2026 Community Investment Grant Program

In 2026, we received 567 applications from across Nova Scotia. Once again, our Member Advisory Council was engaged in the selection process, and we are pleased to share that we have selected 27 recipients, who will receive $125,000 in total.

We made a concerted effort again this year to support traditionally under-represented groups, guaranteeing that a minimum of $10,000 would be awarded to organizations within the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and/or Disabled communities. The successful recipients, listed below, are all creating positive social and economic impacts across Nova Scotia. 

The recipients of the 2026 Community Investment Grant Program include: 

Small Business

Handy Rescue Company   
The $2,000 grant will purchase a window prop for volunteer firefighter training on a simulated window. This window prop will increase speed and proficiency, resulting in improved speed in real emergencies. This will also allow them to expand their training program.
Visit their website ››

Grace Made Cakes 
The $6,000 grant will fund upgraded baking equipment and an oven to increase efficiency and speed up turnaround. This will reduce fatigue and increase workplace safety and production. 
Visit their Instagram ››

Alyson Samways 
The $4,500 grant will fund the purchase of an industrial straight stitch sewing machine and industrial serger, allowing her to increase client work, train students as well as take on complex projects. These machines allow her students to explore more complex projects.
Visit their Instagram ››

Meister Field and Forest Ltd.
The $2,500 grant will fund the purchase of an electric wreath machine and create an ergonomic workstation to support the increasing demand for balsam fir Christmas wreaths.
Visit their website ››

Aspen Landscape and Development
The $7,500 grant will purchase vacuum-utilized lifting equipment to lessen physical demands on team members for hardscaping projects. Allowing for projects to be completed on time and safely.
Visit their website ››

Boatskeg Distilling Company 
The $7,500 grant will support the upgrade of their bottling line with a semi-automatic labeller and capper to help high-performance production and a safer workplace by automating repetitive tasks.
Visit their website ››

Community

Wellness Wags Assistance Dogs 
The $7,000 grant will purchase fencing panels to protect puppies who are going to become service and facility dogs. The puppies need a protected off-leash space for recall development and building handler confidence. 
Visit their Facebook page ››

HEARTSAbility Society 
They provide employment for individuals with disabilities. Their $5,000 grant will purchase user-friendly equipment, countertops, accessible containers, and utensils to support staff working more independently. 
Visit their Facebook page ››

SchoolsPlus
This $2,000 grant will fund the purchase of bikes for their new wheels program. This program is offered to underserved school districts and will support participants in learning how to take care of their bike promoting problem solving and independence. 
Visit their website ››

Healing Opportunities for People Everywhere (Couch of Hope) 
This $6,000 grant will provide free and low-cost counselling group programs to break down barriers for mental health care. They will be able to expand their program to acquire more student interns and ongoing clinical training to support current program needs and develop the next generation of mental health professionals while prioritizing care for vulnerable, racialized, marginalized groups, underserved communities and people navigating complex life transitions.
Visit their website ››

2 Denarii Society
This $5,000 grant will upgrade their current Addiction Recovery Educational Program with a projector, video conference system, coffee station, chairs and lockers. 
Visit their website ››

Health, Wellness & Recreation

Rooted Rose Community Acupuncture
This $7,000 grant will fund free group acupuncture sessions to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, reducing isolation, fostering connection and treating chronic pain, stress, anxiety and depression. 
Visit their website ››

Dartmouth Community Fridge 
This $5,000 grant will purchase wheelchair accessible community garden beds and multilingual signage, including braille, with produce from the garden shared through the Community Fridge.
Visit their Facebook page ››

Surfing Association of Nova Scotia
This $2,500 grant will fund the purchase of youth wetsuits for their Youth Surf Access & Wellness Initiative. The wetsuits will be shared and have long-term use. This will reduce barriers to accessing their program and support recreation for all youth in NS. 
Visit their website ››

Basketball Nova Scotia 
This $2,500 grant will cover facility costs and training of wheelchair basketball athletes who wish to grow their skills. It will also support transportation to competitions. With no current program for wheelchair basketball this will fund the program's implementation to develop wheelchair athletes.
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District 13 Recreation and Planning Commission 
This $3,000 grant will support growth for an exercise program serving women aged 22 – 70 by purchasing new equipment and storage. This program is offered in a rural community that hasn't had structured exercise programs before, creating community and healthier lifestyles.
Visit their Facebook page ››

Sustainability

ReEquip Now
They create low-cost Lacrosse equipment with plastic waste. The $2,500 grant will be used to purchase plastic and epoxy for the injection moulding process to create the equipment.
Visit their Linkedin ››

Square Roots North End 
This $2,500 grant will purchase seconds vegetables from local farmers, which are normally resold to the community for $1/lb. Produce purchased with the grant will fund their Back-to-School event, which will provide local families with free produce for children's lunches during a time when many families struggle with high costs for school supplies and clothing. 
Visit their website ››

Ager Lane Flower Farm and Event Space 
The $5,000 grant will be used to purchase and install gutters and rain barrels for rainwater collection. To be used for handwashing, farm irrigation and wildlife watering stations while supporting environmental sustainability.
Visit their website ››

Arts & Culture

New Germany Area Promotion Society
This $1,000 grant will be used to host two literary art series with three local authors. Funds will be used for venue rental, advertising and reading fee/honorarium to the local authors .
Visit their Facebook page ››

Scotian Since 1783
The $5,000 grant will support the launch their African Nova Scotian heritage-inspired apparel collection. Funds will improve production readiness, quality control, and order fulfillment systems.
Visit their website ››

Wolf Hart Productions 
This $5,000 grant will fund gear upgrades for film and editing hardware, allowing them to operate without needing rental equipment. Inspired by film festivals like 48-Hour Film Project, Film Burn is a quick turnaround film and public festival space. It gives local filmmakers the chance to take a film from conception to production to presentation.
Visit their Instagram ››

Conseil des Arts de Cheticamp
This $4,000 grant will purchase a stage piano for their programming allowing for more budget to go towards programs instead of renting a piano.
Visit their website ››

NEW Impact Enhancement Funds

What on Earth Farms
This $5,000 grant will be used to purchase a geothermal greenhouse to reduce energy costs, expand their growing season and provide fresh produce to their current markets year-round, thereby reducing the need for imports.
Visit their website ››

Annapolis Fine Cheese
The $7,500 grant will sustainably support an increase to their artisanal cheese production with an energy-efficient milk heating and cooling system.
Visit their website ››

The Station Food Company
This initiative focuses on upcycling fruits and vegetables into high-quality, shelf-stable products. This $7,500 grant will fund the purchase of a commercial freeze dryer, to allow for more efficient processing and increased production. They are partnering with youth to prepare apples for freeze drying, giving them work experience, new skills and training.
Visit their website ››

Mirian's Place
This initiative supports the Black African Nova Scotian Community by teaching participants wig recrafting and revamping skills they can take into the workforce. The $5,000 grant will purchase sewing machines, mannequin heads with tripods, styling tools and basic supplies.
Visit their Instagram ››

If you have any questions, please email us at grants@cua.com.