FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Initiative Aims to Strengthen Pictou County’s Community Impact Sector
Pictou County, Nova Scotia – August 12, 2024 – The Pictou County Partnership is excited to announce the official launch of The Sobey Foundation Community Compass+ program. This transformative initiative aims to strengthen the community impact sector in Pictou County by providing essential resources to help build capacity, diversify revenue streams, and secure additional critical funding for local organizations.
The Sobey Community Compass+ program will provide comprehensive support to local organizations through grant writing assistance, a database of grant opportunities through Grant Connect, volunteer matching program, capacity building workshops, and social enterprise support. Community Impact Organizations address vital community needs, and their success directly translates into a more prosperous and thriving Pictou County.
“We are incredibly grateful for the $1.2 million investment that The Sobey Foundation has made into Pictou County’s community impact sector over the next five years through this new initiative,” said Wade Tibbo, CEO, Pictou County Partnership.” This initiative is about expanding the Partnership’s resources and support to community impact organizations which are essential for driving economic growth and play a critical role in making our communities more vibrant, livable, and economically secure.”
In 2019 the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce conducted a study with 44 organizations titled Valuing Pictou County’s Non-Profit Sector. The study indicated that sustainable funding is always top of the list of concerns for non-profit organizations. In most cases, funding is an annual concern as few organizations have longer term funding commitments. The study also listed a need for more volunteers and for broadening sources of revenue.
“We know that it continues to be more difficult to operate with the cost of inflation and challenges in finding employees and volunteers to name a few,” said Wade Tibbo, CEO, Pictou County Partnership. “But there are also new opportunities, technology is advancing at a rapid speed, and creative solutions and cross-sector relationships are even more important.”
“This project is one of the first that I’ve seen in Pictou County that draws the business community and the non-profit sector together, as well as having the support that will enable us to continue the great work that service organizations do,” said Margie Grant-Walsh, Executive Director, Big Brothers and Big Sisters. “It can change in a day. Your non-profit can lose funding, or a fundraiser does not go well. This program can help us do more with and explore social enterprise.”
Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia (IONS) states that the Community Impact Sector in Nova Scotia employs more than 20,000 people. IONS also indicate that small and medium-sized impact organizations in Nova Scotia contribute to $1.7 billion in direct GDP every year or $1,750 per Nova Scotian resident, which is comparable to the contributions of the accommodations and food sector and utility industries.
“The social sector provides a lot of employment opportunities, and our money is spent here in the community. We are trying to build our community as well and encourage people to come to Pictou County. We need to have the community supports to offer them. Every family needs social supports,” said Margie Grant-Walsh, Executive Director, Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
For more information about the Sobey Foundation Community Compass+ program, please contact the Pictou County Partnership at office@pictoucountypartnership.com.
Media Contact: Heidi Sinclair
Director, Communications
Pictou County Partnership
Phone: 782-440-3480
Email: heidi.sinclair@pictoucountypartnership.com
