Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) — Capital Investment Projects

Who is eligible?

• For-profit companies in the forest sector.
• Industry associations and research associations.
• Indigenous organizations and groups.
• Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and agencies, where applicable.

Who is not eligible

This grant does not specify certain exclusions regarding companies or industries due to their status or main activity. All information regarding ineligible applicants is not clearly stated outside the given eligible descriptions.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses for the IFIT grant include direct costs necessary for project implementation.

• Cost of salaries and benefits.
• Overhead expenditures directly related and essential to the project, up to 1.5% of eligible expenditures.
• Professional and technical services, including research, consulting, engineering, trades, and laboratory services.
• Travel expenses, including transportation, accommodation, and meals (based on National Joint Council rates).
• Training costs.
• Publication, printing, and other media services.
• Data collection services, including processing, analysis, and management.
• Licence fees and permits.
• Capital expenses.
• Retrofitting and upgrading of existing capital.
• Material and supplies.
• Meeting hospitality and space rental.
• Costs associated with environmental assessments.
• Technical audits associated with project activities.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada

• Applications are screened against mandatory criteria.
• Eligible proposals are assessed by an interdisciplinary panel of experts.
• Shortlisted projects move to due diligence.
• Final funding decisions depend on the assessment results and available funding.
• A contribution agreement must be negotiated and signed before funding is committed.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The program is experiencing delays in the application review process due to a high volume of submissions and a high-quality standard of proposals.
• There is a specific focus on projects that support decarbonization and the efficient use of resources to generate more value from the same amount of wood.
• Non-repayable contributions can be up to $10 million for capital investment projects and up to $1 million for studies.
• Domestic and international impact assessments may be required based on project characteristics and location.
• The granting process includes mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plans and Questionnaires.
• Quarterly and annual reporting requirements include progress updates and details on diversity initiatives.
• The IFIT program includes stringent audits and requires recipients to maintain accurate records for at least five years after project completion.
• All funding is subject to the Access to Information Act and privacy regulations, highlighting the importance of confidentiality in handling applicant information.
• Potential applicants are encouraged to review a range of preparatory materials available, such as webinars, to assist with the two-phase application process.