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How to turn your community gree A guide on howto apply forfunding foryour Green Communities Initiative plan ONTARIO'SGreenCommunitiesiNiTiAnvEis First, theprojectwouldhelptoreducethe thefirstofitskindinNorthAmericatoofferan pressureonyourwaterandsewagetreatment integratedcommunity-basedapproachtoincreas- plantswhich, inturn, wouldhelptoincrease ingenergyandwaterefficiency, reducingwasteand theirlifespans.Andsecond, theprojectwould preventingpollution. Besideshelpingtoaeate helptoboostlocalsalesofwater-efficient greenercommunities,theprogramisstimulating fixturesandtocreatejobsforlocalcontractors. local economies,generatingjobsandcontributing tothegrowthofOntario'sgreenindustries. Essential steps - getyourteam OnedistinctivefeanireofÉeGreenCommuni- together tiesInitiativeisthatitencouragescommunity-wide action basedonstrategicplans. Participating Beforeyouapplyforfundingyouneedtohave communitiessettheirowngoalsandchoosetheir anadvisoryorsteeringcommittee. Itwillbe ownmethodsforachievingÉem. Thisleadsto responsiblefortheplanningprocess.Yourcommit- self-sustainingprojectsthatcontinueonlongafter teewill providedirection, overseethepreparation theinitialgovernmentinvolvement. ofdiecommunityprofileandoutlinetheplansof action. Undertheprogram,theMinistryofEnvironment andEnergyoffersfinancialsupporttobroadly- Typically, advisorycommitteeshave 12 to20 basedcommunitygroupsintwosteps:todevelop memberswhorepresentorganizationsinvolvedin economicdevelopmentandenvironmental, energy strategicplansandtoimplementdieprojects. This factsheetdescribeswhatacommunitygroupneeds orwaterprojectsinyourcommunity.These todotoapplyforfundingforastrategicplan. organizationsincludelocal utiUties, businesses, industries, mediaandgovernmentaswellas Gettingstarted serviceclubs, social serviceagenciesandschool boardsandenvironmental,labor,neighborhood, Oneofdiefirststepsyouneedtotakeisto churchandseniorsgroups. developastrategicplan. Itwilldescribewhere Youalsoneedtohaveacontractualpartner.It yourcommunityisnow,whereyouwantittobein mustbeincorporated-preferablyasanon-profit thefutureandthestepsyoumusttaketogofrom organization-andlegallycapableofenteringintoa heretothere. contractwididieMinistryofEnvironmentand Yourplanneedstoincludeenergyandwater Energy.Yourcontractualpartnermaybeyour efficiency, solidwastereductionandpollution municipality, localChamberofCommerceor preventionprojects.Anditshoulddemonstratehow pubUcutihty, economic developmentcorporation theseprojectsfittogethersoyoudonotsolveone oranon-profitorganization.Thepartnermustbea environmentalproblembycreatinganother. memberoftheadvisoryorsteeringcommitteeand #Anexampleofanintegratedproject bewillingtomanagediefinancesofdieplanning project Aprojecttodelayaproposedexpansionofthe Thecontractualpartnerwillsigndieapplication localsewageorwatertreatmentplantsmight formforfundingtodevelopastrategicplan. includeinstallingfaucetaeratorsaswellas water-savingtoiletsandshowerheadsinlocal ^ Communitysupportisessential households. Broadcommunitysupportandparticipation You,asahouseholder, wouldbenefitbecause iscriticaltothesuccessofthestrategicplanning suchaprojectwouldhelptocutyourgasor process. Suchsupportandparticipationim- electricitybills-asyouwoulduselesshotwater. provesthequalityofthedecisionsmadeabout Yourcommunitywouldbenefitfortworeasons. thecommunity'sfuture,strengthensthelevdof BS* commitmentandco-operationoflocalorgani- committeerepresentsabroadspectrumofthe zations,anddeepensthedegreeofunderstand- community; ingofcommunitydirectionandpriorities. # Thecurrentactivitiesandpastrecordofthis FortheGreenCommunityInitiative,acommu- advisory/steeringcommittee. (Howlonghas thecommitteebeenactive?); nityisdefinedbymunicipal, regionalorcounty ^ boundaries.Inalargecity,acommunitymaybea Thecurrentand/orpastenvironmentalpro- smallerareasuchasaneighborhoodoravillage gramswhichlocalorganizationshavespon- whichhasbeenabsorbedbythemunicipality. soredorhelpedtostart (Whathasbeen accomplishedtodateinyourcommunity?); \l1iatto includeinyourapplication ^ Environmentalissuesorprioritiesinyour TheMinistryofEnvironmentandEnergywill community; helpwithyourcommunity'sstrategicplanning ^ Experienceofcommitteemembersinmobiliz- processbycovering90percentofthecost-upto ingcommunityorganizationsandresidents amaximumof$20,000. aroundlocalissues; * Eligiblecostsinclude: Thecontractualpartner'sexperienceindealing tf Communityco-ordinator/Tacilitator withcommunitygroupsandmanagingcon- (upto 18weeks); tracts. *!* Supportstaff-asneeded; ^ Useful information Related expenses (e.g., officespace, telephone, faxes, whenthecontractisinplaceandsignedbythe photocoies, strategicplanningsessions, etc.). ministryandthecontractualpartner,theministry will release90percentofitsfinancialcontribu- ^ Twopointsaboutcosts tion. Theministrywillmakethefinalpaymentafter First,yourcommunitygroupisresponsible receivingadetailedaccountingstatementandthe foratleast10percentofthecostofdeveloping strategic plan. astrategicplansoyouprobablywillwantto Pleaserememberthatallexpensesrelatedtothe solicitcontributionsfromotherlocalorganiza- strategicplanningprocessmustbacliedbyinvoices. tions. YoumustidentifyaUothersourcesof Theministrywillreviewyourstrategicplanand fundsonyourapplication. Theseincludeother youractionplanswhentheyarecompleteto governmentfundingprogramsandin-kindor determineifyourcommunityiseligibleforaddi- cashdonationsfromcommunityorganizations tionalfinancialsupporttohelpyouanyoutyour andbusinesses. GreenCommunityInitiativeprojects. Second, thecontractualpartnerisresponsible forallcostswhichexceedtheestimatedcoston Where to sendyourapplicationform whichtheministry'sfinancialsupportisbased. Yousendfourcopiesofyourapplicationform andfourcopiesofthenecessarysupporting Howyourapplication is evaluated information to: Theministry'sApplication ReviewCommittee GreenCommunitiesInitiative usesavarietyofcriteriatodeterminethetypeand OntarioMinistryofEnvironmentandEnergy levelofsupportyourcommunitywillreceive. 56WellesleyStreet, 14ÉFloor, Theseinclude: Toronto,Ontario M7A2B7 * Confirmedfinancialsupportfi'omthe Telephone: (416) 325-1475 community; Fax: (416) 327-1415 ^ Thedegreetowhichtheadvisory/steering IIexisteuneversionfrançaisedecettepublication. Ontario © PIBS3294E Printedonrecycledpaper