Recreation Partner and Facility Investment Program

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The Recreation Partner and Facility Investment Program (RPFIP) aims to foster healthy, vibrant active communities throughout Edmonton.

Application Intake

Applications for the Recreation Partner and Facility Investment Program Grant will be accepted until March 7, 2025.

The program has been designed to support the efforts of Sport and Active Recreation organizations that contribute to providing opportunities for Edmontonians to engage in Sport and Active Recreation in their communities.

Specifically, RPFIP responds to local facility rehab, development and enhancement needs and works in partnership with eligible organizations to assist communities with the acquisition, construction, enhancement/upgrade, repairs and preventive maintenance or redevelopment of Sport and Active Recreation community facilities that are available to citizens.

Budget Allocation

The total funding for the RPFIP from 2024-2026 is $5,650,00 with a breakdown of:

2024 - $750,000 | 2025 - $1,750,000 | 2026 - $3,150,00

Funding of up to 33% of the total project budget will be considered, depending on available funds. Projects must have a minimum project budget of $50,000 to be considered.

Program Overview

Funding may be phased over the 3 years of 2024 -2026 budget cycle.
Projects must have confirmed funding and can be completed in 2-4 years.
Projects should address legislative requirements, accessibility, health and safety improvements, or focus on preservation, rehabilitation, enhancements of existing facilities (redevelopment or expansions) or construction of new facilities.
Preference will be given to projects within Edmonton municipal boundaries. Regional projects may be considered based on benefit to Edmontonians.

With limited funds available and many eligible partners, the investment program will evaluate applicants based on the program priorities and specific alignment to the Live Active strategy core principles. Specifically, how does the programming and services that your organizations offer provide opportunities that support inclusion and accessibility for Edmontonians.

View Program Guide

Grant Priorities

This investment program is aimed at increasing the accessibility of sport and active recreation opportunities throughout the city of Edmonton, recognizing that there is a “need for continued reinvestment in aging facilities (where appropriate, and where levels of service criteria are not being met) reflecting a standard of renewal to ensure facilities meet a basic level of service” - Approach to Community Recreation Facility Planning in Edmonton.

Also prioritized are projects that aim to assist communities with the acquisition, construction, enhancement/upgrade, repairs and preventive maintenance, or redevelopment of public-use community facilities.

Sport
Organized physical activities that result in a contest between two or more people participating individually or as a team, governed by rules, regulations, and officiating
Active Recreation
All physical activities that an individual chooses to do for fun, social interaction, fitness

Program Outcomes

The Recreation Partner and Facility Investment Program outcomes are aligned with the City Plan and will:

Enhance the lifespan and support the development and conservation of sustainable, environmentally friendly, public-use facilities in Edmonton for which the beneficiaries and users are primarily Edmontonians
Stimulate Regional Prosperity, support a Healthy City and help a community of communities thrive in Edmonton
Encourage capital projects that extend beyond City of Edmonton planned service levels and those that maintain or improve public opportunities for Sport and Active Recreation organizations

Timelines

January 10 - March 7
Application intake period

March - May
Review and assessment of applications

May - June
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions

Note: These timelines are subject to change.

Organizational Eligibility

Organizations that are registered (and in good standing), including not-for-profit or for-profit service providers in existence for more than 1 year.
Organizations primary mandate must be for sport and active recreation. The activities of the organization shall address identified sport and active recreation needs.
75 % of the organizations' membership or primary beneficiaries of its programs and services must be residents of the city of Edmonton.
Organizations' membership and beneficiaries of its programs and services must be directed to the improvement of the quality of life of Edmontonians.
Organizations must demonstrate how their programs and services address equity, inclusion and diversity and are open to the public, except for valid program factors (example: “age”).
Organizations must be willing to enter into a Funding Agreement with the City of Edmonton, meet reporting requirements, agree to provide the City with the right to audit project-related documents and agree to secure the appropriate approvals for the proposed project.
- If your project budget changes, total eligible funding will also be scaled to align to the program criteria of up to 33% of eligible costs
- Eligible funding may also be phased over the RPFIP budget cycle

Ineligible Organizations

Community Leagues (see Community League Infrastructure Program)
Organizations whose primary focus is not sport and active recreation such as arts, culture and heritage, education, multicultural, indigenous and social services
Organizations that are already receiving City capital funding
Organizations that have overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting relating to any funding previously awarded by the City of Edmonton
Individuals

Ineligible Projects

Any project that is not deemed to meet at least 1 of the outlined outcomes
Projects that are operational rather than capital
Projects that are already receiving capital funding from the City of Edmonton

Eligible/Ineligible Expenses

Eligible Expenses

Capital and facility upgrades, renovations, and construction
Design costs that have not already been expensed and incurred no earlier than the application submission

Ineligible Expenses

Project funding cannot be used for expenses related to:

Time and labour provided towards preparation of funding applications, fundraising including costs for fundraising campaigns and websites for fundraising purposes
Operating costs
Debt reduction, financing charges and/or interest payments on loans, retroactive expenses incurred prior to application submission dates
Direct government lobbying or partisan political activities (such as activities related to advocacy must demonstrate non-partisan approaches)
Fittings Fixtures and Equipment (FFE) items not fixed to the building
Strategy Phase Work - includes development of a Strategy document with organizational profile, terms of reference, public involvement plan, project description, demographics, context analysis, activity based needs assessment, exploration of alternatives (Strategy phase work is ineligible under this investment program)

Submitting an Application

Document Requirements

The required documents must be attached with the Application Form.

