Each month we provide an update on UBCM funding programs and information on other programs, events, and resources that may be of interest to local governments and First Nations.
Local Government Program ServicesApplications are currently being accepted for the following funding programs. A complete and chronological listing (by intake deadline) of currently offered Local Government Program Services grants is also available on the UBCM website.
Register now for a webinar about the Spring 2024 Community Emergency Preparedness Funding stream intakes. November 21, 1:30 – 3pm.
Community-to-Community Program
Starting in 2023, the C2C program will continue to support C2C forums, now with funding up to $10,000 for events. In addition, the program is expanding to support the advancement of First Nation-local government reconciliation and relationship building through the development of agreements (such as protocols, MOUs, and service agreements), joint plans and/or strategies and the joint review of bylaws and/or policies in order to develop recommendations for amendments or new bylaws and/or policies. Up to $10,000 is available for these new activities. A new application deadline for 2023/24 is December 1, 2023.
Complete Communities
Applications are being accepted for the Complete Communities funding program which supports local governments and modern treaty First Nations in advancing identified community goals through the creation of more complete communities. The program supports communities in undertaking assessments to inform land use decision-making, considering housing need, supply, and location; providing transportation options including increased walkability; and making connections to infrastructure investment and servicing decisions. The application deadline is January 12, 2024.
Active Transportation Planning
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 intake of the Active Transportation Planning program. Local governments with a population up to 25,000 that meet the grant criteria are eligible for up to $20,000 toward active transportation planning costs. The deadline for applications is February 9, 2024.
FireSmart Community Funding and Supports
The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program provides funding to local governments and First Nations in BC to increase community resiliency by undertaking community-based FireSmart planning and activities that reduce the community’s risk from wildfire. The 2024 intake is now open with applications being accepted until December 31, 2024.
Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation
The intent of the program is to support eligible applicants to reduce risks from future disasters due to natural hazards and climate-related risks through the development and implementation of accurate foundational knowledge of the natural hazards they face and the risks associated with BC’s changing climate, and effective strategies to prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to those risks. The 2023 intake is now closed. Funding permitting there will be another intake closing on March 28, 2024.
Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
The intent of the program is to support eligible applicants to enhance cultural safety and humility in the delivery of local emergency management programs and services. Activities include cultural safety and humility training, adapting emergency management tools to be inclusive of Indigenous peoples, and activities related to partnering with, or providing assistance to, Indigenous communities during emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The application deadline is November 3, 2023.
Other Funding
Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund
This program offers support to Indigenous-led organizations leading projects at the community level. Eligible projects must be Indigenous-led, and carried out in a short timeframe of 12 – 18 months. The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund defines Indigenous-led as: having 51% or more of positions at all levels of an organization be filled by Indigenous people; clearly addressing a pressing social inclusion or well-being need; and serving Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Metis, Inuit). Funding bundles range from $5,000 to $30,000. Intake closes November 17, 2023.
Enabling Accessibility Fund
This federal funding opportunity aims to make communities and workplaces across Canada more accessible for persons with disabilities. It will fund projects that create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to take part in community activities, programs and services, and access employment. Intake closes December 18, 2023.
First Nations Well-Being Fund
This program offers funding to First Nations and Tribal Councils to support projects related to community well-being and poverty reduction. Areas of particular focus for funding will include, but are not limited to: food security, social and cultural supports, employment, education and training, families, children and youth, mental health, and transportation. There are two streams. Stream 1 is for community projects that directly promote wellness and reduce poverty at the community level, with maximum funding per project of $100,000. Stream 2 supports First Nations to undertake planning and community engagement activities to develop plans to promote well-being and reduce poverty. Maximum funding is $50,000. Intake closes December 31, 2023.
United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund
United Way is now accepting applications for funding to support agencies helping with immediate and ongoing relief efforts, long term recovery, resiliency, and preparedness for future events in BC and impacted regions, including consequential events related to the fires. We encourage organizations helping with wildfire relief to apply. The application is short and designed to be low barrier. Note that to obtain more information about the grant and to apply, a United Way login is required.
