Community Emergency Preparedness Fund: Emergency Operations Centres Equipment and Training

Program Category: Climate Adaptation

Program Sub-Category: Emergency Mitigation / Preparedness / Planning

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Status: Open

Funder

Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM)

Deadline Details

Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2025 until February 27, 2026. Applications can be submitted at any time during this period; however, applications will only be reviewed after the intake closes.

Funder Organization Type

BC Local Government and Associations

In Partnership With

BC Provincial Government

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) is a suite of funding streams intended to support First Nations and local governments to better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. Funding is provided by the Province of BC and is administered by UBCM.

The intent of this funding stream is to support eligible applicants to build local capacity through the purchase of equipment and supplies required to maintain or improve an EOC and to enhance EOC capacity through training and exercises.

For the purpose of CEPF funding, EOCs must be located in a First Nation owned building or publicly owned building or an asset owned by the primary applicant or a sub-applicant.

Eligible Community

All First Nations (bands, modern Treaty First Nations with treaties that are in effect, and Indigenous National Governments with authority for lands and resources) and local governments (municipalities and regional districts) in BC are eligible to apply.

Required Community Contribution

No community contribution required

Funding Stacking Restrictions

Yes

In order to ensure transparency and accountability in the expenditure of public funds, all other grant contributions for eligible portions of the project must be declared and, depending on the total value, may decrease the value of the grant. This includes any other grant funding and any revenue that is generated from activities that are funded by the CEPF.

Application Limit per Community

Professional Input Required

As part of both the development of the application package and the delivery of the approved project, local governments are encouraged to proactively engage with local First Nations and Indigenous organizations, such as Friendship Centres and Métis Chartered Communities. Engagement by localgovernments both locally and regionally can help build relationships with First Nations, benefit both communities, and enhance reconciliation. Please see the Program Guide, section 5, for more information.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for funding, proposed activities must support eligible applicants to build local capacity through the purchase of equipment and supplies required to maintain or improve an EOC and to enhance EOC capacity through training and exercises. In addition, to qualify for funding, projects must be:

A new or subsequent phase of a project (retroactive funding is not available);
Capable of completion by the applicant within one year from the date of grant approval;
Where applicable, eligible for required approvals, authorizations and permits; and,
In alignment with the Emergency Operations Centre Operational Guidelines (see program guide).

Additional requirements if it is a regional project (see program guideline, section 4).

Applications are required to be submitted in two steps prior to the application deadline:

LGPS Online Application For m
Application Worksheet

See the program guide for more details.

Type of Funding

Grant

Range of Funding Available per Project

Under $100 000

Description of Funding

The Emergency Operations Centres Equipment and Training funding stream can contribute a maximum of 100% of the cost of eligible activities to a maximum of $30,000.00.

Additional funding may be available to communities that can demonstrate geographical constraints (see program guide, section 3).

Percentage of Project Funded

100%

Maximum of 100% of the cost of eligible activities

Eligible Costs

Equipment/Material Purchase
Capacity Building for the Community
Training

Eligible costs are direct costs that are approved for funding, properly and reasonably incurred, and paid by the applicant to carry out eligible activities. Eligible costs can only be incurred from the date of application submission until the final report is submitted.

Eligible costs include:

Purchase of essential supplies and purchase and installation of equipment specific to the function of the EOC
Training and exercises specific to the function of the EOC
Volunteer recruitment and retention activities

See Section 6 of the Program Guide for further details.

Ineligible Costs

Building Purchase Costs
Land Acquisition

Any activity that is not outlined in the program guide or is not directly connected to activities approved in the application is not eligible for grant funding. This includes:

Routine or ongoing operating costs or activities (e.g., heating, cooling, and lighting; security; software or service subscriptions; or membership fees);
Routine or ongoing planning costs or planning activities that are not incremental to the project;
Regular salaries and/or benefits of primary applicant or sub-applicant(s) staff or partners;
Duplication of recently developed information, maps, or imagery (e.g., LiDAR that is currently available through the Open LiDAR Data Portal) provided the information remains accurate;
Project-related fees payable to the primary applicant or sub-applicant(s) (e.g., permit fee);
Costs related to individual or household preparedness, including the purchase of emergency supplies (e.g., first aid kits, evacuation supplies);
Development of curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 12 education;
Major capital improvements or major renovations to existing facilities and/or construction of new, permanent facilities;
Purchase of promotional items, door/raffle prizes, give-away items, and/or gifts for community members (except costs related to local cultural protocols);
Use of an EOC during an emergency;
Purchase of supplies required for any work outside of an EOC or mobile EOC (eg. Personal protective equipment and clothing, bug spray, sunscreen, traffic safety equipment)
Purchase of first aid kits and/or first aid training that are required to meet Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requirements for a workplace/employer and/or intended for occupational first aid, disaster first aid, and/or wilderness first aid
Training and exercises not specific to the function of the EOC
Training for the general public
Training provided and paid by the Provincial Emergency Management Training Program;
Purchase of vehicles;
Emergency preparedness marketing campaigns;
Development or update of Emergency Management Plans and/or emergency response plans; and,
Conferences

Reporting Requirements

Progress reports and final reports

Expected Timeframe for Funding Decision

4 months

Applicants will be advised of the status of their applications within 120 days of the application deadline.

Eligible applicants can submit one application per intake, including regional applications or participation.