Recreation Infrastructure Program

• Grant funding of up to $100,000, covering a maximum of 70% of the eligible project budget.
• Grant funding of up to $300,000, covering a maximum of 50% of the eligible project budget.

• The applicant must be located within Northern Development’s service region.
• Eligible applicants include local governments, registered not-for-profits, registered First Nation bands, or wholly owned First Nation development corporations.
• The project must involve the construction, rehabilitation, or material enhancement of recreational infrastructure (excluding routine maintenance).
• A resolution of support from the appropriate local or First Nations government must be obtained and submitted.
• The application must include all required supporting documents, including a detailed project budget, verification of other funding sources, and recent financial statements.

Who is eligible?

• Local governments within Northern Development’s service region
• Registered not-for-profit organizations within Northern Development’s service region
• Registered First Nation bands within Northern Development’s service region
• Wholly owned First Nation development corporations within Northern Development’s service region

Who is not eligible

• Organizations not located within Northern Development’s service region.
• Private businesses that are not local governments, registered not-for-profits, registered First Nation bands, or wholly owned First Nation development corporations.

Eligible expenses

• Capital expenditures directly required for project implementation
• Contractor fees
• Incremental third-party project management
• Rental of tools and equipment for construction work
• Wages for direct project labour (with required supporting documentation)
• Employer portion of CPP, EI, and pension contributions (up to 9.85%) related to direct project labour
• PST (Provincial Sales Tax)
• In-kind (volunteer) labour contributions (valued at approved hourly rates, with documentation)
• Internal equipment use (e.g., heavy equipment or machinery owned by the applicant, with documentation)
• Monetized donations of materials, equipment, or services from third parties (with receipts and confirmation)

Eligible geographic areas

• Applicants located within Northern Development’s service region.

• Strength and completeness of the application and supporting documentation.
• Achievement of mandatory key deliverables: job creation and revenue generation.
• Level of financial contribution from both Northern Development and the applicant.
• Alignment with strategic factors, including impact on local employment, community support, and regional priorities.
• Evidence of ongoing management and sustainability of the completed infrastructure project.

• Applications are assessed tri-annually; late submissions move to the next funding cycle.
• Key deliverable reporting forms are required for one or two years after final payment, depending on grant amount.
• Additional applications for the same facility cannot be submitted until reporting requirements from prior projects are fulfilled.
• All required documents must be submitted electronically using the Online Application System.