description Guide to Applicants Application Form

 

 

 

Program Description
The Major Contributions Program provides funding to six key priority areas:
1. Environmental Infrastructure. This area focuses on the provision of clean water, sewer upgrading and waste management infrastructure for Haida Gwaii communities. It is viewed as the foundation for building a sustainable Islands’ economy.
2. Environmentally sustainable economic infrastructure. This area builds on the foundation projects established under priority area 1. It enables private sector jobs and business creation through infrastructure projects such as energy options studies, tourist trail systems, campgrounds, and extended higher speed Internet access. The Board is prepared to accept applications that deal with a wide range of responsible economic development infrastructure of benefit to the common good of all Islanders. This area does not replace bank financing.
3 Islands-Wide Governance Project. It is apparent to the Gwaii Trust Board that more study needs to focus on systems of Islands-wide governance that maximize local control of economic decision-making.

While the Gwaii Trust Board works towards the broad goals of self-sufficiency and sustainability for Haida Gwaii, it is not a governance body. The Board realizes, however, that effective economic development requires good governance that is collectively effective. Therefore this priority project seeks application(s) that demonstrate a combined threshold of legitimacy for carrying out the project. An Islands-wide initiative is sought. It is envisaged that one project will be funded.
4. Other basic infrastructure. This area is intended to supplement existing government programs of general application, and to build upon the sustainable and common good initiatives listed above.

It is intended to cover ambulance services, health centre construction and renovations, and the construction or renovation of administrative, cultural, educational, governance and municipal offices.
5. Recreation infrastructure and planning. This area is aimed at supporting construction and renovation of recreation centres and recreation programs planning to meet community needs not met by government programs of general application. 
6. Emergency preparedness and planning. This area is planned to support such initiatives as earthquake preparedness studies, and the provision of fire fighting equipment and emergency communications networks (both hardware and software), not covered by existing government programs of general application.

Guide to Applicants
The Major Contributions Program will allocate $855,000.00 in this fiscal year (2008/2009) to successful applicants based upon the following criteria:
• all project proposals must be supported by the originating or relevant community. Community buy-in is a must. Partnershipping is also encouraged and expected, where possible; and
• the key tests for project support are merit and need, as determined by the Gwaii Trust Society Board of Directors. Simply put, projects must demonstrate their merit and their need to the Board;
• all project costs and sources of funds must be confirmed and documented (ie. supported by cost quotation and/or commitment letter); and
•  proposal, project timeline and cashflow must be complete and accurate. 
 

There is one (1) application period for this program. The application date is: October 30th 2009.

Projects may be awarded for multiple-year funding at the discretion of the Board but should not extend past the 2010-2011 fiscal year.  One (1) multi-year funding project per community at a time.

The maximum contribution from Gwaii Trust towards facilitator costs is $500.00/day per facilitator.