OCC Member Case Studies

Case Study # 1: Sara MacRae, Manager of Climate and Energy, Dufferin County, Upper- and Lower-Tier Collaboration on Climate Action

Climate action in two-tier systems is inherently interdependent:

  • Upper tiers: funding, coordination, program design
  • Lower tiers: implementation, permitting, community engagement

Without coordination:

  • Projects stalls, Funding opportunities are missed, and Efforts remain fragmented

Core Approach:

  • County leads: Program design, Funding applications, Administration
  • Local municipalities: Implement where jurisdiction applies

Examples of Success:

  1. EV Charging Network
    • Dufferin County aggregated demand to meet federal funding thresholds
    • Delivered 24 chargers across municipalities
  2. Better Homes Retrofit Program (LIC/PACE)
    • County manages financing and administration
    • Municipalities enable via bylaws and tax collection mechanism

Importance:

  • Enables small/rural municipalities to participate in programs otherwise out of reach
  • Reduces administrative burden and duplication
  • Accelerates implementation timelines

Key Success Factors:

  • Early and ongoing collaboration
  • Clear division of roles
  • Centralized "heavy lifting" at upper tier
  • Relationship-building

Case Study # 2: Grey County, Linda Swanston, Climate Change Initiatives Manager, Grey County and Emily McKague, Grey Agricultural Services, Environmental Acres Program

Program Overview:

  • Micro-grant program (up to $3,000 per project)
  • Supports farmers in testing new sustainable practices
  • Delivered in partnership with Grey Ag Services
  • Builds on models from Wellington and Dufferin

Key Outcomes:

  • 19 projects across 440+ acres
  • Strong uptake across diverse farm types
  • Expansion of successful practices beyond initial trials

Types of Projects

  • Cover cropping and extended grazing
  • Reduced tillage approaches
  • Soil health improvement techniques
  • Crop experimentation (e.g., no-till establishment)

Benefits

For municipalities:

  • Stronger relationships with agricultural community
  • Better understanding of on-the-ground challenges
  • Integration of agriculture into climate planning

For farmers:

  • Reduced risk in trying new practices
  • Access to funding and technical support
  • Peer learning and networking opportunities

For broader community:

  • Increased visibility of sustainable agriculture
  • Public support for climate investments

Success Factors

  • Trusted intermediary (e.g., agricultural service organizations)
  • Low barriers to participation
  • Peer learning and networking
  • Communication (events, reports, videos)