During the April 28, 2025 regular meeting of Amherst Town Council, a number of grants were approved under the Community Support Grants Policy and the Social Equity Fund, based on applications that were received earlier in the year ahead of the 2025-2026 budget process.
The Community Support Grants Policy guides the allocation of financial and in-kind contributions to non-profit or charitable organizations that are based in the Town of Amherst and are providing services that in the opinion of Council, are of a benefit to the residents and businesses of the Town.
Representatives of grant-receiving organizations were invited to Town Hall for a reception on May 15, where cheques were presented by Mayor Small and members of Council. Photos from the reception are available on our Town Facebook page.
- Amherst Little League Baseball Association: $10,000 (Year 2 of 3), for facility and equipment upgrades.
- Cumberland County Transition House: $10,000 – Social Equity, for programming and outreach for clients, and support of Autumn House and New Directions.
- After the School Bell Food Program: $10,000 – Social Equity, supporting poverty reduction for school children that have food insecurity on the weekends.
- Food Assistance Network: $10,000 – Social Equity, for the purchase of food and payment for operational space.
- Society of Saint Vincent de Paul: $5,000 – Social Equity, to provide additional needed funds to assist many families and single persons.
- Autism Nova Scotia Cumberland Chapter: $4,500 – Social Equity, in support of the Autism Summer Day Camp Program.
- Border Town Biker Bash: $10,000, to assist in covering the costs for stunt riders, climbing wall and other activities to engage the full community.
- NSCC: $15,000 – Social Equity, funding the annual Town of Amherst Community Award.
- Amherst 50+ Club: $5,000, going towards re-paving the club’s parking lot to increase safety and accessibility.
- LA Animal Shelter: $50,000 (Year 3 of 3), in support of facility operations.
- Fibre Arts Festival 2025: $2,000, to support hosting the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival, October 14-18, 2025.
- CANSA: $5,000 – Social Equity, helping with the Homecoming Weekend for CANSA’s 25th anniversary.
- CANSA Marathon: $1,000 – Social Equity, supporting The Bluenose "Marathon" event.
- Cumberland Pride: $1,000 – Social Equity, to help raise awareness, support and visibility of the pride community in Amherst.
- Fundy Winds: $5,000, for subsidizing Fishing Day events as well as the development of a herptile (reptile and amphibian) trail.
- Great Amherst Cultural Society (Esther Fest): $5,000, in support of 2025 Esther Fest events.
- Amherst Preschool (one time grant): $10,000 – Social Equity, to help with various operational costs.
- Cumberland County Genealogical Society: $9,396, to purchase a microfilm printer/reader and microfilms of historical newspapers and church records pertaining to our local area.
- Amherst Curling Club: $8,000, to assist with building renovation costs.
- Amherst Wesleyan Church: $12,850, for replacement of a non-functional stair/chair lift for basement access, where Soul’s Harbour Amherst provides free meals to the community from Monday-Friday.
- Chignecto Arts Council: $1,000, in support of the Carnival of the Arts event scheduled for September.
- Tantramar Branch, Victoria’s Quilts Canada: $1,000, for purchase of quilting supplies to gift quilts to people living with cancer.
- The Travellers: $1,000, to provide materials to entertain residents at area nursing homes.
- Cumberland County Museum: $5,000, in support of a Will R. Bird interpretive plan.
Find more information on this Town of Amherst program on our Community Grants page.
