Funding Snapshot
- Grant for up to 50%* of eligible costs
- Up to a maximum of $200,000
The following organizations are eligible for GMF funding.
Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards)
Municipal partners, which include:
- Private sector entities
- Municipally owned corporations
- Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
- Non-governmental organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Research institutes (e.g., universities)
- An Indigenous community is an eligible lead applicant if they are partnering with a Canadian municipal government on an eligible project, or if they have a shared service agreement with a Canadian municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation
A plan that sets a high standard for municipal planning exercises and sets the stage for a net-zero future.
Applications are accepted year-round, though this offer may close when all funding has been allocated.
* The following applicants may qualify for a grant of up to 80 percent of eligible project costs:
- municipalities (or their partners) with a population of 10,000 or under;
- regional governments or groups of municipalities where the average population of the member municipalities is 10,000 or under;
- eligible Indigenous communities; and,
- northern communities
Northern and eligible Indigenous communities that are applying to GMF for the first time may qualify for a grant of up to 100 percent of eligible costs.
The North is defined as the three territories and the northern extent of seven provinces. This includes portions of the following provinces defined by Statistics Canada codes: Newfoundland and Labrador (10), Québec (24), Ontario (35), Manitoba (46), Saskatchewan (47), Alberta (48) and British Columbia (59).
What we fund
Net-Zero Transformation plans set a high standard for municipal planning exercises—they set the stage for a net-zero future, employ innovative approaches (e.g., for stakeholder engagement or data analysis), translate into action (e.g., new bylaws) and lead to tangible results (e.g., a net-zero neighbourhood).
To be eligible, your proposed plan must:
- Demonstrate a high-level of innovation (e.g., in terms of scope or partnerships).
- Have the potential to contribute to significant long-term greenhouse gas reductions.
- Use an integrated planning approach (i.e., a collaborative process that integrates the work of various disciplines working alongside each other, developing a plan that achieves multi-disciplinary objectives).
- Include an operationalization strategy that identifies plan implementation requirements (e.g., projected capital and operational funding needs, alternative engineering standards).
What your project needs to achieve
Only projects that meet the criteria on this page are eligible. Please note that we consider several factors in making a funding decision. We strive to fund the most innovative and impactful initiatives, so not all eligible projects will be approved for funding.
There are no pre-set environmental targets or thresholds for this funding offer.
Further details and requirements regarding the offer are found in the Net-Zero Transformation application guide
- Innovation
-
To be eligible, your project must be considered innovative. It must target a significant improvement in performance over best practice through:
- The development and/or application of new knowledge, policy, practice, business model, or advanced technology; or,
- A new or emerging application of an existing technology or practice (e.g., in a new context) in a manner that represents a substantive change to current operating conditions or performance.
- Significant GHG reduction potential
-
To be eligible for funding, your project must have the potential to generate or enable significant reductions in GHG emissions in the long-term either:
- Directly from project implementation (e.g., through increased energy efficiency and energy recovery); or,
- Indirectly by creating the required enabling conditions (e.g., through net-zero design guidelines).
Direct GHG reductions must be quantifiable, while indirect reductions must be supported by a strong rationale and clear assumptions for how the project unlocks GHG reductions in the short, medium and/or long term.
GMF will assess whether your project has the potential to lead to significant GHG reductions. This assessment will be based on:
- The scale of the project’s GHG reductions (direct or indirect); and,
- The project’s replication potential.
A project is considered to have a high potential for replication when:
- It has clear performance benefits, which can be demonstrated through commonly understood metrics and measures.
- The solution addresses a key challenge for many municipalities (need-to-have, not nice-to-have).
- There are strong drivers for the adoption of solution (e.g., a strong financial business case due to cost savings over status quo or financial returns).
- Resilience
-
Projects must meet minimum requirements related to climate resilience:
- All capital projects that include new infrastructure assets must be built outside the current 100-year floodplain of the most recent floodplain map, unless evidence can be provided of protection to safeguard the asset.
- Projects with new infrastructure assets valued over $2 million must conduct a Climate Risk Assessment (i.e., Infrastructure Canada Climate lens, ISO 14091, PIEVC High Level Screening Guide or equivalent) and address risks identified. A Climate Risk Assessment must be included in study workplans (where relevant) and is submitted as part of the pre-application for relevant pilot and capital projects.
- Equity considerations
-
GMF recognizes that many urgent social issues are interrelated, and that climate action and sustainability initiatives need to be designed to ensure fair distribution of benefits and burdens, across all segments of a community and across generations. Projects will be assessed on their potential to result in improved socio-economic outcomes and a more equitable distribution of benefits and burdens among the community, for present and future generations. While projects can be eligible without incorporating these considerations, preference is given to projects that:
- Integrate principles of anti-racism, equity, inclusion and reconciliation.
