Guideline for 2022 Agricultural & Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative under the Grassroots Growth Program established under Minister's Order 0007/2019 as amended

2022 Agricultural & Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative

Overview

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will be providing funding to eligible Ontario Agricultural and Horticultural Societies ('Societies' collectively or 'Society' individually). These Societies operate to increase public engagement with agriculture through their work, which includes the hosting of agricultural fairs and other types of community engagements. This funding is meant to help support Societies to manage the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions and continue to encourage public engagement with the agricultural sector through the next phase of COVID-19 economic recovery.

This Initiative features two funding streams:

  1. 1. Base Support Funding: Eligible Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, respectively, will receive a one-time payment to support their continued delivery of agricultural and horticultural education and agriculture related public engagement across Ontario.
  2. Hardship Funding for Agricultural Societies: Provides eligible Agricultural Societies with funding, based on reported gate revenues from 2019, in order to cover operating losses and expenses related to building capacity for operating through COVID-19.

    Eligibility

    • The Society is currently incorporated under the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.9 (Act).
    • The Society has submitted their 2020 annual return to OMAFRA, as required in the Act.
    • The Society completed and submitted an attestation document to OMAFRA by February 21, 2022 confirming the following:
      • The payment will help them to remain incorporated and active by covering costs incurred between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

    Payment

    • This one-time payment will be automatically issued to all eligible Societies prior to March 31, 2022 provided that the eligible Societies comply with all requirements in this Guideline.
    • In order to receive payment eligible Societies must confirm their Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) registration information is up to date, including the Society's legal name and contact information.

    2. Hardship Funding for Agricultural Societies

    Eligibility

    • The Agricultural Society is currently incorporated under the Act and confirmed their 2019 gate receipts with OMAFRA.
    • The Agricultural Society has submitted their 2020 annual return to OMAFRA, as required under the Act.
    • The Agricultural Society completed and submitted an attestation document to OMAFRA by February 21, 2022 confirming the following:
      • That the "Hardship Funding for Agricultural Societies" funds will be used to cover previously incurred operating losses due to fixed costs and/or expenses incurred to build capacity for operating through COVID-19, including:
        • Membership fees to their association;
        • Mortgage/rent;
        • Utilities;
        • Salaries and benefits excluding severance;
        • Insurance;
        • Prepaid expenses for holding events, fairs and exhibitions that were not refundable such as deposits for entertainment, equipment rental, printing, advertising; and
        • Building and grounds maintenance (excludes costs for new capital items such as land, buildings and/or equipment).
        • Building organizational capacity to continue operating during and after the COVID-19, including:
          • Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment;
          • Development of digital platforms for delivering events online;
          • Office equipment purchases, i.e. computers, software; and
          • Event equipment purchases or rentals, i.e. party tents, equipment to promote social distancing.
          • If the Society received support funding from any other source outside of OMAFRA between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022; and if so, that details regarding the source(s) and value of this additional funding can be provided if requested.
          • That the Society is registered in TPON and ensure that the Society's information is up-to-date in TPON (e.g. the Society's legal name and contact information).

    Attestation Requirements and Payment

    In order to receive the payment Societies must:

    • Complete and submit the attestation document OMAFRA emailed to the Agricultural or Horticultural Society's representative by February 21, 2022.
    • In order to receive payment eligible Agricultural Societies must confirm their TPON registration information is up to date, including the Society's legal name and contact information.
    • This one-time payment will be issued by March 31, 2022 to all eligible Agricultural Societies provided that the eligible Societies comply with all requirements in this Guideline.

    Terms and Conditions

    In addition to the above, the authorized signing officer for the Society (hereafter referred to as "the Society") must acknowledge and agree to the following on behalf of the Society:

    • I have read, understand, and agree to abide by all requirements of the 2022 Agricultural & Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative.
    • The information provided in the attestation submitted is complete and accurate, to the best of my knowledge, belief and understanding.
    • The Society shall retain all records relating to any payments made with 2022 Grant Payments for Eligible Agricultural and Horticultural Societies including, all invoices and proof of payment for at least seven (7) years from the date on which payment was received.
    • If it is determined the Society has received a payment the Society was not eligible to receive, through administrative error or otherwise, the Society will repay any and all payments that the Society was not eligible to receive as well as any surplus funding.
    • To comply with audits by Ontario or Ontario's program administrator (if any), upon notice and during normal business hours, to verify eligibility and to evaluate compliance with the requirements of the 2022 Agricultural & Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative for Eligible Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, which may include allowing for the copying of records, removal of copied records and taking pictures or other recordings.
    • In the event of a conflict between anything set out in the Guidelines and the Minister's Order, the Minister's Order will prevail.

    Contact Information

    • For more information, contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre by Email at: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca; or toll free by phone at: 1-877-424-1300.

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca