Community members pitch their ideas, people pitch in donations, the community votes, and the projects with the most votes get funded. Doing good things together as a community. To date, the community has funded 48 grassroots community projects!
Join us! Project Impact drop-ins Thursday, Nov. 30, 5:30-7:30pm; Sunday, Dec. 10, noon-2pm; Monday, Jan, 15, 5:30-7:30pm at the Climate Justice Corner (main library, 74 Mackenzie), or in the Facebook group. Come see some project examples, brainstorm ideas, or get help with your application.
Project Impact holiday cards: Give someone the gift of making an impact! Make a donation to Project Impact on their behalf, and we will send them a card with your personal message. Order here.
Apply
If you have a great idea about how to improve your community, now’s the time to make it happen! Community members, neighbours, grassroots community groups, student groups…all can apply for up to $500 in funding for a small grassroots community project that will make a big impact. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2024. Applicants will present their projects and the community will vote in early March. Funding will be awarded in April.
Apply on-line, or download the application, fill it out and email it to us. If you have questions about the application, or wish to have the application form emailed to you, please feel welcome to contact us. Le formulaire peut être rempli en anglais ou en français.
About
Project Impact supports small community projects that make a big impact, and involves residents in positive change where they live. Projects are pitched, chosen and funded by the community. To date, Project Impact has funded 48 community projects around Greater Sudbury.
Q: What is Project Impact?
A: Project Impact, led by the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury, supports small community projects that make a big impact, and involves residents in positive change where they live. Projects are pitched, chosen and funded by the community.
Q: How long has Project Impact been around?
A: Project Impact started in 2015. To date, Project Impact has supported 48 grassroots community projects.
Q: How does Project Impact work?
A: Individuals, friends, neighbours, schools, or community groups – ALL community members in Greater Sudbury – can fill out an application for a small community project that they would like to see implemented. Because Project Impact is all about community, the project ideas come from the community and a community vote decides which projects get funded. The funds also come from donations from the community.
Q: Is my project eligible?
A: Project Impact supports many diverse community-led projects that benefit the community. Your project may not be eligible if: the project is situated outside of Greater Sudbury; you are a business or a large institution; the project has a private benefit versus a community benefit; your project/organization has values that run counter to the values and Mission of Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury.
Q: What kinds of projects have been chosen in the past?
A: There are so many different types of projects! They range from: student built birdhouses, planting milkweed for Monarch butterflies, water buggies for community festivals, bike exchanges, planting and harvesting native plants and sweetgrass, mural painting, community gardens, harm reduction, community building events, and much more!
Q: What is the budget for each project?
A: Each community chosen project can request a maximum funding of $500. Funds can be used for small stand-along projects, or for aspects of larger projects for which other resources have already been secured.
Q: How are projects selected?
A: Once applications have closed on January 31, 2024, and applicants have been notified that their projects have been accepted, there will be a community celebration in early March where applicants present and showcase their projects. This is a great way to connect with community. Attendees will vote on what projects they would like to see supported (using a participatory budgeting model). Projects continue to be displayed at the library and online giving community members ~2 weeks to vote. After voting closes, the number of votes are tallied to determine which projects will receive funding. The number of grants awarded will depend on the results of the vote, the funding required by the winning projects, as well as the total funds secured for Project Impact. Funds are given out in early April, and projects should be completed by November 2024.
Q: What is Participatory Budgeting?
A: Participatory Budgeting is a community driven decision-making process using community funds. Residents of the community are encouraged to become engaged to decide together which projects will receive funding.
Past projects
Student built bird houses
LoEllen Park Secondary school build 50 wooden birdhouses. MNR Youth Rangers installed the bird houses along Rainbow Routes trails along Junction Creek and in other local green spaces.
Milkweed for Monarchs
Led by local residents, rescued common milkweed plants and milkweed seedlings were distributed in the Kingsmount/Roxborough neighbourhood.
Planting sweetgrass
Led by educator Will Morin, students at St. David planted sweetgrass in the spring, harvested sweetgrass in the fall, and received teachings.
Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre Mural
With the help of an artist, the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre engaged the community and created a railroad themed mural on-site with local youth.
Flour Mill Community Farm
David Dubois and Social Planning Council planted the seed for the Flour Mill Community Farm.
Operation Fruit Snacks
Fruit for All turned surplus residential fruit into dried fruit snacks for school breakfast programs.
Elm-West Playground Community Garden
The Elm-West Playground Association built garden beds and started a community garden in their neighbourhood playground
Citizen Scientists of Junction Creek
Junction Creek Stewardship Committee held monthly citizen-science events for all ages.
Seniors Helping Seniors
Coniston Community Garden’s Seniors grew food in their community garden and greenhouse and provide a selection of fresh vegetables and fruits to those seniors who are not able to garden, or those who have limited ability, either physical or financially, to shop for fresh vegetables.
Biking for Wellness
Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury / Manitoulin, Victoria Street Place (VSP) installed a bike rack and fixed up gently used bikes for residents at VSP, as a transportation option to access wellness opportunities in the area.
Community garden painted rain barrels
The Art Creative Homeschoolers, aged 9 to 15, artistically painted rain barrels to encourage participation in community gardens and encourage people to use rain barrels to protect the environment.
Sudbury Textile Recycling Project
Led by a Sudbury resident, drop-in sewing and weaving sessions were held at the public library (in person and on-line) to promote a repair culture, share skills, divert waste clothing from the landfill, and re-purpose used fabric.
The Place Hurtubise Clothing Exchange
The Place Hurtubise Tenant Association set up a clothing exchange so that tenants can exchange all sizes of clothing throughout the year.
Chelmsford Commemorative Garden
The Chelmsford Community Garden, the Chelmsford CAN, and the Chelmsford Legion branch 553 created a no-till commemorative garden in Côté Park.
Thank you
Thank you to the Sudbury Community Foundation. Thanks to their partnership, charitable receipts are available for donations of $20 or more for Project Impact.