Climate Disaster Response Fund
This is a one-time grant opportunity that will provide limited resources to heritage-focused organizations that had resources damaged by recent climate and natural disasters in British Columbia. The total allocation of funds is $75,000 with a maximum award of $8,000. Heritage BC reserves the right to manage each request internally. All projects must indicate immediacy and urgency of the issues, an approximate timeline for scope of work, and a feasible project within the framework of this grant. Applications are processed on first come, first served basis.
Active Communities Grant
Local and Indigenous governments are encouraged to apply for Active Communities grants to support projects and programs that increase access to physical activity throughout their communities. The application deadline is February 9, 2024.
BC Employer Training Grant
The BC Employer Training Grant is a cost-sharing grant program that provides employers throughout BC with skills training funding for their workforces, including prospective new hires. The grant funding helps employers respond to their changing labour needs and helps develop a skilled workforce with the right mix of skills. In turn, this helps British Columbians access the skills training needed to succeed in today’s labour market, while increasing job security and supporting career advancement. Employers can apply as often as they need and receive 80% of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000.
Community Participation Funding: Rail Safety
This federal grant program helps eligible local and Indigenous communities, and organizations take part in developing and improving Canada's rail transportation system. Eligible recipients can apply for up to $5,000 per activity until March 2024. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
- Developing processes, tools, or systems that communities and organizations can use to respond to consultations on rail safety issues
- Preparing for, travelling to, and participating in meetings
- Coordinating local engagement activities and/or meetings
- Sharing information to improve Canadians’ understanding of rail transportation
- Funding community-led studies or processes that could help communities, groups, organizations and governments prioritize issues and make decisions
Declaration Act Engagement Fund
The Declaration Act Engagement Fund (DAEF) provides multi-year non-repayable funding contributions to First Nations to support their capacity to engage with the Province on the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan and alignment of Provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, both of which must be done in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples in BC. The Province has partnered with the New Relationship Trust to administer the Fund. Total funding cap over four years per Nation is $1,040,000. One application per Nation. DAEF will accept new applications during New Relationship Trust’s annual funding cycle between May and December each year. Applicants only have to apply once to the program.
Rapid Housing Initiative: Round 3
Round 3 of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rapid Housing Initiative is receiving applications to support new housing builds and/or purchasing existing buildings that will be rehabilitated or converted into permanent, affordable housing. This $1.5 billion program has two streams: projects stream for eligible applicants including municipal governments and Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, and a cities stream that is open to Burnaby, the Capital Regional District, Richmond, Surrey, and Vancouver.
Codes Acceleration Fund: Accelerating Decarbonization
Natural Resources Canada launched a call for proposals for the Codes Acceleration Fund: $100 million to help provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous governments, and stakeholders decarbonize the buildings sector in order for Canada to reach a net-zero emissions future. Stringent building energy codes are a near-term action local governments can use to achieve climate change targets. The codes provide a series of performance tiers that lead towards making all new buildings net-zero energy-ready. Applications from Indigenous governments and organizations will be accepted on an ongoing basis until March 31, 2025.
Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities
This funding program supports project proposals that contribute to Indigenous-led climate action, to economic development, to pollution reduction, and to job creation. This program has received an additional $300 million in funding until 2027. This program has open intakes until funding fully committed or program closes in 2027.
Reduce Fossil Fuel Use in Fleets
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is offering combined loan and grant funding for capital projects that reduce or avoid fossil fuel use in any vehicle that delivers municipal services. This funding helps Canadian cities and communities of all sizes undertake environmental sustainability projects that reduce energy consumption/greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and improve their air quality. Initial review forms can be submitted year-round and application forms will be provided to eligible applicants.
Disaster Financial Assistance
Disaster Financial Assistance is available to local governments and First Nations impacted by wildfires and overland flooding. The funding is available to cover disaster-related losses not covered by insurance, such as wildfire damage to public infrastructure including roads, bridges, and other publicly-owned infrastructure.
