Sustainably Speaking: Message from the GMF Council Chair

December 2011 The summer and fall of 2011 have flown by. A new year is just around the corner and brings with it a renewed sense of commitment to sustainability for many municipalities. To support that commitment, we are now accepting new GMF applications for all types of initiatives in all sectors.

To best manage the funding available to support the strongest initiatives, we have adopted a new competitive selection process for capital project applications in the energy, transportation, waste and water sectors, and updated eligibility criteria and maximum grants for plans, studies and tests.

The selection process for plans, studies and tests and capital projects in the brownfields sector remains the same - applications are reviewed as they are received in a non-competitive process. Due to the high demand for GMF funding, the high quality of applications we receive, and the limited funding available, not all applications that meet our minimum criteria will be approved.

We have posted an updated GMF Application Form, along with an updated Eligibility Questionnaire that can help you determine your eligibility for funding. If you are interested in applying for a capital project, our Project Scorecard can give you a clear idea of what we are looking for in a strong application.

There is no need to rush. This new process enables us to continue accepting new applications year-round and to ensure that the best projects are approved regardless of when the application is submitted. Find out more about these program updates.

The new year also heralds the 2012 edition of the FCM Sustainable Communities Conference - Making the Business Case for Sustainability. This year's event will be held at Ottawa's Westin Hotel from February 8 to 10. Don't miss Canada's premier sustainability conference and trade show.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on these initiatives and on any other aspects of FCM's Green Municipal Fund. It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

Best wishes of the season and for the coming year,

Karen Leibovici
Chair, Green Municipal Fund Council