City of Windsor Teams up for 2018 WEA Arts Awards and Grants Ceremony

The Windsor Endowment for the Arts (WEA) and the City of Windsor will announce Monday January 22, 10am at the Chimczuk Museum details of the 2018 WEA Awards & Grants Ceremony to be held at the WFCU Collavino Hall on Thursday, May 24, 2018. During the evening the Mayor will present his Arts Awards. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased from May 1 to May 17 at the Chimczuk Museum or by Eventbrite on WEA’s website.

The evening includes Hors d’oeuvres Reception/Cash Bar/Entertainment; Awards and Grants Ceremony; Dessert & Coffee/ Meet the Recipients.

The Windsor Endowment for the Arts will present four Arts Leadership Awards of merit; four Arts Infrastructure Grants and four Emerging Artist Grants of $3000 each in the following categories: Community Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts and Visual Arts; the $2000 Elizabeth Havelock Grant will be presented to a mid-career artist in any discipline; and two NEW Youth Arts Grants will be presented to two senior high school students: 

• The Morris and Beverly Baker Foundation Youth Grant in the Arts: This $2000 grant will be presented to a graduating high school student entering university or college in either of the following programs: Literary Arts, Performing Arts or Visual Arts. 
•  The Eric Jackman Youth Grant in the Arts: This $1000 grant will be presented to a Grade 12 student who completes a co-operative placement through his/her school in Fall 2018, in an arts-related business or organization.

Applications will be accepted January 30 – March 9, 2018. Visit WEA’s website to download eligibility requirements and application/nomination forms.

Since its launch in 2010, WEA’s Awards and Grants program has honoured and funded a diverse range of homegrown talent from Windsor and Essex County, including the Windsor International Film Festival; artist Shirley Williams, musician Crissi Cochrane; writer Vanessa Shields; community arts advocate Teajai Travis; and performing artist Chris Rabideau.

The Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards will be presented to an individual artist, an arts organization, and a volunteer that demonstrate a passion and dedication for the arts. Nominations are currently being accepted, with the awards open to individuals and organizations involved in all genres of the arts, including performance, visual, literary, media/new media, and design. Nominees may be self-nominated or nominated by a peer, and will be accepted until 3:00pm on March 9. Nomination forms can be downloaded online.

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United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County and the Small Business Centre – a department of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation – announce new regional grant program – Neighbourhood Small Business Grant

The United Way/Centraide has been supporting neighbourhood engagement and revitalization activities across Windsor-Essex since 2010. A common theme that has emerged from this engagement is while there is an appreciation for the support, they recognize the gaps that a lack of small business poses to their neighbourhoods‘ overall vitality. Therefore, a partnership with the Small Business Centre was formed, who since 1992, has provided thousands of entrepreneurs with the training and support necessary to start and grow successful businesses, from concept through start-up and early growth stages of business.

The Neighbourhood Small Business Grant is financially supported with an equal partnership between United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County and the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre. The purpose of these grants is to encourage new and existing businesses to locate in Priority Neighbourhoods across WindsorEssex County and is a part of a broad-based community and economic revitalization and provide training opportunities to applicants by the Small Business Centre. Through this partnership, four – $5,000 grants will be awarded throughout 2017 and is now open to receive applications up to July 1, 2017.

To access the eligibility criteria, links to the application and more detailed information visit the websites of small business centre and the United Way.

The Neighbourhood Small Business Grant will support businesses looking to open in West Windsor, Downtown Windsor, the Glengarry-Marentette area, the Ford City neighbourhood and targeted areas in the County – Uptown Leamington, Essex Centre and Harrow.

“This new and innovative Neighbourhood Small Business Grant is a perfect example of community-building through a collaboration between business, public, and non-profit sectors,” says Lorraine Goddard, CEO of United Way. “We hope it’s just the beginning of working together to build strong communities across Windsor and Essex County.”

Stephen MacKenzie, CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation added, “We are excited to partner with the United Way on this initiative in order to foster community and enterprise development at the neighborhood level. The Small Business Centre works with individuals across all demographics and supports business in all sectors of the economy. SBC actively promotes its programs and services through a variety of community outreach activities and has a strong history of working collaboratively. A culture of entrepreneurship and innovation is paramount as the Small Business Centre runs a number of programs to inspire youth to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and to launch businesses of their own. As partners we will leverage the strengths of our organizations to benefit all applicants, and to benefit the community.”

Two representatives of BIA’s targeted for the grant money were present to share their experiences. Tamara Kowalska is the Director of the Windsor Youth Centre on Wyandotte and President of the Wyandotte Town Centre BIA, and Cindy Newman is the owner of Einstein’s edibles at 1067 Drouillard Rd and member of Ford City Residents In Action.

Though the BIA’s are not contributing money to this grant initiative, Newman has found the Ford City BIA very supportive of her efforts as a new entrepreneur, “the BIA reached out to me in every way possible; helped with the printing of business cards and whatever else I required. They were extremely supportive.”

And Kowalski, in her work with the Windsor Youth Centre and Wyandotte Town Centre BIA, stresses that there is not so much a need for revitalization – because there are plenty of residents with great ideas and creativity willing to share them – but for leveraging resources to assist them. “This project sends a message that this community is not just paying lip service to the forgotten and under-resourced neighbourhoods” says Kowalski, “The project shows that the community is willing to act with care, compassion and with a commitment to a true understanding of what it means to be a citizen. This project definitely demonstrates good citizenship.”

