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Rural Economic Development Microgrants
The Rural Economic Development Microgrant Program was developed by the RMA with support from the Government of Alberta through the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan (EDRAP). EDRAP includes several strategic directions intended to support rural economic development. The Microgrant Program aligns with strategic direction five: rural economic development capacity building.
The program is intended to provide grant funding to RMA members to research the feasibility and implementation of innovative approaches and initiatives to attract investment and support rural economic development. Although projects should be focused on the applicant municipality, grant recipients will be expected to share (through a final report) if and how the approach or initiative can be replicated by other rural municipalities.
All full RMA member municipalities are eligible to apply for funding through this program. Please also note that council resolution or letter from the CAO in support of the application is a requirement.
Applications will be reviewed by the RMA Review Committee, which is comprised of representatives from the RMA. Funding is allocated based on a competitive application process; not all applicants will receive funding.
To read the full guidelines for the micro-grant program, please download the official guidelines.
For any questions regarding the program, please email Karrina Jung, RMA Policy Advisor.
The recipients are:
The RMA will be working with grant recipients to share lessons learned and how other municipalities could undertake similar projects. This information will be shared through a final report in spring 2024. We thank everyone for applying!
The Program is intended to encourage research into the feasibility and implementation of innovative projects and proposals to attract rural investment and economic development. Examples of eligible projects include: innovation in rural investment attraction, rural economic development best practices, business case development, feasibility or pre-feasibility assessment for new opportunities, enhancing municipal capacity to support economic development, opportunity identification, and market research.
The program will provide a grant of up to $10,000 of the applicant’s eligible non-capital costs. Funding can be used to support the hiring of external consultant capacity or internal staff capacity to complete the approved project. The program will not fund capital costs such as land, buildings, equipment, inventory, or any other costs, that, in the opinion of the Committee, are not in the public interest or in alignment with the intent of the program.
All approved projects must be completed in full by March 15, 2024, including a final report of key outcomes.
Please provide a detailed project proposal including the scope of work, project need and project outcome, timeline, budget and funding, project team, and any other relevant information. A council resolution or letter of support from the CAO must be included within the application.
To read the full guidelines for the micro-grant program, please download the official guidelines.
The application deadline was August 15, 2023 and is now closed. Applicants will be notified of the grant decision approximately four weeks after the submission deadline.