Strategic Planning Program
Purpose
This program supports the preparation of a five to
ten year strategy within which to plan, develop,
implement and evaluate a community heritage program. The
plan should be based on a proactive, participatory
process and must be practical, easily understood and
publicly acceptable. It presents the community consensus
reached about heritage conservation priorities.
Program Guidelines
A strategic plan must address the following
questions:
- Where are we now?
- Where do we want to get to?
- How do we get there?
- What resources do we need to get there?
- How do we know if we got there?
A strategic plan must include:
- A statement of mandate defining the legal and
policy context within which the strategic plan will
be developed and implemented.
- A review and analysis of current heritage issues
and a concise, but comprehensive identification of
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
related to the community’s existing heritage
initiatives.
- A clearly articulated vision that conveys where
the strategic plan will take the community in five
to ten years.
- A mission statement that describes the purpose
of the community heritage program.
- A list of core values or principles to guide
decisions and activities.
- A list of goals or strategic priorities to be
pursued to fulfill the mission and realize the
vision.
- An identification of the required resources to
undertake the program/strategy.
- A set of performance measures to evaluate both
outputs and outcomes.
The development of an effective strategic plan may
require considerable 'pre-planning' effort to establish
a supportive environment for planning. Pre-planning may
include communications to enhance public heritage
awareness and preliminary consultation with key
stakeholders. Documentation of such effort should be
included with any application for funding assistance.
As resources permit, the Heritage Branch may provide
advisory services to assist pre-planning activities and
participate in strategic plan projects.
Producing an effective strategic plan requires
considerable public input. This effort must be described
in the documentation supporting the strategic plan.
Funding
The Heritage Branch will invest up to 80% of the
total eligible costs, to a maximum of $10,000.
Eligible project costs include consultant/professional
fees and other related expenses incurred and paid for by
the applicant. In-kind costs are not eligible.
Who can apply:
Local governments, First Nations bands and
post-secondary institutions.
Applying to the Program
Eligible organizations must submit a letter of
application that provides detailed information
supporting the request for financial assistance.
Submissions must indicate the program area of interest
and the amount requested.
Explain Current Community Planning Context:
Applicants must provide background information that
responds to the criteria for the appropriate program
area. For example, the application should address these
issues:
- Community Planning: Does the community have a
strategic plan for heritage or other related
heritage planning documents? Does the Official
Community Plan include any heritage policies? Has
the local government established a community
heritage commission?
- Community Benefit: What is the heritage legacy?
Does the project improve planning, conservation or
stewardship of significant community heritage
resources? Does the project enhance community
capacity (knowledge, skills, organization) and
commitment to conserve heritage resources?
- Viability: Is the project well defined? Is the
budget realistic? Does the project have the
potential to attract investment from other parties?
Do the proponents have the necessary expertise to
implement the project successfully? How extensively
are citizens engaged in heritage activities?
Project Description: Projects must be
described in detail, including a statement indicating
what the project will achieve, who will benefit and the
applicant’s ability to complete the project
successfully. For example: Describe the process for
public consultation and providing information to the
public. Outline the deliverables resulting from the
project. Include a time-line for the various stages of
the project.
Financial Plan: All applicants must submit a
detailed project budget, showing sources of confirmed
funding and itemizing costs, which demonstrates the
project is financially viable.
Eligible Costs: include all direct costs
properly and reasonably incurred by an applicant
specifically for the purpose of the project, including
expenses such as consultant costs, professional fees,
advertising costs, room rental costs etc.
Ineligible Costs:
- In-kind costs or donated staff/volunteer time
- Costs incurred prior to submitting an
application
- Start-up costs for new organizations/programs
- Capital or maintenance expenses
- Ongoing operational expenses
- Debt reduction, endowments, charitable donations
or fund-raising campaigns
- Computer hardware and office equipment
Submitting: Proposals can be submitted at any
time. However projects must be completed by the
Province’s year end (March 31) of the same fiscal year
in which the project was approved.
Determining the Level of Award: If the actual
eligible project cost is less than the budgeted eligible
cost, the award will be pro-rated to reflect the lower
amount. If the actual project cost exceeds the budgeted
eligible cost, the applicant will be responsible for the
increased costs.
Award Payments: Awards are paid in accordance
with the funding agreement between the Province and the
successful applicant.
When the project is at the mid-way point, the
applicant may request the first payment by sending a
progress report, along with an interim project financial
statement signed by the chief financial officer or
treasurer. When the project is finished, the applicant
may request the final payment by sending a final report.
The final report should include
- A copy of the completed strategic plan
- A copy of the related council resolution
adopting the plan
- A financial statement certified by the chief
financial officer or treasurer outlining the costs
incurred on the project.
NOTE: No funding will be provided for money spent on
a project before an application is received.
For more
information, please contact us.
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