Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program

• Completed and signed application form for the Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program
• Audited financial statements for the previous fiscal year
• Band Council, Métis Community Council or Board resolution or motion supporting the application
• Canada Revenue Agency business number
• Letters patent or articles of incorporation and corporate governance documents, where applicable

• Be a legal entity such as a First Nation in Ontario or a federally or provincially incorporated Indigenous organization.
• Be an Indigenous community in Ontario or an Indigenous organization representing First Nation, Métis, Inuit or urban Indigenous peoples, or an Indigenous service provider.
• Have appropriate governance structures, financial reporting, and a Canadian bank account to manage public funds.
• Use funding for activities in Ontario that benefit Indigenous peoples.
• For off-reserve projects, hold proof of ownership or long-term lease and permission from the building owner for construction or renovation.

Who is eligible?

• First Nation communities in Ontario
• Metis communities in Ontario
• Indigenous organizations in Ontario, including regional or provincial bodies and Indigenous service providers

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees for architects, engineers, consultants, technicians, tender services, contract administration and building inspection, including related travel, meals and accommodation.
• Capital costs such as construction labour, construction management, materials and equipment rental, site office rental, service connections, permits and inspection fees, and permanently installed furnishings and equipment.
• Contingency allowance up to 15% of total capital costs, excluding professional fees.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Administration, legal, financing, debt reduction and general operating costs.
• Land or building acquisition, lease payments and infrastructure beyond the property line.
• Maintenance and routine repair work, parks, monuments, memorials or statues.
• Vehicles, heavy equipment, portable furnishings or equipment, and goods purchased for resale.
• Salaries or honoraria, previously funded activities, fully funded activities from other sources, activities not meeting program objectives, and costs incurred before the project start date in the funding agreement.

Eligible geographic areas

• Indigenous communities and organizations located in Ontario, including on-reserve and off-reserve projects

• Contribution of the project to community cultural, social and economic development objectives and alignment with program priorities.
• Clarity of demonstrated need, project rationale and support from studies by independent professionals.
• Readiness of the project, including shovel-ready status, COVID-19-related infrastructure enhancements and economic recovery impact.
• Quality and feasibility of milestones, timelines, management capacity and use of Indigenous professionals or labour.
• Strength, accuracy and eligibility of the budget, including value-for-money and justification of other funding sources.

• Applications are first screened to confirm applicant eligibility, project criteria and completeness of required documentation.
• The ministry conducts due diligence, including risk and financial assessments, to confirm capacity to manage the proposed project.
• Eligible applications are reviewed and scored by an inter-ministry panel against published assessment criteria, with higher priority for certain project types.
• Successful applicants receive written notification and a conditional letter of award outlining additional information required before finalizing the funding agreement.
• Unsuccessful applicants are informed in writing with a brief rationale for the decision.

• The program has a competitive application process with a limited number of awards.
• Applicants may submit one application per project stage per year and receive funding in each stage once over a five-year period.
• For major renovation/retrofit and construction, preference is given to projects incurring at least 60% of costs within the specified fiscal year.
• Funding recipients must track and report on performance measures such as completed studies, constructed assets and jobs created.