Grant & Bursaries | Saddle Hills County

We offer a number of grants, bursaries, and subsidies to residents and community organizations.

Grants

Program and Activity Grants are available to small community groups, clubs and organizations including schools.

Activities in which the group, club, or organization (located within Saddle Hills County, and serving children, youth or seniors) may be involved include:

Athletics
Culture
Arts
Crafts
Health and well-being

Similar grants are available to groups, clubs, or organizations, serving children, youth or seniors in similar activities, outside Saddle Hills County, conditional on the group's activities being accessible to Saddle Hills County residents.

We will accept applications three times per year with deadlines on:

January 31
May 31
September 30

Any community group wishing to apply for assistance through this grant should fill out and submit a Program and Activity Grant Applications Form.

Capital Grants

Community Organizations looking for assistance with capital expenditures to enhance the lifestyle of County residents, such as building or renovating Community Halls, building playgrounds, or other capital projects, are asked to apply for funding through our Capital Grants program.

Any community group wishing to apply for assistance through this grant, should complete and submit a Capital Grant Applications Form.

We will accept applications no later than October 15 of each year, for the following budget year.

Operating Grants

Community Organizations looking for assistance with operating expenses are asked to apply for funding through our Operating Grants program. This program assists with funding for specific operating costs for eligible groups, such as electricity, internet, heating, water, insurance, and other utilities as outlined in Policy AD06. If applying, please ensure these costs are included in your submitted budgets and financial statements.

Any community group wishing to apply for assistance through this grant, should please complete and submit an Operating Grant Applications Form .

We will accept applications no later than October 15 of each year, for the following budget year.

Cemetery Maintenance Grants

Community Organizations, Societies, and Non-Profits responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of Cemeteries throughout the County should apply for funding through our Cemetery Maintenance Grants program.

Completed Cemetery Maintenance Grant Applications must be received no later than October 15 of the current year to qualify for funding.

Cemetery Capital Grants

Community Organizations looking for assistance with capital expenditures to repair or upgrade Cemeteries throughout the County should apply for funding through our Cemetery Capital Grants program. Eligible projects include repair work to existing headstones, plots, grounds structures or facilities, and new construction of grounds structures or facilities including fencing, a columbarium etc.

Completed Cemetery Capital Grant Applications must be received no later than October 15 of the current year to qualify for funding. For 2024, the deadline has been extended to November 1, 2024.

Community Signs Grant Program

Registered Non-Profit Societies and Community Groups in Saddle Hills County are encouraged to apply for the Community Signs Grant Program, which allows for the installation of signs designating communities within the County ie. Bay Tree, Gordondale.

Groups who receive approval for the grants will be responsible for providing a preferred sign location. Groups are asked to fill out an Community Signs Grant Program Application by October 15 of the current year in order to be considered in the following year's budget.

Residential Security System Grant

Saddle Hills County now offers a $500 grant to County residents to help offset the cost of the purchase and installation of security cameras/systems on their property, as of January 23, 2024.

The grant is one-time funding, up to a maximum of $500 per residence located within Saddle Hills County, and is only eligible for primary residences, as outlined in Policy AD70.

For more information and to apply for the grant, please visit our Residential Security System Grant page.

Veterinary Innovation Grant Program

The Agricultural Service Board has also instated the Veterinary Innovation Grant Program to improve access to veterinary care for Saddle Hills County producers.

Eligible applicants are required to be a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technologist and operate or be employed at a clinic that primarily provides services Saddle Hills County residents and primarily provides large animal (food animal) medicine. Interested individuals or organizations should complete a Veterinary Innovation Grant Application, before July 31 of the current year.

Bursaries

Our Bursary Program is available to eligible local students looking to enter or advance their post-secondary education. Applicants may also qualify for additional matching NADC bursaries.

Student Eligibility

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

Be a resident of Saddle Hills County for a minimum of one year and have a minimum of one year's residency in Alberta immediately prior to the application date.
Be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program recognized by Alberta Advanced Education.
Be committed to living and working in northern Alberta post-graduation
Have reasonably good prospects for employment in northern Alberta post-graduation

Bursary Application Process

Students looking to be considered for a Saddle Hills County Student Bursary should complete the following steps:

Write a paragraph of at least 500 words detailing your chosen field of study
Supply two (2) letters of reference
Complete the Bursary Application

If you have any questions about the Bursary application process, please contact us at (780) 864-3760 or email finance@saddlehills.ab.ca

Veterinary Medicine Bursary Program

The Agricultural Service Board has also instated the Veterinary Medicine Bursary Program to help provide improved veterinary services to residents of Saddle Hills County.

Eligible students are required to be enrolled in a recognized post-secondary veterinary program and primarily reside in the Central Peace Region. Interested students should complete a Veterinary Medicine Bursary Application, before July 15 of the current year.

Subsidies

The County also offers a variety of subsidies to offset the costs related to specific issues affecting resident's homes and properties.

Water Cistern Subsidy

The Water Cistern Subsidy provides a one-time subsidy to County residents for the installation of a new water cistern for residential use, covering up to 75% of the cost, up to a maximum of $5,000 per residence.

The subsidy covers the purchase, installation, and related expenses for the cistern, including things like the building to house the cistern, the purchase and installation of a water pump, related lines, and mechanical or electronic components, other required expenses associated with the installation.

Those interested in applying for the subsidy, should complete and submit a Water Cistern Subsidy Program Application.

For more information on subsidies for water services, please contact Environmental Services at (780) 864-3760 or email EnvSrvcs@saddlehills.ab.ca

Remote Potable Water Hauling Subsidy

The Remote Potable Water Hauling Subsidy has been created to provide a fair and equitable subsidy to Saddle Hills County residences that will not be able to connect to the Rural Potable Waterline, as outlined in Policy UT02.

As per Guideline 1b. Council have prescribed Gundy, from Township Road 770 to Township Road 752, and from Range Road 125 west to the B.C. border, as the first location eligible for the subsidy.

For more information and to apply for the subsidy, please visit our Remote Potable Water Hauling Subsidy page.

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