Study: New construction of municipal buildings

• Project workbook
• Evidence of municipal support (e.g., council resolution)
• Letters from confirmed sources of funding (if applicable)
• Project team organizational chart and resumés
• Completed application form (pre-application and full application)

• Project must be a feasibility study for new construction of an energy-efficient municipal building.
• Applicant must be a Canadian municipal government, or a municipal partner applying in partnership with a Canadian municipal government.
• Indigenous communities may lead if partnering with a Canadian municipal government, or if they have a shared service agreement related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation.
• Community must have a population of 10,000 or less, or be a Northern community.
• Study must account for GMF requirements (e.g., best-practice energy targets, fossil fuel limitations, whole-building life cycle analysis, embodied carbon reduction, potable water reduction, and equity assessment).

Who is eligible?

• Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts, local boards)
• Municipal partners (including private sector entities, municipally-owned corporations, NGOs, not-for-profits, research institutes/universities, and regional/provincial/territorial organizations delivering municipal services)
• Indigenous communities (as lead applicants when partnering with a Canadian municipal government or through a qualifying shared service agreement)

Who is not eligible

• Communities with populations over 10,000 that are not Northern communities
• Non-municipal organizations applying without a Canadian municipal government partner

Eligible expenses

• Application writing costs (up to $5,000) incurred up to 90 days before GMF receives the full application
• Project-related administrative costs (e.g., permits/certifications, translation, printing by outside suppliers)
• Public communication and evaluation costs (e.g., public surveys, media distribution, website development)
• Professional and technical consultant/contractor fees
• Staff remuneration for time worked on the project
• Project-specific supplies and materials
• Equipment/tool rental required for the project
• Transportation, shipping and courier charges essential to the project
• Travel and accommodation necessary to complete the project (per Treasury Board guidelines)
• Non-rebatable taxes

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs incurred before GMF receives the application (except eligible application-writing costs within the 90-day window)
• Office space, office supplies, and general overhead in the ordinary course of business
• Promotional items and general publicity not required by the project
• Hospitality costs (e.g., alcohol, door prizes, entertainment; food/drinks unless part of a cultural protocol)
• Travel costs for project partners, or travel to conferences/missions/trade shows

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• Northern communities (the three territories and northern extents of Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, as defined by Statistics Canada)

• GHG reduction (40%)
• Environmental benefits (water conservation, sustainable materials management, biodiversity/ecological benefits) (30%)
• Other benefits (socio-economic benefits, engagement strategy) (30%)
• Implementation factors for studies are assessed on a pass/fail basis (teams and partners, workplan, budget).

• Step 1: Verify eligibility
  • Review the offer’s eligibility requirements, outcomes, and targets before applying.
• Step 2: Submit pre-application
  • Complete and submit the pre-application form.
  • Attach required supporting documents (as applicable), including evidence of municipal support where required.
• Step 3: Submit full application
  • Complete the full application form when it is made available by GMF.
  • Submit the full application form, project workbook, and all required supporting documents.

• GMF reviews the pre-application to determine whether the organization and initiative can proceed; GMF aims to respond within 15 business days.
• If eligible, GMF informs applicants when the full application form is available (advancing does not guarantee approval).
• After full application submission, a GMF project officer reviews for accuracy and completeness and may request revisions.
• An external peer review panel and an internal analysis are completed to support a funding recommendation.
• Final funding decision is overseen by FCM’s Board of Directors; feasibility study decisions typically take three to five months after full application submission.

• Applications are accepted year-round, but the offer may close once all funds are allocated.
• Funding per project may change depending on fiscal-year availability.
• If all annual funds are allocated, new applications may be deferred to the next fiscal year (beginning April 1).
• Quebec municipalities or municipal corporations must have pre-applications submitted and approved by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH).