Who Can Apply to the GIFMP Industrial Facility Track: Eligibility Guide
The Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) — Industrial Facility Track provides federal, cost-shared funding for industrial energy efficiency and energy management projects across Canada. It supports process-focused upgrades, energy management systems, audits, training, and energy manager roles within Canadian industrial sites. This guide explains exactly who can apply, which facilities qualify, and what project conditions must be met before submitting an application to NRCan.
According to program guidelines, GIFMP typically funds up to 50% of eligible costs for most applicants, and up to 100% for Indigenous and not-for-profit organizations. Historical contribution ranges have included a minimum of $40,000 and a maximum that has varied by intake (with past caps up to $10 million per proposal, and certain intake communications citing up to $5 million). Because intake windows and caps can change from round to round, always verify current parameters before you apply. This eligibility overview is designed to help you self-assess quickly and confidently.
Program Overview
The GIFMP Industrial Facility Track targets Canadian industrial facilities engaged in energy-consuming processes that transform materials or substances into new products. The program supports activities that raise energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including:
Training for energy management practitioners
Energy assessments and audits
Energy manager positions
Energy management systems (e.g., ISO 50001, 50001 Ready Canada, EMIS)
Energy efficiency-focused capital retrofits that are non-emitting at the point of end use
Funding is issued as a federal contribution under a cost-shared model. Most recipients co-fund at 50%, while Indigenous and not-for-profit organizations may receive up to 100% support. Eligible costs commonly include internal salaries and benefits for project work, professional services, and necessary licenses, data, certifications, compliance/inspection costs, construction insurance, and permits.
Historically, intakes have opened to general applicants for fixed periods (for example, in 2024 the general intake closed on August 30, while Indigenous applicants remained eligible until March 31, 2025). Later materials noted subsequent rounds with different deadlines and caps. This means eligibility should be assessed in tandem with current intake documents and timelines.
Applicant Type Requirements
Eligible applicants are organizations that own, operate, or control a Canadian industrial facility engaged in energy-consuming transformation processes. The program is inclusive of various legal entity types, provided the site and project meet the industrial and energy management criteria.
Common eligible applicant types include:
For-profit corporations operating industrial facilities (e.g., manufacturers, processors, mills, mines, utilities with industrial process equipment)
Indigenous organizations (including communities and entities that own/operate eligible industrial sites)
Not-for-profit organizations that own/operate eligible industrial facilities
Key applicant considerations:
The applicant should be the facility owner/operator or possess authority to implement the project at the site. Service providers and consultants may support the project but are generally not the lead applicant unless they own/operate the industrial facility.
The applicant must be able to administer federal funding, enter into a contribution agreement with NRCan, manage reporting, and comply with audit requirements.
A CIPEC Leader letter is commonly included in the application package. While you do not typically need to be a CIPEC Leader before applying, the package will require you to address this element. Applicants should be prepared to engage with CIPEC where applicable as part of the program’s energy efficiency ecosystem.
If you are a public-sector entity, eligibility depends on whether you operate an industrial facility performing qualifying energy-consuming transformation processes. Traditional commercial, institutional, or office buildings do not meet the industrial focus unless the site’s dominant activity aligns with recognized industrial processes.
Size & Scale Criteria
GIFMP does not impose a single national headcount threshold; both SMEs and large enterprises can be eligible if the site and project meet program requirements. However, practical scale considerations apply:
Minimum contribution size: Projects must meet the program’s minimum total eligible cost threshold such that the contribution is at least $40,000 (historical minimum), which implies meaningful project scope.
Co-funding capacity: Non-Indigenous for-profit applicants should be able to co-invest approximately 50% of eligible costs, which presumes sufficient financial capacity and cash flow.
Operational readiness: Applicants should have the management capacity to plan, implement, and track industrial energy projects, including measurement and verification of outcomes.
If your enterprise is a small manufacturer or processor, you can still qualify provided your facility is a fixed Canadian industrial site, your project is eligible, and you can meet the financial and reporting expectations. Large organizations can apply for single- or multi-facility projects, subject to round-specific rules.
Geographic Eligibility
Eligible facilities must be located in Canada. The program is national and accepts applications from organizations across:
Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Key geographic points:
The industrial site must be a fixed facility in Canada. Mobile operations without an anchored industrial process site are typically ineligible.
Cross-border facilities: Only costs at Canadian facilities are eligible. Projects at non-Canadian sites are ineligible.
Regional distribution can be a factor in NRCan’s portfolio decisions, which means well-prepared proposals from all provinces and territories are encouraged.
