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Eligibility

To best manage the high demand for GMF funding, the high quality of applications we receive, and the limited funding available, we have updated the eligibility criteria for plans, feasibility studies and field tests. These updates are reflected below.

An updated GMF Application Form and new support tools for applicants are now available. There are no changes to the selection process or eligibility criteria for brownfield projects, but all applicants need to use the updated application form.

We strongly encourage applicants to complete an Eligibility Questionnaire to assess their eligibility for funding.

Who is eligible?

GMF funding is available to all municipal governments and their partners* in eligible projects.

*For plans, only municipal governments and municipally owned corporations working in partnership with a municipal government are eligible for funding.

Municipal government applicants include the following types of entities:

city
county
region
rural municipality
town
township
village
improvement district (if legal documents demonstrating it is this type of municipal government entity are provided to FCM)
local board of a city, county, region, rural municipality, town, township or village (if legal documents demonstrating it is this type of municipal government entity are provided to FCM)
regulatory authority in an unorganized area or unsurveyed territory that exercises power with respect to municipal affairs or purposes in the area or territory, e.g. governmental, administrative or regulatory entity, department, authority, local services board, commission, tribunal official or agency (if legal documents demonstrating it is this type of municipal government entity are provided to FCM)
First Nations (if documents, including a copy of the relevant statute and agreement with the various orders of government, that demonstrate that the province or territory has passed an act or a regulation that affords the status of municipality, and that the First Nations are a legal entity capable of entering into contracts is provided to FCM)

Partners of municipal governments include the following types of entities:

municipally owned organizations
non-municipally owned organizations
private-sector companies
not-for-profit companies
non-governmental organizations
any other types of organizations not listed above

There must be a collaborative relationship between your organization and the municipal government regarding the environmental initiative and the municipal government must at least have a genuine interest and an active involvement in the environmental initiative to successfully obtain GMF funding.

What types of initiatives are eligible?

GMF funding is available for:

plans, including sustainable neighbourhood action plans, community brownfield action plans and greenhouse gas reduction plans
feasibility studies and field tests aligned with our capital project criteria in the brownfields, energy, transportation, waste and water sectors
capital projects in the brownfields, energy, transportation, waste and water sectors

We fund the very best examples of leadership and innovative approaches in municipal sustainable development. If you believe your project will have important lessons to share with other municipalities, apply now!

Prerequisites

You will need to attach key prerequisites and supporting documents in your application form before submitting it.

Eligible costs

We offer grants to cover up to 50% of eligible costs for plans, feasibility studies and field tests to a maximum of $175,000.

We offer below-market loans, usually in combination with grants, to cover up to 80% of eligible costs for capital projects.

The loan maximum is $10 million, and the grant amount is set at up to 20% of the loan to a maximum of $1 million*.

*Grants are typically around 10% of the loan amount approved. High-scoring projects may be awarded the maximum 20% grant, without exceeding the $1 million grant limit per project.

Grants are available to both municipal governments and their partners in municipal projects. Grants are not available for capital projects in the brownfields sector. There is no specified loan limit for capital projects in the brownfields sector, but FCM reserves the right to adjust the maximum loan limit per project.

If your application is approved, costs become eligible as of the date that we receive your complete application. Costs incurred to hire a consultant to prepare the application form are also eligible up to 90 days before the date we receive your application. Eligible costs are partially reimbursed. Contact us for more details about our eligible cost dates and reimbursement procedures.