The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) is pleased to launch its second call for applications for Canada’s campus and community radio sector.

Contributions are available to the sector under two programs: the Radio Talent Development Program and the Youth Internship Program.

The goal of both programs is to develop innovative local interest programming while providing mentorship, education, and training for broadcasters. The deadline for each program is March 19, 2010. There is $80,000 available under each program, with a maximum $10,000 for each applicant.

The applications will be assessed in April by an independent jury. The final results will be announced in mid-May. Guidelines and forms are available on the CRFC’s website.

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“The CRFC had a highly successful first year in running these two programs,” says CRFC President Ian Pringle. “Last year we gave out nearly $160,000 to the sector.

The initiatives we funded were as diverse as the stations themselves, but in all cases, the end result was that we helped the stations better serve their communities.”

Both of these programs are made possible by a financial partnership with Astral Media Radio through a CRTC contribution mechanism totalling $1.4 million over seven years.

“We appreciate this partnership with Astral Media. The CRFC looks forward to working with other partners to help build a stronger community media sector in Canada,” says Pringle.

As the CRFC is certified as an eligible recipient of Canadian content development (CCD) contributions, it is open to work with all of Canada’s private broadcasters. For details on eligibility, the programs, and how to apply please visit the website: www.communityradiofund.org

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Contact: Melissa Kaestner,

CRFC Executive Director, (613) 321-3513,

m.kaestner@communityradiofund.org

The Community Radio Fund of Canada is the national not-for-profit funding body for the growth and sustainability of campus and community radio. More than 140 community-based radio stations across Canada make up the community-owned, volunteer-driven sector of Canadian broadcasting. The CRFC helps develop and enrich this vital broadcasting sector to ensure local, public-access radio for Canadian communities.