Project & Activity Requirements
Eligibility is tied to both the applicant and the project. Projects must meaningfully improve energy efficiency and/or strengthen energy management, aligned with the five supported activity areas:
1) Training for energy management practitioners
Workforce development and upskilling to build internal capacity
Suitable for organizations planning to expand energy management competencies
2) Energy assessments and audits
Facility-wide or process-specific assessments
May include process integration and computational fluid dynamics studies
Serves as a foundation for a structured energy management plan
3) Energy managers
Funding to support a dedicated role that identifies opportunities and drives implementation
Helps embed a culture of continuous energy performance improvement
4) Energy management systems (EMS)
EMS development and deployment, including ISO 50001 or 50001 Ready Canada pathways, EMIS aligned with NRCan guidance, and Superior Energy Performance certifications
Enables systematic tracking, prioritization, and persistence of savings
5) Capital investments (non-emitting at end use)
Retrofit projects on process and supporting systems (e.g., boilers, compressed air, hot water, pumps/fans, furnaces, dryers/kilns, refrigeration, steam/condensate, waste heat recovery, metering, controls)
Must be implemented alongside a recognized EMS or demonstrate an EMS is already in place
Investments tied to building envelope or general lighting are typically ineligible
Timing constraints matter: costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed or after the program’s cost-incurrence cutoff (historically March 31, 2027, depending on intake) are ineligible. Plan your project schedule accordingly.
Financial & Operational Criteria
To qualify in practice, organizations should demonstrate:
Cost-sharing ability: Most applicants cover around 50% of eligible costs. Indigenous and not-for-profit recipients may access up to 100% coverage.
Budget alignment: Total eligible costs should be sufficient to meet the minimum contribution size and reflect realistic scope for industrial savings.
Procurement and delivery capacity: Clear plan for contracting, site access, safety, and commissioning.
EMS integration: For capital retrofits, an energy management system must be in place or implemented as part of the project.
Compliance and reporting: Ability to track eligible expenses, maintain records, and submit progress and final reports. Expect contribution agreement commitments, including possible audits.
Tax and legal standing: Good standing with Canadian authorities and the ability to enter a binding federal contribution agreement.
Ineligible Applicants
Applicants are typically ineligible if they:
Do not own, operate, or control a Canadian fixed industrial facility engaged in transformative, energy-consuming processes
Propose projects focused on non-industrial buildings (e.g., office towers, retail spaces, warehouses as stand-alone building envelope/lighting upgrades)
Operate facilities outside Canada (foreign sites are ineligible)
Seek funding for new construction or for fleet vehicles not directly tied to an industrial process
Cannot meet cost-sharing, contribution minimums, or reporting requirements
Propose projects whose costs fall entirely before agreement signature or after the program’s cost-incurrence deadline
Note: Round-specific guides may refine exclusions. Always confirm with the current application package.
Special Cases & Exceptions
Indigenous and not-for-profit organizations: May be eligible for up to 100% of eligible costs, subject to intake rules and budget availability.
Mixed-use sites: Facilities with combined industrial and non-industrial operations may qualify if the dominant activity and energy consumption relate to industrial transformation. Applicants should document the industrial share clearly.
New or recently commissioned facilities: Greenfield construction is typically ineligible; however, energy management activities and certain retrofits at operating sites may be eligible if they meet timing and EMS conditions.
Multi-site proposals: Some intakes allow programmatic approaches across multiple facilities. Confirm in the current intake guide and structure your measurement and verification plan accordingly.
Third-party implementers: ESCOs and consultants can support delivery, but the eligible recipient is generally the facility owner/operator or authorized controller of the site and assets.
Self-Assessment Checklist
Use this checklist to gauge eligibility before preparing your application:
Our organization owns/operates a fixed industrial facility in Canada.
The site performs energy-consuming processes that transform materials into new products.
The proposed project fits at least one supported activity area (training, audits, energy manager, EMS, capital).
For capital retrofits, we have an EMS in place or will implement one as part of the project.
The retrofit equipment is non-emitting at point of end use (e.g., electricity, renewables/biomass, hydrogen).
We can meet cost-sharing requirements (about 50%), or we are an Indigenous/not-for-profit organization seeking up to 100% support.
Our project’s eligible costs meet the minimum contribution threshold and can be delivered within the intake’s schedule.
We can track eligible expenses and provide required reports and evidence.
We can address CIPEC participation as requested in the application package (e.g., CIPEC Leader letter).
Our project excludes ineligible elements such as new construction, fleet vehicles not tied to process, and building envelope/lighting-only upgrades.
If you answer “yes” to most items, you likely meet the core eligibility criteria. If uncertain, clarify details with program administrators or review the most recent application guide.
Conclusion
Eligibility for the GIFMP Industrial Facility Track centres on the combination of a Canadian fixed industrial site, qualified energy-consuming transformation processes, and a project plan aligned with the program’s five activity areas. Organizations of many types and sizes may apply, provided they can meet cost-share, EMS, timing, and reporting requirements. Because intake timelines and funding caps can vary, verify the current application package and plan your project so that costs fall within eligible windows. A strong, well-documented project that targets measurable energy and GHG improvements will be the strongest candidate for NRCan’s industrial funding.
