SPECIAL FEATURE
For the community, by the community Creating impact with investment By Mina Atia
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his past year, we’ve seen Halifax business leaders and organizations step up for their community and local businesses by offering their support. Whether it be providing free and accessible informational training sessions and roundtables or offering funding programs and low-interest loans, community organizations and businesses have given back. It goes to show when the going gets tough, we can rely on the support of our business community. Since 2015, CUA has been making impactful investments through their Community Investment Grant Program. Committed to strengthening the financial health of Nova Scotians, the program contributes to projects and initiatives that make our communities and economy stronger. “As a banking institution serving Nova Scotians, our team is committed to helping good work go further in the communities where we live and work,” says Marie Mullally, President and CEO of CUA. “The program is the largest initiative within our annual Community Impact Plan, and enables our team the opportunity to learn about important work happening across our province, driving meaningful conversations about how we can help entrepreneurs and community leaders in their everyday work.” Each year since then, CUA provides direct funding to individuals, organizations, small businesses and social enterprises from across the province. It’s a way to create meaningful and positive economic, social and environmental impact. About 70 organizations throughout Nova Scotia received more than $250,000 in funding, and applications for the program increased by 33 per cent in 2021. CUA’s Community Investment Grant Program launched again this year, and $100,000 in funding was awarded to 19 projects, organizations and small businesses. “This was the largest and most talented group of applicants in the program’s history, and these 19 recipients had ideas and a vision that made us so proud to be part of their continued work,” says Mullally. The recipients collective aim is to make a positive impact in communities across Nova Scotia. The grant was distributed across five categories: New Business, Community, Health & Wellness, Small Business and Sustainability.
We continue to follow the journey of the recipients, promoting their efforts and encouraging our own customers to choose Nova Scotia-owned businesses.” — Marie Mullally, President & CEO, CUA
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Selected by CUA’s Member Advisory Council, the recipients gathered for a virtual celebration to recognize and discuss the impact the funding will have. “Although we were unable to invite recipients to an in-person celebration, eliminating the need to travel enabled a virtual celebration, welcoming representatives from many organizations across Nova Scotia,” says Mullally. “It was an inclusive way to shine a spotlight on every recipient, and is an idea we plan to carry forward.” “For our team, these micro-grants are much more than money,” says Mullally. “We continue to follow the journey of the recipients, promoting their efforts and encouraging our own customers to choose Nova Scotia-owned businesses.” A perfect example is Halifax Chamber member and 2017 Small Business grant recipient Stefanie MacDonald of Halifax Paper Hearts. The seaside stationery and design studio owner not only prospered after receiving the grant, but she also became connected to other recipients. Now, the whimsical treasure-maker has products of at least two other recipients sold in her retail store. BUSINESS VOICE
