Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has announced it is providing $1.5 million to support 82 community groups across the country, through its FCC Agrispirit Fund.

In 2024, the fund is awarding grants of between $10,000 and $25,000 to initiatives that improve the quality of life for residents of cities, towns or Indigenous communities, with fewer than 150-thousand people.

Locally, four community initiatives are benefiting, including the Canora Composite School, which will receive $22,500, for the purchase of a grow education rack and agriculture education materials, to provide food for students, along with food literacy programming.

As well,the Ochapowace First Nation, near Whitewood, which will get a $15,000 grant, to expand its community garden, to include larger plots for family use, while trenching in pipes from the water treatment plant to water the garden.

$10,000 is earmarked for the Foam Lake and Area Food Bank, for the purchase of a fridge and freezers, while the Kawacatoose First Nation, at Raymore, will get $25,000, to buy a freeze dryer, root cellar and weigh scale, to help with food distribution in the community.

Over the past 21 years, the FCC Agrispirit Fund has provided $22.5  million in support, to nearly 17-hundred projects across Canada.