Feature photo: ( L-R)  Tamara Kowalska (Director of Windsor Youth Centre & President of Wyandotte Town Centre BIA); Frazier Fathers; Sabrina Demarco (WE EDC Small Business Centre); Lorraine Goddard (United Way); Tom Bain (Warden – Essex County); Cindy Newman owner of Einstein’s Edibles and member of Ford City Residents In Action); Stephen MacKenzie (WE EDC)

Story photos and video by Joe McParland – Biz X magazine

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Windsor-Essex Community Foundation Seeking Applicants to the Canada 150 Grant Program

The Windsor-Essex Community Foundation (WECF) is accepting applications to the Canada 150 Grant Program for Canada’s 150^th—a national grant program being administered through local community foundations across Canada to commemorate Canada’s Confederation in partnership with the Government of Canada, Community Foundations of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast.

The WECF granted $100,000 to nine local organizations in November through this Fund and is now seeking more community organizations to apply by March 24 to take advantage of this unique and once-in-a-lifetime grant opportunity.

The Fund provides thousands of small grants to community organizations across the country to activate local action and new relationships that will build vibrant communities for future generations. The Fund is available to communities from coast to coast to coast, with the broadest possible engagement of all Canadians including indigenous peoples, youth, ethno-culturally diverse groups, and official language minority groups.

“Canada’s 150th is an historic moment with the power to strengthen our communities and our connection to one another. Through the leadership of participating community foundations, the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th has sparked thousands of initiatives and activities that bring out the best that Canada has to offer,” said Ian Bird, President of Community Foundations of Canada. “The Fund encourages all Canadians to contribute to their communities in a way that fosters a greater sense of belonging, inclusion, and Reconciliation as we look to 2017 as a catalyst for community development in the years ahead.”

The WindsorEssex Community Foundation, originally founded in 1983 as Heritage Windsor, is a perpetual community trust for philanthropic purposes. It exists to manage donors’ legacy funds and make grants to support local community programs. Through grant making activities, the WECF is able to establish partnerships to assist a broad range of community organizations.

Interested community organizations are encouraged to visit the WECF’s website to access the application.

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Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund Grant Program Sets Application Deadlines for 2017

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund (ACHF), approved for continuation by City Council, will distribute grants to individuals and cultural organizations to help stimulate creative and economic growth.

Cathy Masterson, Manager of Cultural Affairs for the City of Windsor says, “the ACHF program assists in supporting exciting and engaging concepts which have a strong potential to help grow and develop audiences and a greater appreciation for arts in Windsor.”

Since 2014, the ACHF program has awarded over $218,000 to 106 exciting projects in Windsor. These projects assist in building a stronger creative community that contributes to a prosperous creative economy and to making Windsor an attractive and affordable place to live.

Application Deadlines have been set for two funding rounds in 2017

• ACHF 2017 Funding Round 1: Applications accepted from Monday, February 20, 2017 to Friday, March 17, 2017 at 3:00PM.
• ACHF 2017 Funding Round 2: Applications accepted from Monday, August 21, 2017 to Friday, September 22, 2017 at 3:00PM.

For each Funding Round, the Cultural Affairs team will host a Public Information Sessions during the Application intake time period, for individuals and organizations to come and learn more about the process of applying for funding. For Round 1, Public Information sessions will be held Wednesday February 22 at 5:30pm Coach House at Willistead Manor, 1899 Niagara Street.

Further details on the program objectives, application process, eligibility requirements, current deadlines, and upcoming information sessions are available online.

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Applications Open for Ontario150 Grants to Mark 150th Anniversary of Confederation

Province Investing in Ontario150 Programs and Infrastructure to Support Ontario’s Diverse Culture.

Ontario is encouraging municipalities, community organizations and Indigenous groups across the province to review and apply for funding programs to mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

As one of the founding members of Confederation, Ontario will celebrate this milestone with events and opportunities that showcase Ontario’s diversity and create a strong and lasting economic, social and cultural legacy.

The Ontario150 community grant programs include:

• A Community Capital Program that will provide $25 million to help municipalities and non-profit organizations renovate, repair and retrofit existing community and cultural infrastructure to increase accessibility, improve safety and maximize community use (applications will be accepted until September 14, 2016).
  A Partnership Program that will provide $5 million to support new partnerships and collaborations that engage enable and empower youth as the next generation of Ontario leaders (applications will be accepted until September 30, 2016).
• A Community Celebration Program that will provide $7 million to help connect Ontarians to their communities and with opportunities to explore their heritage, allowing Ontarians the opportunity to celebrate this historic year in a way that is appropriate and meaningful for them (applications will be accepted until September 2, 2016).
• Investing in programs and infrastructure for Ontario’s 150th anniversary is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario’s history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUICK FACTS

Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia are the original provinces of Canada, formed when British North American colonies federated on July 1, 1867.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will administer the Community Capital Fund. OTF is one of Canada’s largest granting foundations, and has invested almost $1.5 billion since 2003 in projects to help build healthy and vibrant communities.

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