This program was completed in December 2009.
For information on the six funding recipients, please click here.
For information on the six funding recipients, please click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Building a High Speed Future funding program?Why is Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia (BRNS) launching this funding program?
How will the Building a High Speed Future funding program work?
What is the deadline for submitting proposals?
What type of funding proposals will be considered?
What communities will qualify for funding under this program?
How does my community complete a Planning for a High Speed Future workshop?
Who can submit a funding proposal on behalf of a community?
Is there a minimum/ maximum amount of funding that can be requested?
What do you mean by matching funding?
What do you mean by in-kind matching funding?
Why must the funding proposal demonstrate it is aligned with some or all of Nova Scotia’s Principles of Community Development?
What should I include with my funding proposal?
What do you mean by an audio-visual presentation?
What do you mean by a podcast?
How do I send my audio-visual presentation or podcast to you?
Where can I get additional information on the Building a High Speed Future funding program?
What is the Building a High Speed Future funding program?
Building a High Speed Future is a funding program administered by Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia (BRNS) on behalf of the Department of Economic and Rural Development (ERD). It has been established to promote a culture of broadband use in Nova Scotian communities. The specific objectives of the program are:
- to stimulate innovation and good practice in promoting a culture of broadband use in Nova Scotia
- to leverage matching funding and in-kind funding for community broadband use, and encourage funding of community broadband projects in general
- to increase awareness of the benefits of broadband use in meeting rural community economic development goals
- to collect data on good practice in applying broadband applications to the current challenges facing rural communities
Why is Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia (BRNS) launching this funding program?
When the BRNS initiative is completed, the entire province will have high-speed Internet access, making Nova Scotia one of the most connected jurisdictions in Canada and in North America. This will give our schools, businesses and families the opportunity to connect and compete worldwide. It is important that communities take time to think about how they can use broadband to achieve their community economic development goals.
The majority of households and communities served by BRNS are located in rural Nova Scotia. The arrival of high-speed will drive change in these communities. Rural broadband offers a new set of solutions to rural challenges. The Department of Economic and Rural Development is encouraging rural communities in particular to consider how broadband can:
- Improve local businesses and promote them around the world
- Improve health and education services for everyone
- Promote stronger ties between people in the community and reduce isolation
- Develop a strong community presence online
How will the Building a High Speed Future funding program work?
The funding program will accept proposals from community-based partnerships that are designed to promote a culture of broadband use. Proposals can be submitted from 1 October 2009 – 18 December 2009. Evaluation of proposals will take place in January 2010 and service agreements will be signed with successful partnerships by end March 2010.
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What is the deadline for submitting proposals?
Proposals should be submitted to the Department of Economic and Rural Development by 5pm on Friday 18th December 2009. Applications should be sent to:
Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia
Department of Economic and Rural Development
Centennial Building, Suite 302
1660 Hollis St.
Halifax NS B3J 3C8
phone: (902)424-8822
email: broadband@gov.ns.ca
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What type of funding proposals will be considered?
Funding proposals will be accepted for projects that undertake one or more of the following activities:
- Build leadership and collaborative capacity to use broadband to achieve community goals – e.g. build partnerships, develop a collaborative strategy, undertake research
- Develop local online content and services – e.g. develop interactive web content, undertake online networking activities, develop local online services
- Identify Internet-related training needs and provide training opportunities for specific community groups – e.g. business, tourist operators, seniors, young people, new community members, professional groups
What communities will qualify for funding under this program?
There are many types of communities. A community can be a group of people who:
- live in a particular place, or
- share interests such as business, art, or volunteering, or
- share common characteristics, such as age or disabilities Members of the community must have completed a Planning for a High Speed Future workshop. Funding proposals from community-based partnerships that have not participated in a workshop will not be considered.
How does my community complete a Planning for a High Speed Future workshop?
Planning for a High Speed Future: Setting your Community’s Goals and Priorities is a community-based, facilitated workshop that will help you to harness broadband to achieve your community’s economic and development goals.
There are a number of facilitators located around the province who have been trained to deliver this workshop. We can supply you with a facilitator who will lead the workshop with you. In addition, you will receive workbooks, wall charts and other resources to help complete Planning for a High Speed Future.