- Apply inclusive community engagement practices.
- Implement social procurement.
- Generate significant socio-economic benefits, such as increased accessibility, improved outdoor spaces, and inclusive employment and apprenticeship.
As you develop your project approach, consider the following questions:
- How can you design an engagement approach that would enable you to consider the diverse needs, experiences and voices of all stakeholders and rights holders in this project?
- Which equity-deserving groups might benefit the most, and/or be burdened, directly or indirectly, by this project? How are these groups positively or negatively impacted?
- Are there opportunities to address or mitigate negative impacts?
- Are there opportunities to rectify existing or potential biases, discrimination or exclusionary practices in your project planning, design, funding and implementation?
- How can you maximize the socio-economic benefits that your project generates?
- How can you leverage your procurement practices to generate more positive social, economic and environmental outcomes within your community and region?
- Multi-solving
-
GMF seeks to fund the very best examples of municipal initiatives that achieve a multitude of benefits for the environment, communities and local economies. Higher application evaluation scores are given to projects that demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following areas:
- potable water conservation
- sustainable materials management
- biodiversity
- other environmental benefits
- socio-economic benefits
- meaningful engagement and collaboration with rights holders and stakeholders
Required documents
To apply for GMF funding, you must submit:
- a pre-application form
- an application form
- a project workbook
- all required supporting documents specified in the application guide
A GMF project officer will be your point of contact throughout the process and will review your file and provide feedback. You may be asked to revisit some steps to help you submit a complete and high-quality application.
Application process
Phase 1: Pre-application submission
You must submit a pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal. To do this, create a client profile and follow the steps in FCM’s funding portal to submit your pre-application form.
Phase 2: Eligibility determination
A GMF outreach officer or advisor will review your pre-application form. They will determine whether your organization and initiative are eligible to proceed to the next stage of the application process. You will receive a response within 21 business days of the date we receive your pre-application form.
Phase 3: Full application submission
If your organization and initiative are determined to be eligible to proceed to the next stage, your GMF outreach officer or advisor will inform you that the full application form is available through FCM’s funding portal. They will also provide you with an Excel project workbook template to complete and submit with the full application form.
It is important to note that even if a project is deemed eligible to move forward with a full application, it does not guarantee full application eligibility or that the project will be approved for funding.
As you complete the application form, contact your GMF outreach officer or advisor if you have any questions. Once you’ve filled out the application form and project workbook and attached the required supporting documents, submit it to GMF through the FCM funding portal.
Phase 4: GMF project officer review
Once the full application form is submitted a GMF project officer will be assigned to your file and will review your application for accuracy and completeness and will work with you to resolve any remaining questions.
Phase 5: Peer review and internal review
An external expert peer review panel evaluates all capital and study applications. There will also be an internal analysis to provide a funding recommendation to GMF’s managing director, the GMF Council and FCM’s Board of Directors.
Phase 6: FCM funding decision
For plans, pilots and studies, funding decisions are determined by GMF’s managing director. The average time for a funding decision is three to five months after your full application form submission.
For capital projects, FCM’s Board of Directors approves the funding recommendation made by the GMF Council. The average time for a funding decision is four to six months after your full application form submission.
How to apply
- Download and review the application guide.
- Reach out to a GMF representative to discuss your project at gmfinfo@fcm.ca or 1-877-417-0550.
- Review the list of prerequisites and supporting documents in appendix D of the application guide.
- Review the eligible and ineligible costs:
- Ensure you have a detailed project budget in place and are securing other funding sources for your project.
- Visit the FCM funding portal to create your profile and request a PIN to access the system. Already have an FCM funding portal profile? Skip to Step 7.
- Complete the pre-application form available on the platform.
Quebec municipalities
FCM has an agreement with Quebec's ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH) that allows the ministry to review applications to GMF before they are submitted to FCM. Quebec municipalities applying for funding from GMF must follow the process below to submit their application to MAMH.
Once you have completed all the steps in the ‘How to apply’ section above, submit your application by following the steps below. Note that the content of the links is available in French only.
- Save your application form using the appropriate file name.
- Save the application form to your local device with the following filename: FMV_ "your municipality's name"_ "date" (YYMMDD). For example: FMV_TownofABC_180228.pdf
- Log in to the Portail gouvernemental des affaires municipales et régionales. using your username and password.
- To submit your form click on “File Transfer”.
