Venture Projects
Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies Program is a financial contribution program operating under terms and conditions set out in an agreement with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. The current program is a five year agreement and is effect until March 31, 2018. SAASE has allocated a total of $45,000 to the program. The funding will assist in developing new programs/events, enhance existing events, as well as develop new agricultural societies and bring new communities under the umbrella membership of SAASE. The focus of the new funding will be on tourism, by developing new events with a wide appeal, as well as promoting and enhancing the quality of life within communities throughout Saskatchewan.
Click here to view the 2018 Venture Projects.
Criteria of Elegibility
The Ministry of Agriculture is providing SAASE $30,000 per year over 3 years to coordinate Farm Safety Workshops/ Day Camps with SAASE’s agricultural societies across Saskatchewan. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of farm/agriculturally related injuries and or deaths. The objectives of the program are:
- New and unproven projects of member organizations.
- Focus of projects must be on agricultural production or consumption, agriculture awareness.
- Projects must be broad based and must exhibit an application or influence beyond the local community.
- Projects must be new to the society and must be significantly different from other projects undertaken by the society. At least 2/3 or 66% of program components must be new to the organization.
Projects are assessed on merit and may be eligible for up to 100% funding. Applications are approved on a first come first served basis and within the limits of the funds available for Venture Projects. The onus is on the applicant to satisfy the committee that the project meets the criteria. Funding of projects is subject to prior approval.
Read below to view the Venture Project Guide, or Apply Online
Guide for Applicants
Executive Summary
Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies Program is a financial contribution program operating under terms and conditions set out in an agreement with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. The current program is a five year agreement and is effect until March 31, 2018. SAASE has allocated a total of $45,000 to the program. The funding will assist in developing new programs/events, enhance existing events, as well as develop new agricultural societies and bring new communities under the umbrella membership of SAASE. The focus of the new funding will be on tourism, by developing new events with a wide appeal, as well as promoting and enhancing the quality of life within communities throughout Saskatchewan.
Venture Projects
- Venture projects are defined as projects or activities, which meet the objectives of the program: rural living, community development, agriculture awareness, and new agricultural society development.
- This component of SASP is intended to support new and unproven projects of member organisations, as well as assist in the development of new agricultural societies across Saskatchewan. SAASE recognises that the chief impediment to undertaking new projects may be the lack of assured funding. Therefore projects under the program may be eligible for greater than 50% funding. Applications will be approved on first come first served basis and within the limits of the funds available for Venture Projects.
Program Objectives:
The program supports: Community Development/Rural Living projects which are projects that assist in community development by contributing to Saskatchewan’s high quality of life and promoting community development as part of the culture of our society. The events will have a focus on tourism by the promotion of the event to not only the local community, but also through the promotion of the community event on a regional, provincial or national scale. The event or project would showcase the community as being a great place to live, work and visit. Contributions under this program are intended to provide financial assistance to eligible organisations in support of projects that meet one or more of the following objectives:
Rural Living
- These projects would focus on the quality of living in the community or region. Projects could assist local producers in finding or creating a market or increasing the existing market for a product or products.
Community Development
- These projects will assist in community development.
Agriculture Awareness
- These projects should increase consumer awareness of what is involved in the production of agricultural products and of issues specific to rural communities and regions. These types of projects should result in consumers having a better appreciation of producer needs.
New Agricultural Society Development
- These projects would result in the formation of a new agricultural society and member of SAASE. The new agricultural society would be required to meet the criteria set forth by the SAASE Board of Directors. Upon becoming a new agricultural society and member of SAASE, the new society would have access to all the benefits that a member of SAASE is entitled to.
Eligible projects:
- Focus of projects must be on new event or agricultural society/community development.
- Projects should be broad based and show widespread community support. Projects of a limited focus may not be eligible.
- Development of a new agricultural society, which will include assistance in developing a new event, or enhancing an existing event.
- Projects must be new to the society and must be significantly different from other projects undertaken by the society.
- Funding of projects is subject to prior approval. Prior approval process must be adhered to in order to ensure that adequate funding is in place for all projects;
- Projects will be assessed on merit and may be eligible for greater than 50% funding;
- Projects funded as new initiatives are not eligible for funding through basic program;
- Successful applicants must agree to report on the project to delegates at SAASE Convention.
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL:
Use the attached application OR submit your proposal in another form assuring that all the information requested in this form is included in your proposal. Applications are subject to prior approval. There are a total of 3 application deadlines – January 1, May 1, and September 1. These deadlines will ensure that the SAASE Board of Directors has time to make decisions on the proposals.
REPORT AND CLAIM FOR PAYMENT:
Upon completion of the project, submit a report of the project. This report should include an evaluation of how well the project achieved the stated objectives, any deviation from the original plan and should be accompanied by proof of payment of expenses for which a claim is being made. Payment will be made within thirty days to the maximum approved in the application. SAASE will pay out a total of 75% of the approved amount, with the additional 25% being paid out once a presentation has been made at the SAASE Annual convention.
What are eligible and ineligible costs under the Venture Project Program?
Eligible Expenses
- Advertising costs – newspaper/radio/TV/signage
- Equipment rentals
- Cost of Judges
- Direct materials and supply costs
- Facility rental – if not owned by applicant
- Printing costs
- Travel costs related to project
Ineligible Expenses
- Inhouse expenses – including labour and facility rental
- Capital costs
- Food/Liquor
- Prize money
- Cost of hiring entertainment
Hints on filling out the application
Project Description
Give us an overview of what your project is and what you are hoping to accomplish. Tell us when the project is going to happen and who is involved.
Need for the Project
Let us know how this project fits into the Venture Project objectives of community development/rural living or agricultural awareness. How will this project have an impact on your agricultural society and your community.
Objectives
Let us know what your objectives are for the project and what the results will be.
Benefits
State who will benefit from the project - the agricultural society/community etc. Also state how they will benefit.
Partners
Who are your partners in the program. The more partners whether they are community groups or business that you have involved in the program the more it shows the broad community support for the program.
Project Workplan
What are the timelines on when the program components are going to take place. Make sure you put them in order and put down what you want to accomplish with each activity.
Total Sources of Funding
Indicate where your funding is coming from for the program. In-kind costs can include volunteer hours/donations etc. Who are your sponsors in the program and how much will they be donating. How much money are you requesting from SAASE.
Project Budget
Include all your revenue that you expect to generate, as well as whatever expenses you may have. Because Venture Project funding is one time seed money, it is important that the project has the potential to successfully continue after year one, when there is no more seed money available.