What is the Councillor Ward Funding Program?
The Councillor Ward Funding Program provides each Ward Councillor with $25,000 annually, and the Mayor with $125,000, to apply to projects the Councillor believes are priorities within their ward, or in the case of the Mayor, throughout Chatham-Kent.
Where do the funds come from for this program?
In 2022, Council approved a Community Support Agreement with Hydro One, where Hydro One provides funds to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent as a host of Hydro One transmission projects.
The Community Benefit Contribution of $1,000,000 annually for ten years from Hydro One is to be used for capital projects for recreation and cultural purposes within Chatham-Kent.
How do I request funds?
You can find more information and the application form on Let's Talk Chatham-Kent.
Visit the Let's Talk page
How long does it take to obtain funds?
Applicants can expect a response within six to eight weeks of submitting an application, outlining the success of their application and the funding committed. Please note that if more information is required or the project is complex, applicants may be contacted by staff for additional information, which may delay the distribution of funds.
Signed funding agreements are required for all projects. Funds will not be distributed prior to a signed agreement being received.
Review Timeline
Requests are gathered monthly and are reviewed by an internal committee. Mayor and Council receive eligible requests after these meetings, and individually determine which requests to support and the funding amount to allocate.
Upcoming review meetings:
- Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Thursday, March 26, 2026
- Thursday, April 17, 2026
Deadline
While Council Ward Funding applications are accepted on a rolling basis, the final deadline for applications this Council Term is April 13, 2026.
Per the Council Ward Funding policy, funding commitments cannot be made within 6 months of the 2026 municipal election. No additional funding commitments will be made past April 24, 2026.
What projects have been funded so far?
Since the roll out of the Council Ward Funding (CWF) program in 2023, many recreational and cultural projects across Chatham-Kent have been supported. View the full list of CWF - Project Commitments made between 2023 and 2025.