Capital project: Stormwater quality, community project
Offered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, this program will fund capital projects that allow a community to remove 60% of total suspended solids (TSS) or a significant amount of other contaminants (e.g., e.coli, salt, grease) from its stormwater runoff. This funding helps Canadian cities and communities of all sizes protect local bodies of water through stormwater treatment. This funding has a two-stage application process. Potential applicants may submit initial review forms at any time. Application forms will be provided to eligible recipients.
Residential Schools: BC Response Fund
Provincial funding is available for First Nations-led strategies to identify, investigate, protect, and commemorate the sites of former residential schools and hospitals in BC and for providing the mental health, wellness, and cultural supports required to do this work. Lead communities may apply to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. Up to $475,000 is available for each site.
Residential Schools: Federal Funding
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada will fund the locating, documenting, maintaining, and commemorating of burial sites associated with former residential schools, and responding to family wishes to commemorate or memorialize their losses and the children's final resting places. Proposals are welcome from Indigenous governments, councils or tribal councils, Indigenous not-for-profit groups, and organizations, including survivors’ groups, demonstrating a close working partnership with and directed by Indigenous-governed organizations.
Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative
This Federation of Canadian Municipalities initiative is intended to help fund energy efficiency upgrades for existing community facilities. The Government of Canada, through the Green Municipal Fund, has launched this $167 million initiative to help Canadian municipalities of all sizes retrofit existing community facilities, such as arenas, pools, and libraries, to significantly reduce GHG emissions, while reviving important community assets.
Legacy Fund: Building Communities through Arts and Heritage
This Department of Canadian Heritage Program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50% of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000. Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that: commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality; mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th); involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use; encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
Department of National Defense Indigenous Reconciliation Program
Do you have an idea to improve how the Department of National Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces work towards reconciliation with Indigenous communities? You can request Engagement and Collaboration Grants to support costs associated with targeted or occasional events that encourage dialogue between Indigenous communities and military establishments and/or Defense programs. Grants up to $50,000 are available to host or participate in workshops, conferences, roundtables, town halls, and informal discussions, conduct cultural activities and ceremonies create community outreach events, support or participate in established, ongoing events, workshops, and meetings other relationship-building activities. Apply by March 1, 2024.
Other funding opportunities
BC Healthy Communities has compiled a list of funding opportunities worth knowing about, along with guides and resources to support grant writing activities.
Events & Resources
Asset Management BC’s annual conference
The annual Asset Management BC Conference is scheduled for November 8-9 in Richmond. Keynote addresses by Isaiah Robinson of Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation and Jen Sheel, Director of Municipal Services at UBC. Panels will cover funding opportunities for local government asset management and representatives from UBCM, MUNI, FCM, Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services Canada. Registration is open until November 3, 2023.
Principles for Responsible Conduct
This online course, developed by UBCM, LGMA, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, introduces the principles that support responsible conduct by local elected officials in BC. The interactive course is based on real-life scenarios in which learners are part of the story. The code to access the course is VV81-5TFM.
Virtual Reconciliation Engagements
Interested in raising awareness about reconciliation for your community, organization, or business? In light of the COVID-19 crisis, Reconciliation Canada is currently providing all engagements online. They can provide a virtual gathering with the inspiring speaker to help engage reconciliation in a meaningful way.
BC Rural Centre
The Centre provides a wealth of links to assets, news, videos, services, and resources of value to rural British Columbians.
CivicInfo BC
British Columbia's local government information hub offers comprehensive organizational and grant directories, events listings, tools for training, research and career development, bids & tenders, and other resources.
FireSmart
This website introduces the FireSmart program and its seven disciplines and is intended as a one-stop shop for all things FireSmart. The site includes links to training, education, an events calendar, resource library, and downloadable content. It also features a short video inviting everyone to become involved in prevention and to learn about the benefits of the program.