Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund
Last Update: June 3, 2025
BC, Canada
Money for BC clean-energy projects
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund at a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : January 26, 2022
- Closing date : May 25, 2022
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Utilities
Grant Providers
- Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
- Government of British Columbia
- CleanBC
Status
Closed
Overview of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund program
Get funding for infrastructure projects in communities across the province that focus on the management of renewable energy, access to clean-energy transportation, improved energy efficiency of buildings and the generation of clean energy.
Financing terms and conditions
- Maximum suggested grant request per project is $13.4 million, although requests above this amount are allowed.
- Cost-share ratios vary by applicant type: up to 73.33% government funding for local governments; up to 90% for Indigenous applicants (off-reserve projects); up to 75% for Indigenous on-reserve projects; up to 65% for not-for-profits; and up to 40% for private sector for-profit applicants.
- Applicants are responsible for at least 26.67% (local government), 10% (Indigenous off-reserve), 25% (Indigenous on-reserve), 35% (not-for-profit), or 60% (for-profit) of total eligible costs, as applicable.
- Funding is provided on a claims-reimbursement basis, meaning recipients cover project costs upfront and are reimbursed afterward for eligible costs.
- Eligible project costs must be incurred after final grant approval, with some exceptions for mandatory assessments and consultations.
Eligible projects & activities
- Construction or upgrade of infrastructure that increases the capacity to manage renewable energy, such as systems for transmitting, distributing, or storing clean energy like solar, wind, biogas, or geothermal.
- Deployment of clean energy transportation infrastructure, including public electric vehicle charging or hydrogen fueling stations, and fixed assets supporting active or clean transit options.
- Retrofitting or upgrading existing public buildings, including community and Indigenous infrastructure, to achieve greater energy efficiency, such as heating, cooling, insulation, and ventilation improvements.
- Implementation of projects that increase the generation of clean energy at the community level, for instance, building or expanding biogas, hydropower, or other renewable energy production facilities.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 3,000,000
Setting up electric vehicle charging stations across Montreal
$ 10,000,000
Development of an electric bus fleet for public transportation
$ 1,300,000
Installation of solar panels on community buildings
$ 2,000,000
Energy-efficient retrofitting of municipal buildings
$ 4,400,000
Development of a bioenergy plant for processing agricultural waste
$ 2,500,000
Expansion of renewable energy management systems
Eligibility criteria of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund program
- The applicant must be a local government, Indigenous organization, or a not-for-profit or for-profit entity collaborating with a local government or Indigenous organization in British Columbia.
- The project must be located in British Columbia and involve the construction, renewal, rehabilitation, or upgrade of tangible public infrastructure that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides a broad public benefit.
- The project must address at least one of the following outcomes: increased capacity to manage renewable energy, increased access to clean energy transportation, improved energy efficiency of buildings, or increased generation of clean energy.
- The applicant must demonstrate the ability to operate and maintain the assets created by the project over the long term.
- A council, board, or band council resolution authorizing the project and committing to the applicant’s cost-sharing requirements must be provided.
Who is eligible?
- Local governments in British Columbia (municipalities or regional districts)
- Indigenous organizations or governments within British Columbia
- Not-for-profit organizations collaborating with local or Indigenous governments in British Columbia
- For-profit companies collaborating with local or Indigenous governments in British Columbia
Who is not eligible
- Federal entities, including federal Crown Corporations.
- Organizations with no active location in British Columbia.
- Improvement districts, water utilities, and private water systems.
- Companies that are not defined as eligible local governments, Indigenous organizations, or not-for-profits/for-profits partnered with local governments or Indigenous organizations.
Eligible expenses
- Capital costs for constructing or renovating tangible physical infrastructure assets.
- Expenses for planning, assessment, and design, including environmental planning, surveying, engineering, and architectural supervision (up to a suggested 15% of total funding award).
- Consulting and management fees directly related to project design, assessment, or implementation.
- Costs related to required Climate Lens assessments and Community Employment Benefits plans (if applicable).
- Costs for engineering and environmental reviews, including environmental assessments, mitigation measures, and remedial activities as required by relevant legislation.
- Indigenous consultation costs, including accommodation where appropriate.
- Expenses for project-related communications and signage, including press releases, press conferences, translation, and signage acknowledging government funding partners.
- Incremental costs of approved "own-force labour"—additional work specifically tied to project construction, if tendering is not feasible and pre-approved in writing by program authorities.
Eligible geographic areas
- Province of British Columbia
Eligibility criteria of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund program
- Demonstrated measurable reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with a required Preliminary GHG Assessment comparing the proposed project to a baseline scenario.
- Alignment and contribution to at least one program outcome (managing renewable energy, clean energy transportation, building energy efficiency, or clean energy generation).
- Value for money—projects should represent an efficient and effective use of resources.
- Long-term sustainability, including the organization's capacity to operate and maintain the asset and manage ongoing lifecycle costs.
- Support for community objectives and incorporation of public, environmental, and sustainability principles.
How to apply to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund program
1
Contact Program Staff
- Reach out to the CCF Program via phone at 250-387-4060 or email at infra@gov.bc.ca.
- Discuss eligibility, program fit, project schedule, and other key details before starting the application.
2
Register and Access LGIS Portal
- Obtain a Business BCeID and password to access the Local Government Information System (LGIS).
- Submit BCeID credentials for LGIS portal access by May 4, 2022.
3
Prepare Application Documents
- Ensure your project meets the eligibility criteria and outcomes set by the CCF.
- Prepare all necessary documents including the Council/Board/Band Council Resolution, Evidence of secured funds, a Detailed Cost Estimate, and Preliminary Greenhouse Gas Assessment.
- Create a KML file for the project location, a project site plan, and gather any supplementary documents.
4
Draft Application
- Fill out the application form on the LGIS portal ensuring inclusion of all mandatory fields and details.
- Integrate project details, description, financials, and risk mitigation strategies into your application.
5
Submit Application
- Review all parts of the application for completeness and accuracy.
- Submit through the LGIS portal before the deadline on May 25, 2022, at 3 p.m.
Additional information
- Projects are evaluated through a merit-based process, including technical ranking, internal provincial review, and final assessment by the Oversight Committee and Infrastructure Canada.
- Successful applicants must retain ownership of funded assets for at least five years following project completion, unless otherwise approved by the federal and provincial governments.
- A detailed Climate Lens assessment and Community Employment Benefits assessment may be required as part of final approval steps for selected projects.
- There are specific procurement expectations: open public tendering is preferred, and large sole-source contracts may require lengthy additional federal review.
Contact Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
infra@gov.bc.ca
250-387-4060
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