Communities and organizations across Ontario are encouraged to apply for a second round of funding that focuses on emergency preparedness for natural disasters and other events.

The community emergency preparedness grant totals $5 million for the 2024-25 term and is geared to support municipalities and organizations with essential resources, equipment and training to better prepare for natural disasters and emergencies. Last year, the funding helped 113 recipients.

This next round will be tailored to each recipient’s unique needs and can be used for purchasing equipment such as generators, sandbagging machines, thermal imaging drones and radio systems. It can also be directed towards emergency management training and awareness initiatives.

Applications are open until October 31, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET. Eligible applicants must be located in Ontario and include:

• Small- and medium-sized municipalities (with populations under 100,000 people);
• Local services boards established under the Northern Services Board Act;
• First Nations communities, Tribal Councils and Indigenous service organizations that support emergency management programming in First Nations communities;
• Non-governmental organizations with an emergency preparedness mandate or responsibility;
• Non-governmental organizations that provide fire protection services to communities; and
• Non-municipal fire departments or entities providing fire protection services as defined in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act in unincorporated Ontario.