Grants
The Greenbelt's 1.8 million acres wraps around the Golden Horseshoe and is vital to the quality of life of Ontarians. It encompasses the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine, Rouge Park, and permanently protects agricultural land, pristine environment, and hundreds of rural towns and villages. The Greenbelt was created by legislation in February of 2005. The purpose of the Greenbelt is to protect key environmentally sensitive land and farmland from urban development and sprawl.
The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is a charitable organization, independent from the Province of Ontario. We support projects that have a direct impact on the Greenbelt and generally take place within and surrounding the Greenbelt. We are also support projects that increase awareness and deepen understanding of the values of Ontario’s Greenbelt.
We will support a variety of activities in the following two program areas:
- A Successful 2015 Review
- Strengthening Farm Viability in the Greenbelt
Please read our Grant Program Areas in full and contact staff to discuss your project and how it might fit with the Foundation’s goals and priorities.
A Successful 2015 Review
A 2015 Review is scheduled for all three land-use policies in Ontario’s Greenbelt - the Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.
With strong support for the Greenbelt reaching 90% among residents in the region, the public is heavily invested in its successful future. The 2015 Review is an opportunity to engage Ontarians in a dialogue about the importance of the Greenbelt, its contributions to preserving a high quality of life in the region and the need to invest in its agriculture, environment, and a natural resource-based economy.
There is also opportunity to consider how the plans can be improved and potentially unified so as to clarify policies and intent and ease implementation.
Program Area Goals
1. A successful 2015 Review that results in a richer, greener, more robust Greenbelt.
2. Harmonization among the three plans to modernize policies and ease implementation.
3. Stronger natural connections in the region.
4. New initiatives, regionally or Greenbelt-wide, that result in significant economic and natural capital gains.
To achieve these goals we are interested in project that:
- Advance knowledge and understanding of the value of Ontario’s Greenbelt
- Understand municipal experience in implementing the three plans
- Convene discussions on the 2015 among diverse stakeholders
- Articulate strengths and improvements needed in the three plans or external policies to fulfill the vision of the Greenbelt
- Measure the effectiveness of the current land-use plans
- Develop regional or Greenbelt-wide economic opportunities
- Support broad public engagement in the 2015 Review
- Increase natural heritage connections/corridors in the region
- Undertake visionary land management plans to protect water resources, natural features, agriculture, or create new parks and open spaces for residents
Strengthening Farm Viability in the Greenbelt
Agriculture is a dominant feature on the Greenbelt’s landscape and an important asset. For residents to have access to a diverse range of high quality, locally-grown food is invaluable. Fostering a greater interdependence among area farmers and consumers benefits both our rural and urban economies and helps sustain local food production.
Food and Farming: An Action Plan 2021 outlines major opportunities and priorities for the food and farming sector in the region, a top employer and economic contributor to Ontario that contributes $35 billion to the local economy and 400,000 jobs. It was produced through a partnership of agricultural groups and municipalities in the region, with broader industry and community consultations.
The Foundation supports key goals within the Action Plan that pursue new markets for farmers, strengthens the local food value chain and rewards environmental stewardship.
Program Area Goals
1. Implementation of Food & Farming: An Action Plan 2021.
2. Environmental sustainability in farm operations and food production.
To achieve these goals we are interested in project that:
- develop new markets and market opportunities for Greenbelt farmers
- ease and/or support market access for farmers
- develop and promote purchasing policies favouring Greenbelt-grown food
- develop distribution links between farmers and purchasers, including regional aggregators
- support a significant Greenbelt farm presence on Ontariofresh.ca
- support on-farm environmental stewardship
- advance a sustainable, local food system
- increase farm access to public lands
Please refer to our Grant Procedures for more detailed instructions on how to apply for our grants.
