Councillor Ward Funding Program

What is the Councillor Ward Funding Program?

The Councillor Ward Funding Program is supported by a Community Support Agreement with Hydro One, where Hydro One provides funds to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent as a host of Hydro One transmission projects. The Community Benefit Contribution of $1,000,000 annually for ten years from Hydro One is to be used for capital projects for recreation and cultural purposes within Chatham-Kent.

The Councillor Ward Funding Program provides each Ward Councillor with $25,000 annually, and the Mayor with $125,000, to apply to recreational or cultural projects the Councillor believes are priorities within their ward, or in the case of the Mayor, throughout Chatham-Kent.

Funding is available for capital assets or to provide financial assistance to individuals, community groups or not-for-profit projects that address a recreational or cultural community need.

  • Capital Asset is defined as a piece of land, building, equipment or other item with cultural or recreational value to Chatham-Kent.
  • Funding is not available for the operational costs of any entity or profit-driving activities.
  • For more information, please refer to the Councillor Ward Funding Program Policy under Documents to the right.

Applying for Funding

Do you have a recreation or cultural project planned for the upcoming year? If so, click on the application button below.

Applicants can expect a response within six to eight weeks of submitting an application, outlining the success of their application and the funding committed. Requests are gathered monthly and are reviewed by an internal committee. Mayor and Council receive eligible requests after these meetings, and individually determine which requests to support and the funding amount to allocate.

Please note that if more information is required or the project is complex, applicants may be contacted by staff for additional information, which may delay the distribution of funds.

Signed funding agreements are required for all projects. Funds will not be distributed prior to a signed agreement being received.

Upcoming review meetings:

  • Thursday, February 26, 2026
  • Thursday, March 26, 2026
  • Thursday, April 17, 2026

Deadline

While Council Ward Funding applications are accepted on a rolling basis, the final deadline for applications this Council Term is April 13, 2026.

Use of Ward Funds for a project must not be committed, and the project must not be publicly announced, in the six-month period immediately prior to a municipal election. With the date of the next municipal election set to occur on Monday, October 26, 2026, Council Ward Funding Applications will not be accepted after April 13, 2026.

Funded project work may actually be undertaken within the six-month period due to normal work or construction scheduling.

For questions, please email WardFunding@Chatham-Kent.ca.

What is the Councillor Ward Funding Program?

The Councillor Ward Funding Program is supported by a Community Support Agreement with Hydro One, where Hydro One provides funds to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent as a host of Hydro One transmission projects. The Community Benefit Contribution of $1,000,000 annually for ten years from Hydro One is to be used for capital projects for recreation and cultural purposes within Chatham-Kent.

The Councillor Ward Funding Program provides each Ward Councillor with $25,000 annually, and the Mayor with $125,000, to apply to recreational or cultural projects the Councillor believes are priorities within their ward, or in the case of the Mayor, throughout Chatham-Kent.

Funding is available for capital assets or to provide financial assistance to individuals, community groups or not-for-profit projects that address a recreational or cultural community need.

  • Capital Asset is defined as a piece of land, building, equipment or other item with cultural or recreational value to Chatham-Kent.
  • Funding is not available for the operational costs of any entity or profit-driving activities.
  • For more information, please refer to the Councillor Ward Funding Program Policy under Documents to the right.

Applying for Funding

Do you have a recreation or cultural project planned for the upcoming year? If so, click on the application button below.

Applicants can expect a response within six to eight weeks of submitting an application, outlining the success of their application and the funding committed. Requests are gathered monthly and are reviewed by an internal committee. Mayor and Council receive eligible requests after these meetings, and individually determine which requests to support and the funding amount to allocate.

Please note that if more information is required or the project is complex, applicants may be contacted by staff for additional information, which may delay the distribution of funds.

Signed funding agreements are required for all projects. Funds will not be distributed prior to a signed agreement being received.

Upcoming review meetings:

  • Thursday, February 26, 2026
  • Thursday, March 26, 2026
  • Thursday, April 17, 2026

Deadline

While Council Ward Funding applications are accepted on a rolling basis, the final deadline for applications this Council Term is April 13, 2026.

Use of Ward Funds for a project must not be committed, and the project must not be publicly announced, in the six-month period immediately prior to a municipal election. With the date of the next municipal election set to occur on Monday, October 26, 2026, Council Ward Funding Applications will not be accepted after April 13, 2026.

Funded project work may actually be undertaken within the six-month period due to normal work or construction scheduling.

For questions, please email WardFunding@Chatham-Kent.ca.

Page last updated: 13 Feb 2026, 10:14 AM