Prince Edward County Council has agreed to support Quinte Conservation apply as the lead for the Green Municipal Fund: Growing Canada’s Community Canopies application. The decision came tonight at Shire Hall.
In the deputation presented by Lindsay Nash, Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator, she explained the project description as Quinte Conservation (alongside QUFN) be the lead applicant for the GMF GCCC fund, providing 18 municipalities the option to leverage funding and staff support for planting projects; existing and proposed.
As lead, Quinte Conservation will focus on planting a diverse range of native trees and shrub species.
Funding opportunities are for long term/permanent forestry intention and can include street tree planting, urban planting, park tree planting, riparian planting, forest restoration, and restoration on public or private lands.
It was noted that Quinte Conservation can only apply for this with support from Council. If Council agrees, Quinte Conservation will formally apply for the fund in April of this year and in late fall of this year or spring of next year, plant trees for a period of up to two years. They would then maintain and monitor the planted trees in 2027 and 2028.
The expectation from Council would be a letter of support and a financial contribution of 50%.
CAO Adam Goheen confirmed the municipality’s ongoing base budget is approximately $15,000, but they have other sources and revenues available to pursue this partnership.
The motion read as follows:
That Council approve a partnership between Prince Edward County and Quinte Conservation, with Quinte Conservation acting as the lead applicant for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund: Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) program;
That the Mayor be authroized to provide a letter of support on behalf of Council to accompany the grant application; and
That staff be directed to collaborate with Quinte Conservation to finalize the partnership framework within approved budgets and report back to Council on any specific resource committments or project milestones.
This was approved by Council.
This means that Quinte Conservation will match the $15,000, resulting in a total of $30,000 going towards the project. The $15,000 from the municipality has already been approved for this year’s budget.
Council meets again on Feb. 10 at 7pm at Shire Hall.
