FAS-030 - Community Resilience Grant Policy_2025
Title: Community Resilience Fund Policy
Subject: Community Resilience Fund Category: Finance and Administrative Services
Policy No.: FAS-030 M&C Report No.:
December 15, 2025
Effective Date: Next Review Date:
Area(s) this policy applies to: Cross Corporate Office Responsible for review of this Policy:
Finance and Administrative Services
Related Instruments: Policy Sponsors:
Chief Administrative Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Commissioner Growth & Community Services
Document Pages:
This document consists of 8 pages.
Revision History:
Common Clerk's Annotation for Official Record
December 01, 2025
Date of Passage of Current Framework: _
I certify that this Policy was adopted by Common Council as indicated
above.
December 17, 2025
Common Clerk Date
Date Created: Common Council Approval Date: Contact:
Finance and Administrative Services
City of Saint John
C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. PURPOSE AND CONTEXT ................................................................................................................. 3
2. POLICY STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 3
3. ELIGIBILITY...................................................................................................................................... 3
4. ELIGIBLE EXPENSES ......................................................................................................................... 4
5. FUNDING STRUCTURE..................................................................................................................... 5
6. APPLICATION PROCESS ................................................................................................................... 6
7. EVALUATION .................................................................................................................................. 6
8. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ................................................................................................. 7
9. PRIORITIZATION MATRIX ................................................................................................................ 7
10. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS .................................................................................................... 8
11. ADMINISTRATION ........................................................................................................................... 8
12. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................................................................... 9
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City of Saint John
C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
1. PURPOSE AND CONTEXT
1.1. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for the implementation of a 2-year
pilot grant called the Community Resilience Fund (CRF) for small sized businesses (less
than 100 employees) and Non-Profit Companies in Saint John, facing direct impacts
related to crime, including property damage, security needs, and increased safety
concerns.
1.2. The program seeks to encourage crime prevention and education initiatives that
strengthen community resilience, while ensuring funds are used responsibly and
equitably.
2. POLICY STATEMENT
2.1. The CRF Policy objectives are to:
2.1.1 Support small sized businesses and Non-Profit Companies, with costs related
to property damage and security.
2.1.2 Promote preventive measures and education on crime prevention, de-
escalation, and community support.
2.1.3 Encourage partnerships between businesses, social agencies, and the
municipality to foster safer and more inclusive public spaces.
2.1.4 Provide clear, fair and accountable guidelines for the distribution of grant
funding.
3. ELIGIBILITY
3.1 Eligible applications include:
3.1.1 Registered small sized businesses operating within the Saint John
geographical boundary that have less than 100 employees in total and with
priority being given to areas experiencing the largest negative impacts
supported by data.
3.1.2 Non-Profit Companies with operating offices in Saint John, that have been
affected by crime in their areas.
3.1.3 Owners of commercial properties leased to small sized businesses or Non-
Profit Companies, impacted by criminal activity.
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C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
3.1.4 Uptown Saint John (Business Improvement Association) applying on behalf
of member businesses for collective prevention/education initiatives.
3.1.5 Mixed Use multi-unit developments under construction.
3.2 Not Eligible:
3.2.1 Residential Property Owners and businesses in a principal residence.
3.2.2 Businesses in arrears on municipal taxes or user fees.
3.2.3 Government or quasi-government organizations.
3.2.4 Costs that have been recovered by insurance (deductible is eligible).
3.2.5 Any costs incurred prior to following proper process such as the issuance of
building or heritage permits.
4. ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
3.1 Security and Prevention Costs
3.1.1 Security cameras (CCTV, doorbell cameras, monitoring systems) on condition
to provide access to footage to Police for open investigations.
3.1.2 Alarm systems, security mirrors, new locks (re-keying locks), motion
detectors and security audits.
3.1.3 Lighting improvements to deter loitering or unsafe activity.
3.1.4 Security staff training in de-escalation and safe engagement.
3.1.5 Education workshops for business owners and staff on crime prevention,
mental health first aid, or trauma informed approaches.
3.1.6 Bollards, fencing, or planters that deter crime without reducing accessibility.
3.2 Damage Response
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C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
3.2.1 Repairs for broken windows, damaged doors, and storefront damage
caused by criminal -related incidents.
3.2.2 Graffiti removal.
3.2.3 Anti-graffiti initiatives, shatterproof glass or security film for windows.
3.2.4 Cleanup costs for biohazards (needles, waste) or vandalism linked to street
activity.
3.3 Business Resilience
3.3.1 Community awareness campaigns led by business groups in coordination
with service providers.
3.3.2 Support to neighborhood watch type programs.
3.3.3 Shared waste/needle disposal units maintained by organization or private
contractors.
3.3.4 Joint business-BIA investments in street lighting or alleyway upgrades.
3.3.5 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) studies led by the
BIA.
