Accelerating community energy systems

• Pre-application form
• Application form
• Project workbook
• Supporting documents listed in the application guide

Who is eligible?

• Canadian municipal governments
• Municipally owned corporations
• Eligible Indigenous communities partnering with a Canadian municipal government

Eligible expenses

• Project administration and communication costs
• Permits, certifications, and required project documentation
• Professional and technical consultant fees
• Staff wages and benefits for time worked on the project
• Supplies, materials, transport, travel, and accommodation directly related to the project

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs incurred before the application is received, except pre-application writing costs within the allowed period
• General operating costs, office space, supplies, and overhead
• Marketing costs that are not specifically required for the project
• Major capital purchases and real estate purchases or rentals
• Costs already covered by another GMF grant or by other government funding for the same study

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• Three territories
• Northern portions of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia

• Potential for significant GHG reductions
• Strong support from political leaders, municipal staff, the community, and partners
• Alignment with an official plan, secondary plan, community energy plan, or climate action plan
• Collaboration with implementation partners and equity-deserving groups or an Indigenous community
• Strong integration of equity, inclusion, and climate resilience objectives

• Step 1: Review the application guide and supporting documents requirements
  • Read the guide before starting.
  • Review the prerequisites and eligible and ineligible costs.
• Step 2: Create your profile and pre-application
  • Create a client profile in FCM’s funding portal.
  • Complete and submit the pre-application form online.
• Step 3: Full application submission
  • If invited, complete the full application form and project workbook.
  • Attach the required supporting documents and submit through the FCM portal.
• Step 4: Quebec municipalities additional submission process
  • Save the application using the required filename.
  • Upload the files through the Quebec government portal and transfer them to MAMH.
  • Receive MAMH confirmation before GMF review continues.

• Submit a pre-application through FCM’s funding portal.
• GMF reviews the pre-application for eligibility within 21 business days.
• If eligible, submit the full application and project workbook through the portal.
• A GMF project officer reviews the full file for completeness and accuracy.
• External peer review and internal review are completed before the funding decision.
• If approved, a funding agreement is prepared before funding is provided.

• Selected communities may join a peer-learning support program and receive skills development training.
• Applicants must commit to actively participating in the learning cohort.
• Quebec municipalities must also submit their application through the Quebec government portal before GMF review.