Vancity provides funding boost to local food projects
enviroFund™ distributes nearly $4 million over five years
July 27, 2017, Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C – Vancity is supporting more than a dozen local food projects through its enviroFund program with $220,000 in funding announced today. Grants between $15,000 and $20,000 are being distributed to non-profit organizations working on projects that directly benefit local communities.
The program is funded by Vancity enviro Visa cardholders, who give back to their communities just by using their credit card for daily transactions. Five per cent of Vancity enviro Visa profits support the enviroFund program, and this year local projects are receiving a total of $758,000.
The enviroFund program has been focused on supporting the development of a sustainable local food system for the past five years, distributing $3.9 million through 119 grants. This year’s grants provide funding to projects that grow local food production, expand local food procurement, increase the capacity and efficiency of local food systems, and ensure local businesses and producers are operating in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Projects receiving grants this year:
- BC Eco Seed Co-op (Vancouver/Fraser Valley) – enhancing local ecological seed distribution ($15,000)
- David Suzuki Foundation (Vancouver) – supplying local markets with sustainable fish ($15,000)
- Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society (Vancouver, Coquitlam) – the Suwa’lkh school earth spirit healing farms ($20,000)
- Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (Vancouver) – surplus food processing initiative ($15,000)
- Italian Cultural Centre Society (Vancouver) – the food hub ($15,000)
- Lohbrunner Community Farm Cooperative (Langford) – development of sustainable food system in Langford ($20,000)
- Pollinator Partnership Canada (Victoria Gulf Islands) – farming for bees ($15,000)
- SeaChange Marine Conservation Society (Victoria) – SNIDCEL resiliency project ($20,000)
- Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (Vancouver) – community extension for small scale producers ($20,000)
- T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation (New Westminster) – the BC young fisherman’s network ($15,000)
- The Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (Victoria/Gulf Islands) – closing the local food supply gap ($20,000)
- The University of the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford) – local food sourcing by Fraser Valley restaurants ($15,000)
- Your Local Farmers Market Society (Vancouver) – VFM Direct expansion to year-round operations ($15,000)
Organizations interested in participating in the enviroFund program should check the Vancity website in January 2018 for details on how to apply.
Quote
“We believe a strong, sustainable local food system is a crucial part of a healthy community. Vancity is committed to supporting sustainable business development, and helping non-profits invest in technology and develop innovative ways to improve our food supply and well-being.” Moira Teevan, Vancity community investment portfolio manager
Additional information
About Vancity
Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 523,000 member-owners and their communities in the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw territories, with 59 branches in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay. With $25.6 billion in assets and assets under administration, Vancity is Canada’s largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
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For more information:
Brent Shearer | Vancity
T: 778-837-0394
mediarelations@vancity.com