5. FUNDING STRUCTURE
5.1 Maximum Program Budget: $250,000 annually.
5.2 Program Length: 2 Year Pilot Program.
5.3 Maximum Grant per Business/ Non-Profit Company: Up to $7,500 annually. There
can be more than one grant per year however the total payable to the business will
not exceed $7,500 annually.
5.4 Grant Payment: Applications must be processed, approved and paid out in the year
awarded.
5.5 Cost Sharing: Grants may cover up to 50% of eligible expenses. Applicants must
provide the remaining 50%.
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City of Saint John
C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
5.5.1 For Non-Profit Companies grants may cover up to 75% of eligible expenses.
Applicants must provide the remaining 25%.
5.6 Collective Projects: Up to $25,000 for the Business Improvement Association or
groups of 4 or more businesses in the same area (with separate individual street
access entrances) applying jointly for a collective project.
6. APPLICATION PROCESS
6.1 Applications accepted twice per year (April and September), and not to exceed the
annual maximum program budget.
6.1.1 There will be two application periods:
Round 1: September 1 – March 31 (of the following year). Grants
awarded in April.
Round 2: April 1 – August 31. Grants awarded in September.
6.2 Applicants must provide:
6.2.1 Description of issues(s) faced and evidence of impact.
6.2.2 Reimbursement based on detailed receipts for expenses incurred.
6.2.3 Confirmation that applicant is not delinquent in property tax or utility bill
payments.
7. EVALUATION
7.1 EVALUATION CRITERIA
7.1.1 Application must demonstrate need and impact on the business.
7.1.2 Application must align with program objectives (prevention, response,
community safety).
7.1.3 Costs must be reasonable.
7.1.4 Preference given for applications that provide opportunities for
collaboration and provides a broader community benefit.
7.2 EVALUATION COMMITTEE
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City of Saint John
C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
7.2.1 The Commissioner of Growth and Community Services or their designate will
appoint an independent evaluation committee composed of up to five (5)
City staff to screen, review and evaluate all applications and make
recommendations on grant awards to Common Council.
8. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
8.1 Grant recipients must submit receipts and a brief report on outcomes within 90 days
of project completion/ funds being released.
8.2 Noncompliance may result in ineligibility for future funding.
8.3 The City will produce an annual summary of the grants awarded and outcomes
achieved in the annual report.
9. PRIORITIZATION MATRIX
9.1 Where demand exceeds available funding, priority will be given to:
9.1.1 Small and Independent Businesses – locally owned businesses with limited
financial capacity to absorb costs.
9.1.2 Local Non-Profit Companies with facilities in areas with higher criminal
activity.
9.1.3 High impact incidents – applicants that can demonstrate repeated or severe
impacts related to crime (multiple property damages, safety incidents).
9.1.4 Aesthetic Security - security measures that blend seamlessness with or
enhance the visual appearance of a space or building, such as warm lighting,
decorative screening or fencing, discreet cameras, etc.
9.1.5 Community Benefit – projects that benefit multiple businesses, improve
shared spaces or enhance overall public safety.
9.1.6 Prevention Oriented Proposals – initiatives that reduce the likelihood of
future damage or incidents, rather than only responding to past harm.
9.1.7 Geographic Equity – ensuring grants are distributed across different
neighborhoods and business districts rather than one concentrated area
with a focus on areas with elevated criminal activity.
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City of Saint John
C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
9.1.8 Partnership Projects – applications that involve collaboration with BIA’s,
non-profits, or service providers.
Note: These criteria are not ranked and are normally weighed equally. In some
cases, the committee may give more weight to certain factors based on the needs
of the area or the impacts described in the application.
10. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
10.1 The success of the program will be tracked and reported annually using the following
indicators:
10.1.1 Program Uptake:
Number of grant applications received.
Percentage of businesses supported.
10.1.2 Financial Accountability
Average grant amount awarded.
Percentage of funding allocated versus budgeted.
Ratio of prevention versus response funding.
10.1.3 Impact on Businesses
Review of Outcome reports to track impacts on businesses.
Review of Outcome reports to track recipients reporting improved
safety/security.
10.1.4 Community and Prevention Outcomes
Number of businesses/staff trained in prevention and de-escalation.
Number of collaborative/partnership projects funded.
10.1.5 Equity and Distribution
Geographic distribution of grants across neighborhoods.
11. ADMINISTRATION
11.1 This policy will be reviewed in two years or as needed to assess uptake,
effectiveness, and alignment with evolving community needs.
11.2 The City may end the program at any time.
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C ommunity Resilience Fund Policy
12. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
12.1 The Commissioner of Growth and Community Services or their designate is
responsible for the overall administration of the program. They will appoint the
evaluation committee and a lead staff member to facilitate the administration of
the program.
12.2 The Evaluation Committee will be responsible for evaluating all grant requests and
impartially making a joint recommendation on a grant award to Common Council
based on this policy.
12.3 Common Council will award grants on the recommendation of the Evaluation
Committee but will not be involved in evaluating specific grant requests.
12.4 The Chief Financial Officer or their designate will issue grants to applications through
resolution of Common Council.
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