Growing in the City Grants

The City offers grants to support a variety of gardening activities that benefit the community. The Growing in the City Grant Policy guides the management of grants that support urban agriculture programs and activities. These programs and activities include: 
●    community gardening
●    boulevard gardening
●    food tree stewardship
●    Victoria's seedling and garden material distribution program, Get Growing, Victoria! 

There are four grants under this policy, outlined below. 

Community Garden Start-Up Grant

Community Garden Start-Up Grants support the design, planning, engagement and construction of community gardens in Victoria. Grants are awarded to eligible organizations and prioritize the development of allotment gardens. The various types of community gardens and eligible activities are defined in the Community Garden Policy.

The Community Garden Start-Up Grant is available in two phases: 

1. Up to $5,000 for the design phase 
2. Up to $10,000 for the build phase

The Community Garden Start-Up Grant prioritizes:

• neighbourhoods without existing community gardens
• neighbourhoods without any or few allotment gardens
• neighbourhoods with higher population density or limited access to private gardening space — this includes neighbourhoods that feature a high proportion of rental or attached housing

The intake for the Community Garden Start-Up Grant is open from Sept. 1 - Oct. 15. 

Growing in the City Micro Grants provide a maximum of $500 to cover supplies needed for eligible Growing in the City initiatives. Eligible initiatives include community gardening, urban food tree stewardship and community boulevard gardening. Grants are awarded through a competitive process. Details about eligibility are in the terms of reference listed below.  

Applications for this grant are open between Nov. 15, 2024 and Jan. 31, 2025. 

Growing in the City Volunteer Coordinator Grants are available to any neighbourhoods that manage and maintain community gardens. The City’s Community Garden Policy defines three types of community gardens. Eligible programs include projects such as the Urban Food Tree Stewardship Program and boulevard gardening. The grants provide funding for a person to conduct outreach, coordinate volunteers and to promote educational growing opportunities.  

Applications for this grant are open between Nov. 15, 2024 and Jan. 31, 2025. 

Get Growing, Victoria! is possible because of the community organizations that help make the program thrive. Core partnership organizations provide services to help deliver the program. These organizations are the backbone of the program, and the Get Growing, Victoria! Service Grants support them.

Get Growing, Victoria! Service Grants are directly awarded to eligible organizations that deliver a service on behalf of the City of Victoria as part of the City's seedling distribution program, Get Growing, Victoria! 

To learn more about this grant, see Get Growing, Victoria! Service Grant Terms of Reference.