A local non-profit is tapping the power of internet giant Amazon in its annual grant program for building smart communities in Canada.
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority – the Ottawa-based folks behind the .ca domain – said this week that projects in its Community Investment Program will now have access to Amazon Web Services.
Launched in 2014, the grant program supports initiatives to improve Canadians’ access to and use of the internet, thus far funding more than 102 projects through a total $4.2 million. Recently funded projects include a digital literacy training program for educators, a platform to help newcomers to Canada get settled online and multiple data collection and dissemination initiatives to help monitor water quality in rural communities.
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Starting this year, projects funded through CIRA’s program will have access to AWS cloud hosting services. On its website, Amazon specifically touts its numerous web-hosting services in the public sector and for non-profits such as Change.org and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Applications for CIRA’s next round of program funding open on Jan. 15.