All you need to provide is a meeting space and around 20 enthusiastic participants.
Hosting a workshop in your community is easy. Contact us and we will work with you to organize it.
Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia
Department of Economic and Rural Development
Centennial Building, Suite 302
1660 Hollis St.
Halifax NS B3J 3C8
phone: (902)424-8822
email: broadband@gov.ns.ca
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Who can submit a funding proposal on behalf of a community?
Any community-based organization may submit a funding proposal. However, the project must demonstrate a collaborative approach to its development and implementation.
At minimum, the funding proposal must be developed and implemented by a community-based steering group that includes a number of partners. The steering group should draw members from at least two of the following organizations:
- Municipality
- Regional Development Authority
- Post-secondary institution
- Community Business Development Corporation
- Library Board
- C@P Network
- Chamber of commerce/ board of trade
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Is there a minimum/ maximum amount of funding that can be requested?
There is no minimum funding requirement. The maximum funding available to a proposal will be $25,000. Project partners should provide at least 25% of the proposal’s costs in matching funding/in-kind funding.
For example, if the proposal will cost $15,000 to implement, then community partners should provide at least $3,750 in matching funding/ in-kind funding and submit a proposal requesting no more than $11,250 in funding.
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What do you mean by matching funding?
Matching funding is a financial contribution made by a partner organization towards the cost of a proposal.
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What do you mean by in-kind matching funding?
In-kind matching funding is a non-financial contribution towards the costs of a proposal.
For example, in-kind matching funding could include: cost of using community facilities (including office space and costs, meeting space and costs, existing staff or equipment costs), travel costs, or voluntary work undertaken by community members.
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Why must the funding proposal demonstrate it is aligned with some or all of Nova Scotia’s Principles of Community Development?
The Department of Economic and Rural Development endorses and is committed to the guiding principles for community development. Those principles include:
- Local leadership
- Flexibility
- Sustainable economies
- Focus on community assets
- Collaborative approach
- Measurable impact
- Social inclusion
- Balance
- Forward-looking
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What should I include with my funding proposal?
Please read the section entitled How to submit a funding proposal carefully and follow the instructions. In addition, here is a checklist you can use to ensure you have included everything. The funding proposal should include the following information:
- Project title and contact details (of lead person/ organization)
- Project description, objectives and deliverables
- Project statement of work
- List of project partners and outline of their role in the project
- Description of how project aligns with principles of community development
- Project budget, including matching funding/ in-kind matching funding
- Project timelines
- Letters of support from each partner organization
- Confirmation of partners’ financial/ in-kind contribution to the project
- Links to any web-based resources associated with your proposal – e.g. MySpace space, FaceBook group, YouTube upload, Google Maps link, or Twitter account
- If possible, a 1 - 5 minute audio-visual presentation or podcast describing your proposal and its impact on the community
What do you mean by an audio-visual presentation?
We would like to have an audio-visual record of funding proposals that we receive. If you have the resources, make a short film using your video camera or even your cell phone. Alternatively, you can prepare a photo or PowerPoint slideshow and add a voice-over or music to it. If you need assistance in doing this, contact us at broadband@gov.ns.ca, or telephone (902) 424-0183.
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What do you mean by a podcast?
If you have the necessary equipment, prepare a short podcast (like a radio interview, but recorded on your computer) that outlines your funding proposal and its impact on the community.
Here’s a great website tutorial on podcasting to help you get started, or talk to your local C@P site about how to do this. If you need assistance in doing this, contact us at broadband@gov.ns.ca, or telephone (902) 424-0183.
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How do I send my audio-visual presentation or podcast to you?
You can email it to us, or you can put it on a flash drive and mail it to us.
You can share your movie with us online. For example, you can use free services such as YouTube or Screencast to upload a movie from your video camera or cell phone. You can use SlideShare to show a PowerPoint presentation with music or a voice over.
You can upload your podcast free onto iTunes or another hosting site. Information on free hosting sites is available here. If you need assistance in doing this, contact us at broadband@gov.ns.ca, or telephone (902) 424-0183.
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Where can I get additional information on the Building a High Speed Future funding program?
For further information and assistance with this program, contact us by email at broadband@gov.ns.ca or telephone (902) 424-0183 and ask for information about the program.
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