The City of Thunder Bay is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2026 Clean, Green & Beautiful Emerging Project Grants, supporting initiatives that enhance community spaces, foster civic pride, and contribute to a vibrant and welcoming city.

These grants play an important role in helping to advance the City’s broader growth objectives and attractiveness as a place to live, work and visit by supporting projects that strengthen neighbourhoods, enhance public spaces, and contribute to a clean, green and beautiful community.

As part of the program’s continued evolution, the City is introducing a Grant Review Team model and is inviting community members to express interest in participating.

Beginning in 2026, grant applications will be reviewed through a Grant Review Team, with support from City administration. This new model builds on the program’s long-standing commitment to fairness, transparancy, and alignment with the City’s Clean, Green & Beautiful policy, while continuing to incorporate community perspectives in funding decisions. For many years, the Clean, Green & Beautiful Committee provided thoughtful leadership and community perspective in guiding grant funding decisions. The City extends its sincere appreciation to all past Committee members for their dedication and impact on the community.

"The Clean, Green & Beautiful Grant Program helps bring community-driven ideas to life while enhancing the neighbourhoods and public spaces that contribute to Thunder Bay's quality of life," said the Mayor of Thunder Bay. "These investments support the Smart Growth Action Plan by advancing community beautification and reinforcing Thunder Bay's attractiveness as a place to live, work, visit, and invest."

The City is seeking volunteers representing a range of community perspectives and areas of knowledge to serve on the Grant Review Team, and intends to appoint one representative from each of the following areas: arts and culture; urban design, planning or architecture; environmental sustainability; Indigenous perspectives and/or community knowledge; and community development. This approach helps ensure a balanced, inclusive, and well-informed review of applications.

This is a volunteer opportunity, and members will play an important role in supporting community investment decisions. Grant Review Team members will review and evaluate applications using established criteria and participate in structured review meetings. Team members will contribute to the review of 2026 Emerging Project Grant applications (current intake), and the 2026/27 School Project Grant applications (opening Fall 2026).

Applications for Emerging Project Grants are now open, and Expressions of Interest for the Grant Review Team are also being accepted. The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest for the Grant Review Team is July 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Emerging Project Grant applications are due July 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

For more information or to apply, visit www.thunderbay.ca/cgb

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Contact:  Stephanie Reid – Communication Specialist, Corporate Communications & Public Relations, 807-621-4151