Governments double investments in Flower Cart campaign
Executive director says ground could be broken on new training centre this summer
Ground could be broken sooner than expected for The Flower Cart’s new social enterprise and vocational training centre.
The goal of the Building Opportunities capital campaign is to raise $5.8 million to build a new social enterprise and vocational training centre at 9503 Commercial St. in New Minas and move all of the Flower Cart Group’s programs under one roof.
“Our new home is not just a dream anymore, it’s going to become a reality very soon,” said Flower Cart executive director Jeff Kelly.
They are currently operating out of three separate locations, including the former New Minas elementary school where they’ve been for 50 years and have outgrown the space.
Premier Iain Rankin announced $500,000 in provincial funding for the new facility on June 21. This doubles the provincial contribution, with $500,000 having been announced in January 2020.
At the same event, KingsHants MP Kody Blois announced $1.1 million in federal support for the capital
GOVERNMENTS
campaign through the Communities, Culture and Recreation stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan.
This is in addition to $1 million in federal funding through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Innovative Communities Fund that was announced in November, more than doubling the federal contribution.
CLOSER TO REALITY
Kelly said the capital campaign began in 2018 with the support of a few local businesses and individuals who really believed in The Flower Cart’s mission.
He said the June 21 announcements put them very close to their fundraising goal and it’s possible that they could break ground later this summer. It was announced in November that they had reached the $4 million milestone in the campaign, almost 70 per cent of the goal.
Kelly said the new facility represents sustainable future growth for the organization, enhanced accessibility, and a respectful space for all users. He said the energy efficient design would allow them to reinvest in their programming and provide new opportunities.
He said The Flower Cart currently has approximately 200 clients and they’re hopeful that with the efficiencies that the new facility will bring, they can realize a 20 to 22 per cent overall increase in client placements.
Kelly said the government funding announced on June 21 is “an incredibly important show of support for who we are and what we do.” He said the clients and program participants do great things and it’s really nice to have this acknowledged.
“This funding is a testament to our federal and provincial governments commitment to making our community inclusive of all abilities and building opportunities for those who need them the most,” Kelly said.
In 2020, the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary of providing supported employment training to adults considered to have an intellectual disability.
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
In making the announcement, Rankin said dignity and equality are important, and choice and independence also matter.
“Many of us take these things for granted, but for people living with diverse abilities, often these principles can feel out of reach,” Rankin said.
He said the additional provincial funding represents another step toward reaching the goal of having stronger, inclusive communities where every Nova Scotian is given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“We want to ensure that organizations such as The Flower Cart Group are well positioned for growth and success. I’m also a big believer that success comes through collaboration,” said Rankin.
He said a core part of growing back a strong economy is making sure that it’s inclusive and the provincial government is targeting investments towards that goal. He said people could expect the province to continue working alongside the federal government in this regard.
Rankin said he looked forward to taking a tour of The Flower Cart following the announcement to see the great work going on there.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois said the work of The Flower Cart is meaningful, impactful and makes a difference across the Annapolis Valley.
He said it’s clear when you visit The Flower Cart that the organization has outgrown its space and it needs a new home to continue to build on the “exceptional” work it’s already doing.
“It’s economic, it creates opportunities and purpose for people in our community and it creates an inclusive community where everyone has a spot and a place to call home,” Blois said.
He pointed out that it isn’t only the contributions of government but those of companies, individuals and service groups that believe in the work The Flower Cart is doing that would help make the new facility a reality.
Blois said that through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan, the federal government has funding streams that support communal buildings where the type of social enterprise work that The Flower Cart does takes place.
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
Kings South MLA and Environment and Climate Change Minister Keith Irving pointed out all three levels of government are supporting the capital campaign. The Municipality of the County of Kings is contributing $300,000 to the project.
Irving, who is an architect and has a background in planning, said Kings County is inclusive. This is demonstrated by the fact that facilities such as The Flower Cart are put front and centre on its main streets, embracing those who face barriers and making them part of the community.