Local Government Program Services
Applications 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.
Community Emergency Preparedness Fund: Upcoming intake deadlines for CEPF funding streams:
- Emergency Support Services - January 29, 2021
- Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping and Flood Mitigation Planning - February 26, 2021
- Emergency Operations Centres and Training - March 26, 2021
Regional Community to Community Forums: The goal of a Regional C2C Forum is increased understanding and improved overall relations between First Nations and local governments. Forum events are intended to provide a time and place for dialogue to build on opportunities, support reconciliation efforts, and resolve issues of common responsibility, interest or concern. The final intake deadline for the 2020/21 fiscal year is December 4, 2020. See the recently published Guide to Community to Community Forums in British Columbia for more information and helpful advice on convening a forum, including sample event plan, agenda, etc.
Other Funding
Rapid Housing Initiative: CMHC has launched the Rapid Housing Initiative, a $1 billion program to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians, through the rapid construction of up to 3,000 new affordable housing units. This includes the construction of modular housing, the acquisition of land, and the conversion/rehabilitation of existing buildings to affordable housing. Application deadline for the Projects Stream is December 31, 2020.
NDIT Local Government and First Nations Government Internship programs: Supports Northern B.C. communities by increasing their capacity while welcoming recent graduates into the world of local or First Nations government. Offered annually, these two programs place skilled people in communities throughout Northern Development’s service region to benefit both the host community and the intern. This valuable work experience provides young professionals with many opportunities while enjoying Northern B.C.’s unique lifestyle. The deadline for First Nations or local governments to apply to host an intern is January 8, 2021. The deadline for recent post-secondary students to apply to be an intern through either the Local Government or First Nations Government internship program is February 12, 2021.
PICS Internship Program: The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) internships support the hiring of university students at the workplaces of British Columbia governments, NGOs, industry, and communities that are pursuing climate change mitigation and adaptation research, planning, or implementation. PICS will provide $12,000 to BC provincial, regional, and local governments, and BC-based non-governmental agencies, indigenous communities, private companies, and Crown corporations to hire a student intern for a minimum of 13 weeks. Eligible students must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at one of the four PICS partner institutions: UVIC, UBC, SFU, or UNBC. Applications are accepted until January 11, 2021.
BC Housing Community Housing Fund: The BC Government is inviting non-profit and Indigenous housing societies, First Nations, housing co-operatives and municipalities to propose new affordable housing projects for the second intake of the Building BC: Community Housing Fund. The RFP will remain open until mid-January 2021.
Okanagan Basin Water Board - Water Conservation and Quality Improvement (WCQI): The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is now accepting applications to its Water Conservation and Quality Improvement (WCQI) grant program. With $350,000 available, applicants that meet the program criteria can receive between $3,000 and $30,000 for projects which occur within the Okanagan Basin. Eligible applicants include Okanagan local governments and First Nations, irrigation districts, and non-profit organizations. The application deadline is February 26, 2021.
Municipal Asset Management Program: MAMP is an eight-year, $110-million program funded by Infrastructure Canada to support Canadian municipalities and communities in making informed infrastructure investment decisions based on stronger asset management practices.
Funding for Energy Efficient Affordable Housing: This $300 million FCM initiative offers support to local and affordable housing providers, including local governments, to retrofit affordable housing units or build new energy efficient units. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until annual funds are exhausted.
Infrastructure Planning Grant Program: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing offers grants up to $10,000 to help local governments plan, design and manage sustainable infrastructure.
Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative: The objective of this initiative is to increase economic development opportunities of Indigenous Peoples and communities in Canada by supporting Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs who are ready to launch agriculture and food systems projects, and others who want to build their capacity to participate in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. Proposals can be submitted at any time until September 30, 2022.
Northern Development Initiative Trust: Northern Development recently launched Trust 2020, a suite of community development programs, which include Community Places, Cultural Infrastructure, Economic Infrastructure, Main Street Revitalization Planning, Main Street Revitalization Capital, and Recreation Infrastructure.
First Nations Adapt Program: This federal program supports First Nations communities to assess and respond to climate change impacts on community infrastructure and emergency management. It prioritizes communities most impacted by sea level rise, flooding, forest fires, and winter road failures. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
New Relationship Trust: The NRT is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening First Nations in BC through capacity building. Numerous funding, initiatives and resources are available on their website
Columbia Basin Trust: CBT offers the grants and programs to help residents and communities in the Basin take action on issues that are important to them.
Other Funding Opportunities: BC Healthy Communities has compiled a list of funding opportunities worth knowing about, along with guides and resources to support your grant writing activities.
Events & Resources
Symposium - Watershed Moments, the Video Trilogy Series: The Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC has adapted it’s 2020 Third Annual Symposium to a virtual format. This year’s theme is “Actionable Visions for Reconnecting Hydrology and Ecology in an Altered Landscape.” The last video of this interactive symposium will be delivered via YouTube on December 3.
Webinar - How Can We Use a Health Crisis to Create Healthier, More Resilient Communities?: The Fraser Basin Council’s recorded webinar features presentations by Jade Yehia and Dr. Shannon Waters. The webinar is part of the FBC’s BC Regional Adaptation Collaborative Program, which aims to strengthen regional capacity and increase action to advance climate preparedness planning and implementation.
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 our engagements online. They can provide a virtual gathering with our inspiring speaker to help engage reconciliation in a meaningful way.
The State of the Economy in Northern BC: This issue of Northern Dispatch asks the question, ”how has COVID-19 impacted the economy in Northern B.C.?”
Webinar - Advancing Your Asset Management Practice: If you missed this recent Asset Management BC webinar, you can now view the recording. Meet our speakers and learn more about how this unique training program will benefit you.
Rapid Action Resources for Local Governments - Community Food Production: Over the coming months, PlanH will be releasing a series of Rapid Action Resources to provide local governments with an understanding of the equity considerations around various aspects of food security, as well as examples of good practices in food security from other local governments in the province.
BC 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 FireSmart.
Wildfire Management in BC Community Forests: Research for this just-released report was begun following the unprecedented BC wildfires of 2017 and 2018. BC Community Forest Perspectives and Engagement in Wildfire Management 2020 Report.
ReTooling for Climate Change: The Fraser Basin Council hosts this first-stop website on climate change adaptation. Here is the place to find top tools and resources for BC local governments, First Nations and the natural resource sectors as everyone prepares for the impacts of climate change, now and in the years ahead.
Weathering the Storm - Developing a Canadian Standard for Flood-Resilient Existing Communities: This report from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation presents a flood hazard and vulnerability screening framework that can help identify areas in existing residential communities that require the most immediate attention for flood risk. Application of the framework will enable communities to make better-informed decisions when prioritizing areas for flood-resiliency programming.
BC Rural Centre: The Centre provides a wealth of links to assets, news, videos, services, and resources of value to rural British Columbians.
Building sustainable communities with asset management: This guidebook is designed for staff or elected officials in medium and large municipalities who are responsible for green projects or who are interested in municipal sustainable development.
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.