Grants Readiness Clinic Recap

January 21, 2026

Municipality Hosts Grant Readiness Clinic to Help Community Groups Access Provincial Funding

On Friday, January 16, Municipality of Inverness County staff hosted a Grant Readiness Clinic in Chéticamp to help community organizations prepare to apply for provincial funding to support local facility improvement projects.

Led by the municipality’s Culture and Community Development team, the clinic focused on helping participants view their organizations’ facilities as vital community spaces and describe why improvements matter for the community as a whole.

The session was held at Club de Retraités in Chéticamp and drew 20 participants, including 13 in person and seven online. Volunteers represented 15 community organizations from across Inverness County.

“It was great,” says participant Helena Aucoin, who attended the session on behalf of Le Manoir Saint-Pierre Housing Cooperative. “We appreciated that the municipality came to Chéticamp. The session was well organized and thought out, and we feel like we’re in good shape.”

The clinic was built around the province’s Community Facilities Improvement Program, a competitive funding program offered through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. The program supports community-led projects that improve public-use facilities, including building repairs, accessibility upgrades and interior and exterior improvements.

The municipality plans to expand the clinic model to support volunteers applying for other funding programs in the future, as part of its broader capacity-building work with community groups.

“Inverness County is powered by volunteers,” said Shannon MacLean, a project coordinator with the Culture and Community Development team. “People bring different skills and experiences, and they know what their communities need. Our role is to help them tell their story clearly and access the tools they need to succeed.”

Participants received customized workbooks to help organizations collect and keep important project information, so it remains with the facility even as volunteer boards and leadership change. Each group will also receive a one-on-one session with municipal staff to refine their project narratives ahead of the provincial application deadline of Feb. 14.

About Culture and Community Development

The Culture and Community Development team works with community groups, volunteers, newcomers and youth to better understand local priorities and strengthen communities across Inverness County. Organizations or individuals seeking support can contact the department at ccd@invernesscounty.ca.