Grant

The Community Buildings Retrofit initiative helps Canadian municipalities, Indigenous communities, and their partners (including non-profits) upgrade existing community and cultural buildings (like arenas, pools, libraries, recreation centres, etc.) to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operating and maintenance costs, and enhance comfort and service for the community. It covers projects at any stage — from early planning / feasibility to full retrofit implementation.

ELIGIBILITY:

Municipal governments, Indigenous communities (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), and non‐profits that own or operate community buildings are eligible to apply.

• Buildings must provide recreational, cultural, or community services and be widely accessible.
• Projects can be single‐building or portfolio (multiple buildings) within a municipality or across municipalities.
• Depending on the stream, prerequisites may apply (e.g. feasibility studies or alignment with the Green Buildings Pathway).

FUNDING AMOUNT/ FUNDING STRUCTURE:

• Total program funding: $167 million.
• Capital retrofit projects: up to 80% of eligible costs, with a maximum of $10 million (combined loan + grant, with the grant portion covering up to 25%).
• Study/feasibility funding: up to $65,000 for a single building and up to $200,000 for multiple buildings.

GWAII INSIGHTS:

The Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative offers First Nations in BC a powerful opportunity to reduce the long-term costs of operating community facilities while improving comfort, safety, and resilience for members. With access to funding of up to $10 million per project, communities can retrofit spaces like cultural centres and recreation facilities to lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. These investments not only free up resources for other priorities, but also support sustainability goals.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a suite of funding streams administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and funded by the Province of BC.

Its purpose is to help First Nations and local governments increase resilience to emergencies and natural hazards, especially under the growing effects of climate change.

The CEPF streams include:

• Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation
• Emergency Operations Centres Equipment and Training
• Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training
• Extreme Temperatures Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning
• Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping and Flood Mitigation Planning
• Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
• Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
• Structural Flood Mitigation
• Volunteer and Composite
• Fire Departments Equipment and Training

ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible applicants include First Nations (bands, Treaty First Nations), municipalities, regional districts, and other local governments in BC.

PROJECT CRITERIA:

• Be a new or further phase of a project (retroactive funding is generally not allowed).
• Be completable within one year of grant approval, unless otherwise specified.
• Meet any required permits, authorizations etc.
• Show alignment with the purpose of the specific funding stream, including any required engagement with Indigenous communities where applicable.

FUNDING:

Most CEPF grants range from about $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the stream.

• Smaller streams (like Emergency Support Services, EOC equipment, evacuation planning) usually cap around $25K–$40K.
• Larger streams (like Disaster Risk Reduction or Structural Flood Mitigation) can go up to $150K+.

Deadlines range from October 2025 through April 2026 depending on the stream.

Gwaii Engineering can support your community every step of the way — from assessing project eligibility and scoping, to securing funding, and managing implementation.

If you are interested in securing funding from one or more streams, get in touch with our team below.

The Implementation Projects: Adaptation in Action grant supports on-the-ground climate adaptation projects in Canadian municipalities, Indigenous communities and other municipal partners.

It aims to build long-term resilience by funding infrastructure, services, and nature-based interventions that reduce climate risk and foster equity and inclusion in communities already aware of their climate vulnerabilities.

ELIGIBILITY:

Eligible applicants include Indigenous communities* (or their organizations), as well as Canadian municipal governments and various public-sector partners.

*Indigenous communities must be in partnership/agreement with a municipal government to be eligible for funding.

PROJECT CRITERIA:

• Must be a new or new-phase climate adaptation initiative (no retroactive funding)
• Under $1  million in eligible costs
• Completed within 3 years of grant approval
• Tied to a community’s existing climate risk assessment or adaptation plan
• Designed to avoid transferring or increasing hazard risks (e.g. flooding, habitat loss)

FUNDING:

Covers 60% of eligible project costs, up to $1 million maximum grant. Additional stackable incentives (+10% each) may bring funding up to 100%:

• Indigenous leadership or multi-municipal partnerships
• Rural/remote communities or populations under 10,000
• Projects addressing anti‑racism, equity, or Reconciliation
• Emphasis on nature-positive adaptation

DEADLINE:

There are two funding rounds in 2025:

Round 1: July 8-August 19, 2025
Round 2: August 20-October 9, 2025

The FNIF helps First Nations communities upgrade and increase public infrastructure to improve the quality of life and the environment in First Nations communities.

The fund supports a wide range of infrastructure projects, including planning and skills development, solid waste management, roads and bridges, energy systems, connectivity, structural mitigation, fire protection, cultural and recreational facilities and band administrative buildings.

ELIGIBILITY:

Eligible recipients include First Nations governments, Indigenous-owned entities, and public or private sector partners working in collaboration with Indigenous communities.

FUNDING:

$10 million per recipient per year for capital projects involving the retrofitting, construction, replacement, expansion, or purchase and installation of fixed assets or infrastructure.

DEADLINE:

Submission deadline for the First Nation Infrastructure Investment Plan is in the fall of each year. There is no deadline to receive FNIF funding.

The Asset Management Program assists First Nations communities in:

• Proactively managing infrastructure.

