Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII)

The Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII) will enable the building of new infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities. The CIB Initiative will generate more investments in projects that are vital to economic growth and environmental protection with Indigenous communities across Canada.First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities will have the opportunity to partner with the CIB to make innovative investments in projects to help address the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities.The projects enabled by CIB investments have the potential to provide more low-carbon energy supply and enhanced energy security, reduce greenhouse gases, improve broadband connectivity, more clean and accessible water, as well as create jobs and local economic development.As part of the ICII, the CIB will tailor its innovative, low-interest and long-term financing to provide loans of at least $5 million for up to 80% of total project capital cost. Community-based revenue-generating projects can be from any of the CIB’s priority sectors: green infrastructure, clean power, broadband, public transit and trade and transportation.

 

• Generate revenue, but can also be supported by other community revenues;
• Include Indigenous community capital and/or other industry sponsor investment of at least 20%;
• Represent a CIB investment of at least $5 million and not more than 80% of total project cost; 
• Have a robust construction and operations risk mitigation strategy;
• Be new or represent significant upgrades to existing infrastructure; and
• Fall within at least one of the Eligible Project Categories below.

• Development of renewable energy-powered microgrids.
• Development of solar, wind, small-scale hydro, tidal, biomass, and geothermal infrastructure.
• District energy systems.
• Transmission installation and upgrades to improve access and reliability of access to electricity.

• Investments that transition communities off diesel generators to renewable energy sources and lower carbon intensive sources of generation. 
• Investment in retrofits of buildings to make them more energy efficient.
• Investments that provide a long-term, reliable source of clean drinking water. 
• Improvement of environmental performance of water and wastewater management systems.

• Development of transportation infrastructure for remote or rural communities including roads, bridges, rail, airports, regional bus systems, etc. 
• Irrigation infrastructure for agricultural communities.

• Development of communications infrastructure to provide high-speed internet access for remote or rural communities.