Community Efficiency Financing (CEF)

• Complete pre-application form
• Completed full application form
• Project workbook
• Required supporting documentation listed in Appendix A
• Evidence of municipal support and confirmed funding letters

Who is eligible?

• Canadian municipal governments
• Municipal partner organizations
• Private sector entities working with municipalities
• Indigenous communities
• Non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations

Who is not eligible

• Homeowners
• Federal government entities
• Provincial and territorial government entities and corporations they own or control
• Programs exclusively for commercial or industrial buildings

Eligible expenses

• Administrative costs directly linked to the project
• Advertising and public outreach costs
• Professional and technical services
• Staff remuneration for eligible project work
• Travel, training, supplies, and materials needed for the project

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Programs focused on new construction
• Programs without municipal participation or a financing component
• Programs targeted only at non-residential buildings
• Pre-application costs beyond the allowed application-preparation period
• Office overhead, ineligible staff costs, and other non-project expenses

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• Quebec municipalities may apply through a separate process

• Pre-application is reviewed for eligibility before full application access.
• GMF reviews the full application for accuracy and completeness.
• External peer review may be used to assess the proposal.
• Successful applicants receive a funding agreement outlining disbursement and reporting requirements.
• Applications that are incomplete cannot proceed in the process.

• FCM offers capacity-building support and peer learning resources.
• Quebec municipal applicants follow a separate pre-application process through MAMH.
• Successful recipients may be asked to share lessons learned with other communities.