KCCU partners with the City to help charities and non-profits reduce greenhouse gases

Kingston Community Credit Union (KCCU) is supporting projects that reduce green house gas emissions by partnering with the City of Kingston through their Kingston Community Climate Action Fund.

The Kingston Community Climate Action Fund is designed to help local registered charities and non-profit organizations realize climate action projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHGs) and/or air emissions; increase energy conservation or efficiency; reduce or divert organic waste; or assist with climate change adaptation and technology innovation, the KCCU said in a media release dated Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020.

“We are all about supporting the Kingston community and are delighted to be participating in this effort that will support climate action and contribute to the city’s sustainability,” says Jon Dessau, CEO of Kingston Community Credit Union, “KCCU values community and cooperation and we are delighted to participate.”

The City, in its press release last week, stated that “they are pleased to provide this fund in partnership with the Kingston Community Credit Union, who will collect donations at their branches and match them up to a maximum of $5,000. Donations will also be received through CanadaHelps and the TD Bank.”

“This is about involving and empowering the community to pursue efforts that can reduce Kingston’s GHG emissions and stimulate the local economy. Donors will have the option to target their funds to a particular project they want to support,” says Julie Salter-Keane, Manager of the City’s Climate Leadership Division. “With the help of an involved community, the City is pursuing plans to make Kingston carbon neutral by 2040.”

Are you are a local registered charity or non-profit organizations that has a climate action project which could benefit from funding? See the eligibility criteria and apply starting today, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. Submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020.

According to the media release, successful applicants will have their projects featured on the City’s website and donors will be able to review them and target their donations to their chosen projects.

To be eligible for the grant funds, projects:

• Must be implemented in Kingston within a year of receiving the grant.
• Projects must be tangible and have direct and measurable GHG emission reductions once the project is fully complete.

The Kingston Environmental Advisory Forum will evaluate the projects before presenting them to Council later in 2020, says KCCU in the release. Fundraising to support the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund projects will run from December 2020 through March 2021, and funds will be disbursed to the various projects in the spring.

Demonstrating leadership on climate action is one of Council’s strategic priorities.

About KCCU

Kingston Community Credit Union was founded in 1957 and has grown to become one of Ontario’s most successful local credit unions. It is owned and operated by its members and has shared over $1 Million in donations in cash and in-kind with the community as well as profit sharing with members. KCCU has grown to over $190 Million in assets under administration, serving more than ten thousand members with its branch locations 18 Market Street (Downtown), 795 Gardiners Road (Kingston West) and in the Kinglake Plaza at 1201 Division Street. To find out more about KCCU visit us at www.kccu.ca.