- In the “Recipient” drop-down list, select the applicable program.
- Upload your files and select “Transfer” once your request is complete.
- Receive confirmation from MAMH.
- MAMH assesses the applications to ensure that the projects submitted do not conflict with Quebec's government policies and directives. Once the assessment has been completed, MAMH informs the applicant of their decision and sends compliant applications to GMF for review.
- MAMH requires up to 15 working days to review the application and forward it to GMF.
- Receive approval from GMF.
- GMF will inform the applicant once they receive the application from MAMH and review the submission. If the application is approved for funding, an agreement between FCM and the applicant is prepared.
Need help to see if this is the right funding for you?
Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions you have relating to this funding opportunity.
See all Net-Zero Transformation funding
Develop and demonstrate new, innovative solutions to support the municipal transition to net-zero
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Tool: Sustainable remediation
Almost every Canadian municipality is home to a brownfield site.
Land Use
Webinar recording: How to build partnerships to help revitalize your brownfields
Waterfronts were once bustling engines of a past industrial economy; some now sit vacant — void of the productivity that once supported their communities.
Water
Guide: Best practices for scoping a wastewater upgrade project
Get your wastewater project off to a successful start with these best practices in defining project scope and engaging stakeholders. Part one in a three-part article series.
Water
Guide: Lessons in planning and designing a wastewater plant upgrade
Learn how to avoid one of the most common mistakes in wastewater plant upgrade projects: insufficient planning and analysis. Part two in a three-part article series.
Water
Guide: Tips for the building phase of a wastewater plant upgrade
Discover four practices that will help make the procurement, construction and start-up phase of your project a success. Part three in a three-part article series.
Waste
Six sustainability ideas that have gone mainstream in Canada: Article series
In a series of six articles, we explore inspiring projects and sustainability solutions being implemented in cities and towns of all sizes across Canada.
Land Use
Webinar recording: Fostering brownfield redevelopment
Learn best practices in brownfield revitalization you can apply in your municipality, and understand FCM's brownfield funding opportunities and resources.
Water
Tool: Checklist for a successful wastewater treatment plant upgrade
Follow this checklist based on best practices to help ensure success and address key issues during each phase of your project.
Water
Article series: Tips for a successful wastewater treatment plant upgrade
Implement a successful wastewater treatment plant upgrade with help from this series of three articles packed with best practices from GMF-funded projects. Read the articles.
Land Use
Tool: Evaluation tools for sustainable remediation and risk management
Browse through a range of tools to help you evaluate your options and compare potential benefits.
Land Use
Brownfield Roadmap: New Brunswick
Use this easy-to-follow path to navigate the processes, legislative framework and funding for redeveloping brownfields in New Brunswick.
Land Use
Report: Leadership in Brownfield Renewal Program Annual Review
Discover brownfield redevelopment initiatives and advancements in Canadian municipalities made during the Leadership in Brownfield Renewal program's inaugural year.
Land Use
Webinar recording: Ideas to move brownfield projects forward
Join this webinar to get practical ideas for working with partners and community groups to bring abandoned properties back into productive use.
Water
Webinar recording: Wastewater best practices, strategies and solutions
Watch the webinar recordings from our three-part, online workshop series on wastewater best practices, strategies and solutions for Canadian municipalities.
Waste
Guide: Sustainable Neighbourhood Development
This guide, Sustainable Neighbourhood Development: Practical Solutions to Common Challenges, is designed to help you re-imagine your municipality's approach to planning, development and regulation.
Land Use
Guide: Promoting brownfield programs and opportunities in Canada
Read this step-by-step guide to marketing brownfield redevelopment opportunities to local developers and property owners.
Water
Webinar recording: Optimizing your wastewater treatment plant
Join our webinar to learn proven practices to help you identify ways to optimize your existing wastewater treatment resources. Speakers from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the Grand River Conservation Authority will share lessons learned that you can apply in your municipality.
Transportation
Webinar recording: Solutions to municipal sustainability challenges
Watch our webinar recordings to learn how you can address sustainability challenges in waste management, transportation and asset management in your municipality.
Land Use
Webinar recording: Introduction to the brownfield redevelopment process
Watch this webinar recording for an introduction to the process of developing a brownfield site in your community, from the environmental assessment to site remediation.
Land Use
Guide: Tendering a municipal brownfield project
Conducting an efficient tendering process is a key step in managing a successful brownfield redevelopment project.
Water
Webinar recording: Managing stormwater through low impact development
Learn how to use green stormwater infrastructure, or low impact development, as an affordable alternative to grey stormwater infrastructure in your community.