Seed Funding
Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: CMHC's Seed Funding program provides financial support for individuals or organizations involved in the initial phases of creating an affordable housing project. You can apply for up to $350,000 in interest-free loans and a maximum of $150,000 in non-repayable contributions to assist with early development expenses. These expenses can include things like the formulation of a business plan, creation of preliminary design concepts and conducting environmental site assessments.
Deadline: Continous intake until fully allocated
Affordable Housing and Innovation Fund
Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports new ideas that will drive change and disrupt the industry – ideas and approaches that will evolve the affordable housing sector and create the next generation of housing in Canada. The Rent-to-Own stream of the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund is for housing providers interested in developing, testing and scaling innovative rent-to-own models and projects.
Deadline: CMHC accepts and reviews applications continually and funding announcements are made periodically.
Example Project: Incremental financing models and incremental building models. Such as the creation of shipping container affordable housing units which met net-zero specifications. The development of tiny homes for homeless veterans.
*Updated programs* at the Green Municipal Fund
Department - Organization: Infrastructure Canada/Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Description: GMF is more than just a funding source—they are a full-service partner in your climate action progress. Grants and loans for all stages. Stackable with other funding sources. Dedicated staff to help you apply. Free resources to help build business cases and improve project outcomes. Grants from $100-500k for up to 50% of eligible costs, combined grant and loan to a maximum of $10M for up to 80% of eligible costs.
- Community Efficiency Financing: Explore and assess options for a financing program for home energy upgrades within your community. Support project decision-making with a feasibility study.
- New construction of sustainable affordable housing: Construct a new affordable housing project to a higher environmental performance standard. Finance your new build with capital project funding. Planning, study and pilot project funding is also available.
- Retrofit of Sustainable Affordable Housing: Integrate deep energy efficiency measures and onsite renewable energy generation into existing affordable housing units. Finance your retrofit with capital funding. Planning, study and pilot project funding is also available.
Deadline: Continuous
Contact: gmfinfo@fcm.ca or book a meeting with an advisor.
Website: Green Municipal Fund
Information Sessions: Community Efficiency Financing webinar, March 28th. Click here to register.
Mitacs Municipal Support
Department - Organization: Mitacs
Description: Mitacs connects municipalities of all sizes with post-secondary researchers for innovative projects ensuring Canadians develop the best public policies to create vibrant and healthy communities. Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that designs and delivers research internships, placing highly educated graduate students and postdocs into the public and private sectors. Bringing a qualified intern on board, whether it’s a college student, a university student, a grad or a postdoc, is a smart strategy, allowing you to tap into their knowledge and know-how while keeping your budget in check. It’s also a great way to boost your organization’s productivity and create a valuable work opportunity for students who are passionate about the challenges you face.
- Non-repayable funding from $6,000 to multi-million.
- A custom-built research and innovation team to roadmap your project.
- Scalable, multidisciplinary projects in all areas.
- Academic/research team to give you the specialized knowledge and skills that you need.
- Works with you to resolve the major challenges that Canadian municipalities face
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: Form on the webpage
Website: Mitacs Municipal Support
Currently Closed. Next Intake TBD:
Housing Accelerator Fund
Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: The Housing Accelerator Fund provides incentive funding to local governments encouraging initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply. It also supports the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse. HAF rewards applications that drive change within the local government's control. This can involve making changes to land use planning and development approvals processes, such as amending bylaws or implementing programs that expedite housing permits in both the short and long term. A list of example initiatives can be found in the pre-application material on the website.
Deadline: Applications closed in August 2023. It is unknown if there will be a second round.
Website: Housing Accelerator Fund
Municipal Capital Growth Program
Department - Organization: Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Description: The program supports investment in municipal infrastructure projects. Municipalities and villages can apply for funding from the Municipal Capital Growth Program to help reduce the cost of infrastructure projects that support the province’s growing population.
Example(s): Brownfield Redevelopment: Demolition, remediation, and earthworks as required to enable residential development. Extension of services to remediated, vacant or underutilized land.
Deadline: Closed December 13th, 2023
Website: Municipal Capital Growth Program
Sustainable Development Goals Program
Department - Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: In September 2015, Canada and 192 other UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is a 15-year global framework centred on an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes areas applicable to municipalities, such as sustainable cities and communities, decent work and economic growth, clean water and sanitation,
There are two streams to the funding program, 1) Grants, and 2) Contributions. The Grants stream of this Call for Proposals will fund projects that increase public awareness, and share best practices or lessons learned that support and enhance Canada’s progress on the 2030 Agenda, particularly within equity-deserving groups and groups or individuals in vulnerable situations. Up to $200,000 for a project that is up to 24 months (maximum $100,000 per fiscal year). The Contributions stream of this Call for Proposals will fund projects that aim to localize SDGs in communities. Funded projects will adapt, employ, and monitor the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the local level and will measure and report on the SDGs. Up to $900,000 for a project that is up to 36 months (maximum $300,000 per fiscal year)
Example: By the Governors of Saint-Francis Xavier University: This project addresses the barriers to affordable housing in Nova Scotia. It leads a grassroots community consultation using the SDGs as a blueprint to frame the discussions. It addresses the factors that influence the housing needs of people living in low-income and marginalized populations.
Deadline: January 12, 2024
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/sustainable-development-goals.html
Research and Knowledge Initiative (Housing & Infrastructure)
Department - Organization: Infrastructure Canada
Description: Funds projects related to housing, infrastructure and communities. To improve our understanding of housing and infrastructure to find solutions essential to building and maintain livable, resilient communities.
Example(s): Development of research or data-driven papers, reports or other products (e.g., needs assessments.) Translation of research findings (such as a housing needs assessment) into policy-relevant analysis and recommendations (e.g., identification of best practices, analysis of case studies).
Deadline: Closed February 9, 2024.
Contact: RKI-IRC@infc.gc.ca
Residential Building Official Qualification
Department - Organization: Nova Scotia Building Officials Association (NSBOA) & the Province of Nova Scotia
Description: The province has provided NSBOA with $400,000 to increase access to the specialized training and certification needed to be a qualified building official in Nova Scotia. The funding will be used to train a minimum of 15 individuals for the Residential Building Official Qualification. NSBOA is requesting applications to select participants. Applications may be submitted by jurisdictions that have eligible candidates. For selection, the demand for Building Officials in Nova Scotia will need to be established by jurisdiction. Each municipality, county, district, or town must convey their demand in the ‘For Municipalities Only’ section of the application form.
All candidates must meet the NSBOA Regular Membership prerequisites:
- Two years of post-secondary education in a construction-related field and /or, A Red Seal in a trade,
- Knowledge of the National Building Code and/or, Equivalent experience in the construction industry or similar field.
Deadline: Closed March 1st, 2024.
Contact: communications@nsboa.ca
Website: There is no website, please email or use the following documents: A) Letter, B) Application.
If you can't find a grant that suits your municipality's needs, please reach out. Similarly, if your municipality is applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.
Lucy MacLeod,
Fund Navigator
lmacleod@nsfm.ca
