Role of the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund in the funding ecosystem
The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund (SCCF) is a provincial climate funding program focused on community‑level action in Nova Scotia. It provides non‑repayable grants to Nova Scotia municipalities, First Nations bands and tribal councils, post‑secondary institutions, and registered non‑profit organizations. The Fund is designed to help local actors implement practical projects that both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve communities’ capacity to adapt to a changing climate.
The SCCF supports projects in a wide range of sectors, including buildings, transportation, energy generation and storage, waste management and the circular economy, and carbon storage and sequestration. On the adaptation side, it funds climate‑ready infrastructure, ecosystem and nature‑based solutions, and community coordination and planning. Projects can span the full project cycle, from assessment and feasibility to implementation, monitoring, evaluation and knowledge mobilization, as long as they are based in Nova Scotia and meet at least one of the Fund’s core objectives.
Funding offer and streams
The Fund typically provides grants between $75,000 and $1,000,000 per project, covering roughly 60–80% of eligible costs, with the remainder contributed by applicants and partners through cash and limited in‑kind support. At least 15% of the overall Fund is reserved for projects serving Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities. Funding is structured around two main streams: a Mitigation Stream, which supports projects that avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon removals, and an Adaptation Stream, which strengthens the resilience of human and natural systems to climate impacts.
Within these streams, eligible initiatives include energy retrofits and electrification of community buildings, renewable energy and storage projects, low‑carbon transportation and charging infrastructure, waste reduction and circular economy projects, coastal protection and restoration, climate‑ready infrastructure, forest and wildfire vulnerability assessments, and many other community‑driven solutions. The Fund also highlights coastal adaptation projects as a priority area, offering guidance resources and examples for shoreline resilience initiatives.
Supported audiences and equity focus
The SCCF is administered by the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, and is financed through the provincial Green Fund. A strong equity lens is integrated throughout the program. Applications from organizations of Mi’kmaq peoples, African Nova Scotians, racialized communities, newcomers, Acadians, low‑income residents, people with disabilities, seniors, youth, 2SLGBTQ+ people and women are favourably considered. Dedicated supports for equity‑deserving groups—such as customized agreements, tailored reporting, and partnership support—are available case by case.
General evaluation criteria and process
Funding is awarded through competitive intake rounds. The application process usually involves a prescreening step followed by a full application submitted through an online portal. Proposals are first reviewed by program staff for completeness and basic eligibility, then evaluated by a multidisciplinary technical committee using criteria such as alignment with mitigation or adaptation objectives, co‑benefits (equity, green jobs, affordability, health, natural assets, long‑term impact), project readiness, team capacity, budget soundness, and the ability to measure outcomes.
Successful applicants sign funding agreements outlining milestones, payment schedules, eligible costs and reporting requirements. Recipients submit regular progress updates and a final impact report; most mitigation projects must also provide a greenhouse gas assessment. The SCCF publishes examples of successful projects from past rounds, illustrating the breadth of supported initiatives across Nova Scotia’s communities.
Transparency, learning and resources
The Fund maintains a resource hub for applicants, including an Applicant Guide, application workbook templates, webinars and events, a glossary of terms, FAQs, and links to external climate data and adaptation tools. This support infrastructure is intended to lower barriers to participation, strengthen project design, and encourage knowledge sharing among communities. Feedback from applicants and recipients is used to refine program guidance and intake processes over time.
