Closed
Source verified August 8, 2026
Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund
Formula-based infrastructure support for Ontario communities
Offered by
Funding available
$ 125,000 - $ 10,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund provides $400 million in formula-based funding to Ontario municipalities and local services boards for core infrastructure. In 2026, 423 small, rural and northern communities receive support for roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, asset management planning, and related capital maintenance.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop team skills
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Increase production or service capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 125,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Capital infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, water supply, wastewater, sanitation and stormwater systems
- Development, updating and improvement of asset management plans
- Water and wastewater system optimization activities under the combined optimization program
- Implementation of the recovery program while receiving comprehensive third-party technical assistance
Documents Needed
- Accessible link to a complete asset management plan covering at least core infrastructure assets
- Up-to-date, council-approved public asset management plan that meets the phase 4 requirements
- Annual Financial Report submitted twice per funding year in the Transfer Payment Ontario system
- Annual Financial Information Return submitted without critical errors through Smart RIF
- Asset management plan covering water and wastewater assets for eligible local services boards
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Small municipalities in Ontario with fewer than 100,000 residents
- Northern municipalities in Ontario
- Rural municipalities in Ontario
- Local services boards that own water distribution systems or wastewater treatment systems
Who is not eligible
- Local services boards that no longer own water distribution systems or wastewater treatment systems
Eligible expenses
- Capital expenditures for basic infrastructure projects that are part of an asset management plan, including roads, bridges, water supply, wastewater, sanitation and stormwater management facilities
- Construction of new basic infrastructure owned by the beneficiary to address an existing health or safety issue
- Capital maintenance for the renewal, rehabilitation and replacement of beneficiary-owned basic infrastructure, plus debt service costs directly related to those capital activities
- Asset management planning costs, including software, conferences and training, third-party condition assessments, and consultant fees limited to asset management planning
- Optimization activities for water and wastewater systems, plus municipal staff time up to 40% or $80,000 per year for asset management planning or implementing the recovery program while receiving comprehensive third-party technical assistance
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects to accommodate future jobs or residential development in greenfield areas
- Acquisition or lease of land, buildings or other facilities
- Legal fees
- Rolling stock, such as trucks and graders
- Portable or other movable assets, such as portable generators
- Costs to prepare an application for a provincial funding program
- All taxes
- Standalone streetlight projects
- Recreational trail costs
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Current replacement value of municipal core infrastructure is used in the funding formula.
- Municipal economic situation is used in the funding formula.
- The infrastructure index compares infrastructure needs with weighted property assessment and median household income.
Processing and Agreement
- Municipalities must provide a link to a current public asset management plan that is approved by council and meets the phase 4 requirements.
- The Annual Financial Report must be submitted twice per funding year in the Transfer Payment Ontario system, with the first report explaining how the allocation will be used and the final report detailing actual expenses and additional program or project information.
- Eligible municipalities must submit their annual Financial Information Return without critical errors through Smart RIF.
- Eligible recipients must submit reports describing how and when banking funds will be used and how much interest was earned.
- Unused banking funds must be repaid to the province within five years, including any interest earned.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund Program
What is the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund?
Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund provides $400 million in formula-based funding to Ontario municipalities and local services boards for core infrastructure. In 2026, 423 small, rural and northern communities receive support for roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, asset management planning, and related capital maintenance.
How much funding can be received?
Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund Funds up to $10,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund program?
To be eligible for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund program, you must:
Small Ontario municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents, northern municipalities, or rural municipalities are eligible
Local services boards are eligible only if they own water distribution or wastewater treatment systems
What expenses are eligible under Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund?
Capital infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, water supply, wastewater, sanitation and stormwater systems
Development, updating and improvement of asset management plans
Water and wastewater system optimization activities under the combined optimization program
Implementation of the recovery program while receiving comprehensive third-party technical assistance
Who can I contact for more information about the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund?
You can contact Government of Ontario by email at ocif@ontario.ca.
Where is the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund available?
The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund is a Grant and Funding