- economic and trade diversification
- improved productivity, innovation and training
- preparing for and developing community transition plans
- helping workers face adjustment challenges
In the first year of the Trust, 12 community and multi-year sectoral initatives, totalling $25 million, were approved for funding.
*Announced in Nova Scotia Budget 2008.
| Agriculture Industry Revitalization | $750,000* |
| Aquaculture Development | $2.5M (over 3 yrs) |
| Business Development Pilot program | $200,000* |
| Canso Inshore Fishery Transition | $800,000 |
| Forestry Joint Government-Industry Task Force Action Plan | $2.52M (over 3 yrs) |
| Foresty Transition Program | $4.37M* |
| Local Food Networks/Farmers Markets | $2.3M (over 3 yrs) |
| Nova Scotia Boat Builders | $1 M (over 2 yrs) |
| Seafood Processing Sector Revitalization | $3.75M (over 3 yrs) |
| Sydney Harbour Dredging Pre-Construction | Up to $2 M (over 2 yrs) |
| Tourism Niche Marketing | $2.5M (over 3 yrs) |
| Trenton Works Plant Transition | Up to $2.6 M (over 2 yrs) |
| Weymouth Downtown and Waterfront Revitalization Project | $700,000 (over 2 yrs) |
Greater economic diversification, new or enhanced products and markets, and strengthened competitiveness are among the goals of the projects funded to date. Many of these initiatives are currently underway and will continue to be implemented over the next two years.
How do you access the Community Development Trust:
Community stakeholders who would like to access the Trust will work with provincial government departments and agencies to develop proposals for funding under existing departmental programs. The minimum submission is $100,000.
Government departments and agencies will then forward proposals meeting the requirements of the Trust to the Department of Economic and Rural Development. The proposals are then prepared for review by an inter-departmental steering committee. All submissions will require Executive Council approval. Government departments and agencies will accept proposals until March 2011. All funding must be spent by March 31, 2012.
Trust principles
The Government of Nova Scotia indorses and is committed to the following guiding principles for the administration of the Community Development Trust:
Local Leadership
Flexibility
Sustainable Economies
Focus on Community Assets
Collaborative Approach
Measurable Impact (Accountability)
Social Inclusion
Balance
Forward looking
For more information:- Communities must play a leadership role in all initiatives.
Flexibility
- Initiatives must be adaptable, innovative and creative, in order to transform unpredictable challenges into new opportunities.
Sustainable Economies
- Initiatives must reflect social prosperity and sustainable competitiveness.
Focus on Community Assets
- Initiatives must build on existing community capacity and assets.
Collaborative Approach
- Initiatives must acknowledge that governments, business and communities share the responsibility of long-term prosperity.
Measurable Impact (Accountability)
- Initiatives must demonstrate anticipated economic benefits exceed anticipated costs.
Social Inclusion
- All community members have the opportunity to become engaged and are able to access an initiative?s social and economic benefits.
Balance
- Initiatives must recognize that the economy, environment and people are interconnected with sustainable communities.
Forward looking
- Initiatives must be forwarding looking, with investments based on what we know and can predict about the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
(Adobe PDF 30KB)
*Individual departments will have additional information requirements depending on the program accessed.

