Ontario Trillium Foundation has awarded Rainbow’s End Community Development Corporation a $254,000 Grow Grant over two years to expand and strengthen its social enterprise landscaping program, Mow-Town. This significant investment will support the development of a new landscape construction training program within Mow-Town, creating expanded employment and skill-building opportunities for individuals living with mental illness and facing barriers to employment

The grant will enhance the existing Mow-Town enterprise that has been in existence for over sixteen years and will introduce a graduated, construction-specific training process that will focus on developing marketable skills in areas such as interlocking stone installation, deck construction, and heavy power tool operation. A dedicated Landscape Construction Manager and Assistant will lead the initiative, allowing multiple work sites to operate simultaneously — some focused exclusively on training, while others combine real-world work experience with hands-on learning.

Mow-Town’s expanded construction services will also provide added value to existing conventional landscaping customers (grass cutting, hedge trimming etc.) who support the organization’s unique social enterprise model, which blends paid work opportunities with practical skills development.

Using a “shadow-and-lead” training approach, participants will gradually build confidence and competency before transitioning into more independent, supervised work. The program will be supported by vocational counselors and community partners, including St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, YWCA Hamilton, and March of Dimes Canada, who will help ensure participants receive individualized support and manageable workloads that encourage successful completion.

Participant progress will be monitored through skill checklists and self-assessments, following the evidence-based Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model, which has been shown to improve employment outcomes, job retention, and income for individuals experiencing mental illness.

Over the next two years, Mow-Town will establish a sustainable construction training program while creating meaningful pathways to long-term employment in the community.

“This Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, will allow Mow-Town to build a more comprehensive training and employment program,” said Rainbow’s End leadership. “By combining real work experience with individualized support, we are helping participants build skills, confidence, and brighter futures.”

For more information about Rainbow’s End and Mow-Town, visit: www.rainbowsend.ca, or visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowsEndCommunity/