Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program
Program Category:
Clean Energy, Climate Adaptation, Built Environment, Environment, Community Infrastructure
Program Sub-Category:
Energy Efficiency (Housing / Buildings), Economic Development
Status: Closed
Funder
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Deadline Details
The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program is not currently accepting applications.
Funder Organization Type
- Federal Government
The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program is a national merit-based Program with the objective of improving the availability and condition of community buildings in Canadian communities experiencing higher needs and who are currently underserved. At the same time, the Program helps to stimulate the economy while creating good job opportunities and aligning to the goals of Canada's strengthened climate plan. The Program advances the Government's climate priorities by improving energy efficiency, reducing GHG emissions, and enhancing the climate resilience of community buildings.
In 2020, the Government of Canada announced up to $1.5 billion in federal funding over five years to establish the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.
On April 16, 2024, the Government of Canada released Budget 2024 which provided a $500 million top-up and extended the program until March 2029.
The GICB Program supports the first pillar of the Strengthened Climate Plan by improving the places Canadians live and gather by cutting pollution (e.g. reducing GHG emissions, increasing energy efficiency, building resiliency to climate change and encouraging new builds to net zero standards), making life more affordable and supporting thousands of good jobs.
The GICB Program supports retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing publicly-accessible community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings for underserved and high-needs communities across Canada.
Community buildings are non-commercial community-oriented structures and spaces that provide open, available, and accessible community services to the public. With this Program, the Government of Canada is making investments to improve the availability and condition of community buildings – in particular in areas with populations experiencing higher needs – while also making the buildings more energy efficient, lower carbon, resilient, and high performing.
The Program focuses on publicly accessible community buildings with a recognition that these structures and spaces are at the heart of community vitality: they are the places where Canadians gather, access essential services, and learn and play. The quality, availability and location of these spaces – along with the services that they sustain – plays a meaningful role in fostering inclusion in society and combating systemic inequities.
Eligible Community
Eligible applicants include:
- A municipal or regional government established by or under provincial or territorial statute;
- A provincial or territorial government;
- A public sector body that is established by or under provincial or territorial statute or by regulation or is wholly-owned by a province, territory, municipal or regional government, including, but not limited to:
- Municipally-owned corporations (e.g. autonomous organizations owned by municipalities, used to produce or deliver local public services outside the local bureaucracy, such as water management, economic development or tourism agencies);
- A provincial or territorial organization that delivers municipal services (e.g. community health services, economic development bodies); and
- Any other form of local governance that exists outside of the municipality description (e.g. local service districts);
- Federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations;
- Indigenous recipients:
- Indigenous Governing Body, including the following:
- A band council within the meaning of section 2 of the Indian Act;
- A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority established pursuant to a Self-Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement between His Majesty the King in right of Canada and an Indigenous people of Canada, that has been approved, given effect and declared valid by federal legislation;
- A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government that are established by or under legislation whether federal or provincial that incorporates a governance structure;
- A federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization whose primary mandate is to serve Indigenous peoples (e.g. Friendship centres, aboriginal women’s associations); and
- Not-for-profit Indigenous development corporations.
Required Community Contribution
No community contribution required
Professional Input Required
Yes
See Applicant Guide for details about expected validations on project designs and costs, depending on project type and size
Specific Eligibility Requirements
To be considered eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate that they have the required authority to undertake the project on the building/asset or land.
Other Eligible Applicants
Indigenous OrganizationsNon-governmental Organizations / Not-for-Profits
Type of Funding
- Non-repayable Contribution
Range of Funding Available per Project
- From $100 000 to $1 000 000
- Over $1 000 000
Description of Funding
The GICB Program has two main funding streams: a continuous, non-competitive intake for small and medium retrofits, and a scheduled, competitive intake process for large retrofits and new builds.
Continuous Intake:
Continuous intake stream for small and medium retrofit projects across Canada.
- Small retrofit projects are those that range in size from $100,000 to $249,999 in total eligible costs.
- Medium retrofit projects are those that range in size from $250,000 to $2,999,999 in total eligible costs.
Scheduled Intake:
Scheduled competitive intake for large retrofits and new buildings across Canada.
- Large retrofit projects are those that range in size from $3,000,000 to $25,000,000* in total eligible costs.
- New build projects are those that range in size from $3,000,000 to $25,000,000* in total eligible costs.
* Projects in excess of $25,000,000 may be considered on a case-by case basis.
Indigenous Applicants:
A minimum of 10% of the total funding envelope will continue to be allocated on a distinctions-basis to Indigenous projects being led by and for Indigenous populations and communities. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to apply through the process described above for projects of all types and sizes.
Percentage of Project Funded
Please refer to page 17 of the Application Guide for project variations.
Eligible Costs
EngineeringDesign
Planning
Capital Costs
Community Engagement
Equipment/Material Purchase
Project Management
Staff Costs
Administration Fees
Eligible costs are those considered by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of an eligible project. Eligible expenditures for contribution funding under the GICB program are as follows:
- costs that are incurred between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2029
- costs to build, renovate, expand or improve fixed capital assets and community buildings
- fees paid to professionals, technical personnel, consultants and contractors specifically engaged for the purpose of the renovation, expansion or improvement work or new builds of eligible infrastructure, including planning and energy audit costs
- costs of environmental assessments, monitoring and follow up activities as required by the Impact Assessment Act or equivalent legislation
- costs associated with a public announcement and official ceremony or of required temporary or permanent signage that includes the cost of creation and posting of signage
- costs for the purpose of Indigenous consultation/engagement activities
- other costs that are considered to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of the project and that are approved in advance by the Government of Canada
- salaries, wages and other incremental costs (i.e. materials or equipment) of the recipient provided that:
- the recipient confirms and substantiates that it is not economically feasible to tender a contract
- the costs are incurred and directly in respect to the work that would have been subject of the contract, and
- costs are approved in advance and are included (in a contribution agreement)
Applicable to Indigenous and not-for-profit recipients only:
- legal fees (excluding those related to litigation) up to the amount specifically identified within contribution agreement.
To be eligible for funding, retrofitted and new buildings must be in areas with underserved populations experiencing higher needs and be the site of programming and/or activities that demonstrably serve these populations.
Ineligible Costs
Building Purchase CostsLand Acquisition
Ineligible costs include:
- project costs incurred prior to April 1, 2021, or after March 31, 2029
- services or work that is normally provided by the recipient or a related party
- salaries and other employment benefits of any employees of the recipient except as outlined above in Eligible Project Expenditures
- in-kind contributions (goods or services)
- taxes, such as GST and HST, for which the recipient is eligible for a tax rebate and all other costs eligible for rebates
- cost of leasing of equipment by the recipient except for as indicated in eligible costs above
- legal fees (except as specifically indicated as eligible for Indigenous, non-government and not-for-profit recipients)
- purchase or lease of real property (land or building), or any interest therein, and related costs
- collateral on mortgage financing and payment of interest charges
- structural renovations not specific to the project
- costs related to marketing activities and business promotion
- costs for activities intended to directly influence/lobby governments
- operations and maintenance costs, and
- other costs not specifically related for the project.
Note: Outdoor facilities (such as sports fields, outdoor arenas, tennis courts, outdoor lightning) are not eligible for funding.
Reporting Requirements
Progress reports and final reports