Community Associations and Social Recreation Organizations

The City of Calgary is changing its approach to supporting community partners through the Capital Conservation Grant (CCG). Effective today, November 4, 2024, CCG has ceased its continuous intake process and will move to a grant round structure in 2025. With rising costs and the need to be fair, equitable and consistent, moving to a grant round structure will help The City better triage and prioritize applications based on the unique needs of The City’s community partners.

“We understand the value the CCG brings to our community partners, and we are making this change to ensure the emergent or critical projects are addressed first,” states Jon Anderson, manager, Facilities, The City of Calgary. “Based on the current portfolio of facilities, most of our community partners are not in need of immediate help. However, moving to grant rounds will help us apply a portfolio lens to prioritize higher risk repairs, creating safer environments for community partners and Calgarians who access their programming.”

This process change is in line with best practices in grant support for non-profit organizations and community partners and will ensure The City is being fair, equitable and thoughtful in how CCG funding is used. Under the grant round structure, The City will allocate CCG funds to the facilities that need it most and better manage the budget given rising construction costs and the increase in CCG applications in recent years.

This is one component of a broader community spaces investment program. Through this program, The City is exploring the relationship and funding model between The City and its community partners, including the approach to building maintenance and operations.

“Through the community spaces investment program, we are looking at different ways to ensure Calgarians have access to programs and services in safe and sustainable facilities,” says Tim Mowrey, manager, Community Partners, The City of Calgary. “Our vision is to foster strong, collaborative relationships with community partners to ensure that together, we meet the diverse needs of Calgarians.”

There are three CCG programs impacted by the move to grant rounds: the Engineering Consulting Program (ECP), Lifecycle Capital Grant (LCG) and Upgrade projects. A fourth CCG program, The Community Technical Advisory Support Services, will continue to be available to community partners supporting the upkeep and maintenance of these facilities.

The following is a summary of the impact to community partners either with active projects or applying for funding through the CCG:

All approved ECP, LCG and Upgrade projects and applications received before November 4, 2024, will be honoured under the current CCG guidelines.
All applications received before November 4, 2024, will be reviewed for alignment with existing CCG policy and 2024 CCG Guidelines.
Any projects completing the ECP and seeking LCG funding after November 4 will be subject to grant rounds.
Any applications received on or after November 4 will be considered under the new grant round process.

The 2025 CCG Guidelines will be released in April 2025, providing the process and parameters of how to apply for CCG funding. Community partners can submit applications under the new grant round structure starting Summer 2025.

The community spaces investment program is underway now, but additional funding will be required for implementation. A budget request will be brought forward as part of the 2027 – 2030 Budget Cycle for Council consideration. To learn more about the CCG and how The City works with its community partners, please visit calgary.ca.

Backgrounder:

The Capital Conservation Grant (CCG) was established to assist in addressing major lifecycle and capital conservation projects in facilities so that volunteers and staff within Community Associations (CA’s) and Social Recreation Organizations (SRO’s) can continue to provide services in safe and healthy environments.
There are over 120 CAs and almost 60 SROs with leases or licenses of occupation operating facilities and amenities across Calgary on City-owned land.
The CCG fund started the current 2023-26 budget cycle with $30.2 million allocated from Council to support CA’s and SRO’s (Groups) on City-owned Land.
The CCG supports replacement of existing capital items such as floors, roofs, parking lots, resurfacing tennis courts, HVAC systems and fences.
Eligible groups have access to funding for up to $300,000 per annum and the CCG program provides services to help groups identify project priorities.
The CCG program has three main programs and an advisory service that groups can apply to: