Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Offering $3M

The Green and Inclusive Community Building (GICB) Program is a key part of Canada’s strengthened climate plan, Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, introduced in December 2020. This program aims to support green and accessible retrofits, repairs, upgrades to existing community buildings, and the construction of new community buildings that serve high-needs, underserved populations across Canada. With up to $1.5 billion in federal funding allocated over five years, the GICB program is currently open for its second scheduled intake, welcoming applications until October 16, 2024. 

Program Overview 

The GICB Program focuses on improving the places where Canadians live and gather by making these spaces more energy-efficient, less carbon intensive, and more resilient. The program also seeks to advance best practices in building design for climate change resilience, including the use of natural infrastructure or nature-based solutions. In addition to environmental benefits, the program will create thousands of jobs in construction, supporting communities in their recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19. 

Who Can Apply? 

Funding under the GICB Program is provided directly by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to recipients at the local community level. Eligible applicants include: 

• Municipal or regional governments established by provincial or territorial statute;
• Provincial or territorial governments;
• Public sector bodies established by provincial or territorial statute or wholly owned by a province, territory, or municipal government;
• Federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations and registered charities; and
• Indigenous recipients such as Indigenous governing bodies, not-for-profits serving Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous development corporations.

Note: Commercial and for-profit organizations, individuals, private citizens, and federal entities are ineligible. 

Eligible Projects and Expenses 

The GICB Program funds two main types of projects: 

Retrofits, Repairs, and Upgrades to existing community buildings: 

• Projects must improve environmental outcomes and serve non-commercial, community-oriented purposes. 
• Eligible buildings include community centres, public sports and rec facilities, cultural buildings, health and wellness facilities, Indigenous health and education facilities, and more. 
  
  Funding Amounts: 
• Up to 80% of retrofit costs for projects with budgets under $10 million. 
• Up to 60% of retrofit costs for projects with budgets of $10 million or more. 

New Construction of community buildings: 

• Projects must be net-zero-carbon ready and serve non-commercial purposes. 
• Eligible buildings include community centres, public sports and rec facilities, cultural buildings, and other similar community-oriented spaces. 
  
  Funding Amounts: 
• Up to 60% of costs up to $10 million, and up to 50% of costs above $10 million. 

For both retrofits and new builds, Indigenous and territorial projects can receive up to 100% funding. 

Program Streams and Application Details 

Continuous Intake Stream (Small and Medium Retrofits) 

• Project Size: $100,000 to $2,999,999 
• Application Period: August 1, 2024, to October 16, 2024 

Scheduled Competitive Intake Stream (Large Retrofits and New Builds)

• Project Size: $3,000,000 to $25,000,000+ 
• Application Period: September 4, 2024, to October 16, 2024 

Evaluation Criteria for Retrofit Funding 

When evaluating retrofit applications, the GICB program considers several criteria: 

• Community Impact: 
  Projects that serve high-needs communities or significantly improve accessibility and safety will score higher. 
• GHG Reductions and Energy Savings: 
  Projects that achieve significant energy efficiency improvements and GHG reductions are more likely to receive funding. 
• Climate Resilience: 
  Projects that incorporate strong climate resilience measures or provide a clear rationale for excluding such measures are preferred. 

Apply for This Program Before October 

The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program is an excellent opportunity for communities across Canada to enhance their infrastructure in a way that is both sustainable and inclusive. By focusing on retrofits and new constructions that meet modern standards of energy efficiency and accessibility, this program supports the broader goal of building a resilient, low-carbon future for all Canadians. 

Our team works with municipalities and organizations to determine if they are a good fit to apply for grant programs like this. We also help identify other government funding programs that your business may be a good fit to apply for. Contact us by booking a meeting with our team.