Community Efficiency Financing (CEF)

Program Category: Clean Energy, Environment

Program Sub-Category: Energy Efficiency (Housing / Buildings), Renewable Energy

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Status: Open

Funder

Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Deadline Details

Applications for studies, pilot projects and capital projects are accepted year-round.

Funder Organization Type

Other
Non-Governmental Organization or Society

The Green Municipal Fund's Community Efficiency Financing $300 million initiative offers support to municipalities to create, launch and expand home-energy upgrade financing programs for low-rise residential energy projects.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), utility on-bill financing and third-party lending partnerships are just some examples of financing models used by municipalities delivering residential energy programming.

GMF offers support throughout the delivery of a home-energy upgrade financing program through the following funding options: studies, pilot projects, and retrofit capital projects.

Eligible Community

Canadian municipal governments (e.g. towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards)
Municipalities’ project partners, including non-profit, Indigenous communities, and private sector entities, among others
Metis and Modern Treaty Nations are eligible to apply when partnering with a municipality

Required Community Contribution

Community contribution required (please see program website)

Municipality must commit a minimum of 20% of total project costs, but this can also be satisfied with staff time

Funding Stacking Restrictions

Professional Input Required

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Qualifying energy Improvements:

Energy-efficiency measures (e.g., insulation, heating and cooling systems, windows and doors), fuel switching and/or renewable energy installations (such as solar rooftops photovoltaics).
Other types of home improvements (e.g., health and safety measures, water efficiency improvements, climate adaptation improvements) capped at 30% of the total cost of an individual home upgrade project.

Other Eligible Applicants

Non-governmental Organizations / Not-for-Profits

Type of Funding

Grant
Loan
Financing
Support (e.g. consulting management)

Range of Funding Available per Project

Under $100 000
From $100 000 to $1 000 000
Over $1 000 000

Description of Funding

For feasibility, program design or program evaluation study, grants for up to 80% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $175,000.
For pilot projects, grants for up to to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $500,000.
For capital programs: loan and grant, financing for up 80% of eligible costs, up to a maximum combined financing (grant + loan) of $15 million.
For capital programs: credit enhancement and grant,
Credit enhancement worth up to $2 million leveraging private capital at a 5:1 ratio, plus a grant of up to $5 million (not to exceed the total start-up and operating costs and not to exceed 50 percent of combined third-party financing and start-up and operating costs).

Percentage of Project Funded

Up to 80% of eligible project costs

Eligible Costs

Design
Planning
Operational and Maintenance Costs
Capital Costs
Community Engagement
Staff Costs
Administration Fees
Training
Reporting
Research and Development

Find all the eligible costs in the application guide

Ineligible Costs

Building Purchase Costs
Land Acquisition

Any costs incurred prior to submitting application (*though successful applicants will be eligible for up to $5000 for the cost incurred to apply)

Reporting Requirements

Progress reports and final reports

Expected Timeframe for Funding Decision

Dependent on project

There is one application for each funding option per community. For example a municipality may apply for a feasibility study, followed by a project design study, then a capital project.

Project Search, GMF project database