Community Buildings Retrofit initiative

Municipalities in Canada spend a significant amount of their budgets maintaining aging community and cultural buildings—such as arenas, pools, libraries and recreation centers. These spaces are vital not only to residents’ well-being but also to our communities’ local pride and culture.

With GMF’s Community Buildings Retrofit (CBR) initiative, municipalities and their partners can afford to modernize these vital buildings. Upgrades can reduce energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, create local jobs, and enhance the buildings’ comfort and services—while helping municipalities meet their climate goals.

Whether you’re in the early stages of planning or are ready to implement energy upgrades, CBR provides the flexibility to support you at every stage of the process. With tailored funding and resources, CBR will help you make upgrades that are both impactful and sustainable for years to come.

FCM’s Community Buildings Retrofit initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.

Available funding

We provide support throughout the life cycle of a community building retrofit project. Further details on eligible costs are provided on individual funding pages.

Feasibility study: Green Buildings Pathway

Funding to explore opportunities for energy-saving upgrades that lower costs and improve the performance of your community buildings

Capital project: GHG impact retrofit

Funding for upgrades that reduce energy use and operating costs in your community buildings.

Capital project: Green Buildings Pathway retrofit

Funding for long-term, energy-saving projects that reduce maintenance costs and improve comfort in your community buildings.

What is a municipal building?

A municipal building is a workplace that is:

- Owned by a municipal government.
- Primarily used by administrative or service staff to carry out their duties to the public.
- Not necessarily accessible to the public, but may have a public interface.

What is a community building?

A community building is an enclosed public place or an enclosed workplace that is:

- Primarily used to deliver athletic, recreational, cultural and community programs or services to the local community.
- Widely accessible to everyone, offering services that enhance the health and well-being, skills development and economic development of individuals and communities.

Are you seeking guidance to you get the most of your CBR initiative?

GMF now offers a new CBR Advisory Service and is intended to help municipalities maximize the potential of their CBR project by matching them to industry leaders who understand best practices in energy retrofits of community buildings and who can help municipalities achieve their energy goals.

Learn more here.