Projects that are on City owned Land

Projects on City owned land need to be at Checkpoint 2 Strategy and Concept in the Community Group Led Construction Project Construction Projects Guide.

Applicants also will be required to:

Take information from their Community Led Construction Business Case Part 1 and Part 2 and answer questions in the application form
Complete a Project Budget Sheet and provide written confirmation of funding sources
Attach the organization’s most recent final Audited or Unaudited Financial Statements, signed by 2 board members

Note: please check the Community Led Construction process to confirm the above requirements are answered correctly.

Projects that are on Private Land

In order to be eligible for the RPFIP you must provide a business case that must include:

Project description (scale, scope, schedule, costs, resourcing, operational plan, risks and risk mitigation)
Project Goals and Outcomes
Project Alignment with City Priorities
Activity Based Needs Assessment
Context Analysis
Public Engagement
Organizational Profile
Concept and Pre-design Drawings
Functional Program
Operational Plan and Costs
Project Specific Studies/legislatively required reports
Schematic and detailed design and associated reports
Development and Building permits
Resourcing
Key Risk(s) and Mitigation
Example of a business case template

Applicants will also be required to:

Complete a Project Budget Sheet and provide written confirmation of funding sources
Attach the organization’s most recent final Audited or Unaudited Financial Statements, signed by the relevant delegated organization officials

Note: Incomplete business cases will not be considered.

View Required Financials Presentation

Submit Your Application

Applications close on Friday March 7, 2025

To apply, please register an account through the Community Investment Grant Portal.

View the instructional video to learn how to register for an account:

After Submission

Once an applicant is confirmed to be eligible for the investment program, the application is evaluated based on program criteria, program priorities, alignment to the core principles, expected results based on the 3 program outcomes and quality of the supporting documentation provided. Organizations may be contacted if further information or clarification is required.

Note: Applicants that have overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting related to previously approved City of Edmonton funding will not be considered for new funding until their outstanding accounting and reporting requirements have been closed.

Applicants will receive written notification of the decision regarding their application
All decisions on investment program applications are final and no appeals will be considered
The review and decision-making process takes approximately 2 months

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Organizational Health

Impacts of project on programs and services, organizational stability, financial stability, leadership, and governance.

Project Need and Strategic Alignment

Needs assessment, context and alternatives, anticipated public use, user impacts and benefits, accessibility and inclusiveness, and alignment with City strategic priorities and Live Active outcomes.

Project Strength

Readiness, defined project scope, defined project outcomes, explanation and justification of project alternatives, clear schedule and key deliverables, project costs and funding plan/confirmation, project resources and management are clearly identified, and risks and mitigation strategies are included.

Operational Plan

Clear operational plan and identified and accounted for costs for operations and maintenance.

Financial Analysis

Organizational financial documentation is provided for assessment and operational information is clearly identified and will be reviewed.

Reporting Requirements

Projects must be completed prior to the termination date of the funding agreement.
A final report is due within 60 days of the project completion
A final report outlining the outputs and outcomes of the project, as well as a financial report showing the approved and actual expense must be submitted by the report deadline indicated in the funding agreement or upon project completion, whichever comes first

Reporting Form*

*Please note, this reporting form requires a Google account. If you do not have one, contact grants@edmonton.ca for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common reasons an application is unsuccessful?

Incomplete application and documentation
Not eligible
Not in alignment with City of Edmonton plans and priorities
Not in Edmonton or does not serve Edmontonians
Project is not ready or close to construction phase
No other funding confirmed
Project is still in planning or strategy phase
Similar amenities or projects underway that already address a similar need

If my application is unsuccessful, can I reapply?

Yes, if your project was unsuccessful based on the following:

Funding - you can reapply when your project has confirmed funding
Incomplete application - you can reapply when you have all the required documentation
Scale or scope - you can reapply if you adjust the project
Need - you can reapply if need becomes relevant

Can organizations from social, cultural, art, education sectors, and more apply for funding?

No, only sport and active recreation organizations can apply for the funding. The funding was designated by the City Council in the 2023-2026 operational budget to fund and support projects in this sector only. The funds available are limited and not intended to support other sectors.

Why is the program only for 2024-2026?

Funding for the RPFIP has been approved for the next 3 years as part of the City Councils' operating budget. The intent for this investment program is to continue on an ongoing basis, however this will not be confirmed until fall of 2026 in the next City Council 4-year budget cycle 2027- 2030.

Grant Recipients

2024 Award Recipients

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