Criteria
Requests for funding of heritage building projects must meet the following criteria:
- The buildings must have one of the following:
- A heritage designation under Part IV or Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act,
- A conservation easement
- Historic Site designation.
- The request must be for a specific restoration project complete with drawings.
- The grant request must be related to the repair, restoration or reconstruction of existing or original externally visible elements of the building in a historically accurate and authentic manner.
- This may include hidden structural work if it relates to and affects the integrity of the heritage character or details of the exterior.
- Capital grants may be approved for up to 50% of the project cost.
- To ensure the quality of the work proposed, such work should be awarded to contractors or skilled craftsmen who have experience in historical restorations.
- Funding eligibility will not apply to short-term maintenance.
- Funding assistance will be considered on specific projects only.
- Financial support will be considered for a portion of a larger project. The intent of these grants by the Foundation is to assist with deserving projects which might not otherwise reach completion.
- Modifying details or scope of the project may be a condition of grant approval.
Selection Process
- The initial application will be forwarded to the Allocations & Finance Committee at the first regular monthly meeting. Please submit applications two weeks prior to meeting date.
- The committee will acknowledge the receipt of the application, ensure that all necessary documentation has been received and make a preliminary assessment of any additional information that may be necessary to make a recommendation to the Foundation.
- The Foundation may engage a restoration architect/specialist if deemed necessary to provide a report to the Foundation regarding the heritage worthiness of the proposed project. The cost of this report will be the responsibility of the Foundation.
- If the application is complete, the applicant(s) will usually be invited to attend the next or second month's regular meeting of the Foundation as a delegation, and make a 10 minute presentation of the project, and afterwards answer any questions from Foundation members. This is an excellent opportunity for applicants to provide details and expand on details not fully covered in the application.
- The full application and documentation will be included with the agenda for information of the Foundation members.
- Further discussion and consideration will take place by the Allocations & Finance Committee, which will usually make a recommendation to the Foundation for consideration at its next regular meeting.
- The Foundation's decision will be officially communicated to the applicant by mail.
- The applicant could expect to be notified by telephone or e-mail shortly after the meeting.
- Complete applications can normally be decided in approximately three months.