The City of Cold Lake is committed to developing a fair grant policy that supports funding to develop or enhance comprehensive and diverse recreation and cultural programs within the community. A brief outline of several grant streams are available below. 

There are a variety of grant opportunities available to both non-profit and private businesses that support programs, events, development of teams, individuals or groups’ skills and opportunities related to recreation, art, culture and heritage within the City of Cold Lake. This includes events being offered within the boundaries of Wards 5 and 6 of the M.D. of Bonnyville, and indigenous communities neighbouring Cold Lake at the discretion of Council and the Committee.

Important Dates

The deadline to apply for all grants under this policy will be on a quarterly basis, with the following application deadlines:

• Winter Deadline: 4:30pm MST on the first Thursday in January
• Spring Deadline: 4:30 pm MST on the first Thursday in April
• Summer Deadline: 4:30 pm MST on the first Thursday in August
• Fall Deadline: 4:30 pm MST on the first Thursday in October

Applications shall be received at least 60 days prior to the event (or the date the funds are required) to allow appropriate time for consideration by Council.

Development Incentive Grant

The purpose of this grant is to encourage and support new or dormant (inactive for 3+ years) recreation and cultural events or programming in the community. Development Incentive Grants are available and for a period of two consecutive years, after which the organization may apply for grants under other categories.

Development Incentive Grants are available to non-profit organizations only,  and up to a maximum of $2,500 per organization, per event, per calendar year.

Community Event Incentive Grant

The purpose of this grant is to simply provide seed funding for events expected to benefit local residences and bring non-local participants into the community and surrounding area.  These events must encourage and support diverse and comprehensive recreation, art, culture and heritage events or tournaments within the City, Wards 5 and 6 of the M.D. of Bonnyville No. 87, or indigenous communities neighbouring Cold Lake at the discretion of the Council and Committee. The City of Cold Lake recognizes that these events bring significant economic benefit to the community, enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Cold Lake, contribute to the cultural richness of the community, and create affordable entertainment.

Community Event Incentive Grants are available to non-profit organizations only, and up to a maximum of $10,000 per organization, per event each calendar year.

Major Community/Tourism Event Grant

The purpose of this grant is to enhance the profile and visibility of the City of Cold Lake while supporting a diverse and comprehensive recreation and cultural events within the region that bring significant economic benefit to the community. Eligible events must have an operating budget greater than $100,000, and may also be used for bid proposals.

Major Community/Tourism Event Grants are available to non-profit organizations and private businesses, and up to a maximum of $20,000 per event.

Travel Grant

The purpose of this grant is to assist individuals, teams and cultural groups, participating in athletic or cultural events at a provincial, national or international level. The grant funds will fuel means and accommodations associated with travel to competition.

Travel Grants are available to non-profit organizations only, and up to a maximum of $500 per individual, or $1,000 per team, per calendar year will be considered.

Equipment Grant

The purpose of this grant is to assist new or established non-profit organizations within the City of Cold Lake in repairing or purchasing equipment needed to run programs or enhance existing programs.

Equipment Grants are a 50:50 matching grant that is available to non-profit organizations only, and up to a maximum of $2,500 per organization per calendar year. *Educational institutions are not eligible for this grant.

Leadership Grant

The purpose of this grant is to assist with the development of coaches, officials and cultural group leaders who are interested in upgrading their skills and knowledge for the greater benefit of the organization and community. The training clinic or opportunity must not be available in the City of Cold Lake or be an annual or regular event that is held within the City of Cold Lake.

Leadership Grants are a 50:50 matching grant that is available to non-profit organizations only, and up to a maximum of $750 per individual and/or $2,000 per organization per calendar year. 

Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant

The purpose of this grant is to enable and encourage community and not-for-profit arts, culture and heritage organizations to enhance their services and provide innovative community based arts, cultural and heritage programs, projects and activities to the residents of the City of Cold Lake. Activities include visual arts, media arts (film/video, photography, multimedia), performing arts, literary arts (storytelling, creative writing, prose, poetry), environment arts (architecture, urban design, landscape design, environmental installations), multicultural arts (ethnic celebrations), heritage arts (protection, restoration, display and interpretation of heritage archives and materials), educational arts (summer camps, youth festivals, youth and adult training programs for arts).

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant will be available to non-profit organizations only, and up to maximum of $1,500 for an an outcome-based program and/or a maximum of $3,000 per organization per calendar year.

Screen-Based Production Grant

The purpose of this grant is to incentivize and support the development and growth of Alberta's Screen-Based Production Industry in the City of Cold Lake. Eligible organizations must be engaged primarily in new film, television, and/or digital media production projects.

This does not include (or limited to)  news, current events or public affairs programming, talk shows, sports event or activity, production that solicits funds, pornography/adult entertainment, advertising, productions for industrial corporate or institutional purposes, console or online video games, video distribution platforms or aggregators, production in respect to a game or contest.

The Screen-Based Production Grant is available to non-profit Organizations and private businesses, and up to a maximum of $10,000 per calendar year.

Community Fundraising Gala Events Grant

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support for non-profit organizations that are hosting bonafide fundraising gala events in the City of Cold Lake. Eligible organizations will be required to appear as a delegations to City Council due to the nature of sponsorship.

The Community Fundraising Gala Events Grant is available to non-profit organizations only, with a maximum funding limit and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Other Structured Fundraising and/or Sponsorship Grants

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support for organizations that are hosting events not noted able, and must be related to bonafide Community Recreation, Art, Culture and Heritage Investments.

Other structured fundraising and/or sponsorship grants are available to non-profit organizations and private business, with no maximum funding limit and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Other Community Recreation, Art, Culture and Heritage Investments

The City of Cold Lake is always interested in hearing from the community and community groups relating to any and all ideas for bonafide community recreation, art, culture and heritage investment initiatives that may not be covered under an existing policy of program offered by the City of Cold Lake, or is excluded based on the criteria of an existing policy/program. This grant category provides non-profit organizations and private business a chance to make an application directly to the Community Grant Advisor Committee for funding consideration, with no maximum.

Grant Application and Information

Download the Application form and information from the links below:

• Application for Community Recreation, Art, Culture and Heritage Investment Grant Program (PDF)
• Community Recreation, Art, Culture and Heritage Investment Grant Program Policy (PDF)