Natural Infrastructure Fund — Small Projects Stream

Who is eligible?

• Municipalities, local authorities, and regional authorities established under a provincial or territorial act.
• Provinces and territories.
• Public sector organizations established under a provincial or territorial act or regulation, or wholly owned by a provincial, territorial, municipal, or regional government.
• Indigenous recipients, including Indigenous governing bodies, non-profit organizations whose main mandate is to serve Indigenous peoples, and non-profit Indigenous development corporations.
• Non-profit organizations incorporated under a provincial or federal act, and private for-profit organizations that work with another eligible public recipient.

Who is not eligible

• Individuals and private citizens.
• For-profit bodies that do not work in collaboration with another eligible public recipient.
• Federal entities, including Crown corporations.

Eligible expenses

• Costs incurred between 1 May 2021 and 31 December 2024, except Indigenous consultation and engagement costs, which are retroactive to one year after application submission, and capital costs, including signed contracts related to those costs, which are eligible only from project approval.
• Capital costs for natural or hybrid infrastructure, including private land acquisition for contributions only when it is directly related to natural infrastructure development and is not the sole component of the project.
• Fees paid to professionals, technical staff, consultants, and contractors engaged for the capital project, including feasibility, planning, design, and co-benefit assessment.
• Environmental assessment costs, monitoring and follow-up activities required by the Impact Assessment Act or equivalent law, costs associated with community employment benefits reporting, signage, and adaptation to negative impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights.
• For Indigenous recipients, legal fees excluding litigation or the purchase or lease of property, and project costs incurred up to 12 months before project approval if they are eligible costs.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Project costs incurred before 1 May 2021 or after 31 December 2024, except Indigenous consultation and engagement costs and eligible costs for Indigenous recipients.
• All capital and other costs, including land acquisition, site preparation, and construction, until Infrastructure Canada is satisfied that applicable laws and Indigenous consultation obligations have been met and continue to be met.
• Cancelled project costs, real estate fees, purchase or construction of buildings and facilities except eligible elements such as green roofs and living walls, land rent, equipment rental unless directly related to construction, financing fees, legal fees and loan interest, and refundable taxes.
• Operating expenses, periodic maintenance, work normally provided by the beneficiary or a related party, beneficiary salaries and benefits, in-kind contributions, business promotion, and lobbying.
• Travel costs, except for impact assessment or Indigenous consultation, or when essential for a project in a rural, remote, or northern area.

• All projects are assessed on their ability to deliver multiple community services.
• Grant projects must provide at least one NIF community service.
• Contribution projects must provide at least two NIF community services.
• Other project benefits are assessed through project readiness, economic co-benefits, social inclusion, identified need or priority, and climate impacts associated with the project.

• Create an account on the Infrastructure Canada applicant portal by completing the Infrastructure Canada Program Registration Form.
• Read the privacy statement before submitting the application.
• Access the Natural Infrastructure Fund application form in the portal.
• Complete all required sections of the application form.

• After submission, Infrastructure Canada will review eligibility and assess the criteria.
• Successful applicants will receive a letter of approval in principle.
• The recipient and Infrastructure Canada will then begin negotiations for the grant or contribution agreement.
• This process can take several weeks.

• The Natural Infrastructure Fund is a direct-delivery program.
• The Small Projects Stream responds to known demand at the local level for smaller projects.