• Implementing preventative maintenance measures.

• Enhancing service delivery through effective asset management planning.

The focus for this call for proposals is asset management awareness, planning, implementation and other aspects related to asset management.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open to all eligible recipients under the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program, including First Nations communities, Tribal councils and related organizations.​

FUNDING:

Depending on the project phase and scope:

• Phase 1 (Awareness): Up to $30,000 for single communities; up to $120,000 for groups or organizations.

• Phase 2 (Planning): Up to $70,000 for single communities; up to $210,000 for groups or organizations.

• Phase 3 (Implementation): Up to $20,000 for single communities; up to $60,000 for groups or organizations.

• Maintenance Management Planning: Up to $20,000 for single communities; up to $60,000 for groups or organizations.

DEADLINE:

Submit your proposals by October 2. Proposals are evaluated on a rolling basis starting April 1.

The Economic Infrastructure program supports projects of regional and local significance that contribute to economic growth and stronger communities.

These projects include renovations or new construction of public multi-use facilities or capital investments that drive revenue and job creation within the community. Example projects include:

• Airports

• Greenhouses

• Information and communications technology infrastructure

• Energy diversification

• Commercial building upgrades

• Industrial park development

ELIGIBILITY:

• Local governments

• Registered not-for-profits

• Registered First Nation bands

• Wholly owned First Nation development corporations

All applicants must be located within Northern Development’s service region (pictured above)

FUNDING:

• Up to $100,000 grant to a maximum of 70% of the eligible project budget; or

• Up to $300,000 grant to a maximum of 50% of the eligible project budget.

DEADLINE:

Northern Development approves Economic Infrastructure projects on a tri-annual basis. The Spring 2025 deadline is April 30 2025 @ 11:59pm.

GWAII INSIGHTS: 

We’re excited to see this grant promoting self-sufficiency, enhancing economic growth, and supporting culturally relevant infrastructure for Nations in Central and Northern BC.

Given the geographical constraints, submissions are highly encouraged from Nations who are eligible. We recommend looking through the example projects, as well as utilizing the many resources on the NDIT’s website.

 

The goal of the Clean Fuels Fund is to overcome the barrier of the upfront capital investment that industry requires to develop new clean fuel production facilities and increase capacity.

The “Indigenous-Led Projects” stream of the Clean Fuels Fund provides Indigenous-led projects with cost-shared, conditionally repayable funding, with the aim of helping build new clean fuel production facilities or retrofit/expand existing ones in Canada.

Additionally, the fund provides non-repayable funding for feasibility studies, basic engineering studies and detailed front-end engineering studies for new facilities, expansions or conversions of existing facilities.

ELIGIBILITY:

Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada (including not-for-profit and for-profit organizations) that can demonstrate a minimum of 50% Indigenous ownership.

FUNDING:

For capital projects, the Program will provide up to 50% of total project costs up to a maximum of $50M

For studies, the Program will provide up to 75% of total project costs up to a maximum of $5M

DEADLINE:

Intake for this program is ON-GOING. The program has the authority to close the intake at any time, such as when the program has received more completed applications than funds available.

GWAII INSIGHTS:

As this stream of the Clean Fuels Fund is focused solely on Indigenous communities and businesses, we strongly encourage early uptake and planning. Since applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, we recommend starting as soon as possible to maximize your chances of success. They have provided a list of projects that have been funded previously – we recommend Nation representatives review these before starting the application process.

The REFBC makes grants to support projects that advance sustainability, equity, and social justice in relation to land use and real estate practices in BC. They prioritize grants to Indigenous-led organizations, and are particularly interested in projects that support Indigenous rights and interests in land use and real estate.

They have 5 priorities:
Land Use 
Fresh Water
Build Environments
Food Sovereignty
Real Estate Profession

FUNDING ALLOCATION: 

• Grants for small, grassroots projects typically range from $5,000 to $50,000.

• Grants for larger or province-wide projects range from $50,000 to over $100,000.

• Grants for complex, multi-year programs and initiatives range from $100,000 to $300,000.

ELIGIBILITY: First Nations, non-profits, and other organizations working on projects relating to land use or real estate in BC.

INTAKE OPENS: January 6th, 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 28th, 2025

GWAII INSIGHTS: Going into the holiday season, resourcing is becoming a constraint in the sector. The end-of-year deadline is looming, decision makers are starting to head off on holidays and resources are harder to come by – so be sure to time block and start earlier than usual. To increase your chances of success, we would suggest attending one of the REFBC’s webinars to learn more about their funding priorities and the application process as a whole.

The Nation Building program provides multi-year funding opportunities to First Nations and Tribal Councils in BC to support their nation building activities according to their self-determined priorities.

The fund is intended to support projects and activities geared towards strengthening the institutional, governance, and community capacities in reclaiming and rebuilding resiliency, self-determination, and sovereignty within each Nation’s context.

FUNDING ALLOCATION: 

• 1-year grant of up to $60,000, or
• 2-year grant of up to $120,000
• One project per Nation or Tribal Council per year (including organizations under the Nation or Tribal Council authority)

ELIGIBILITY: BC First Nations, BC Tribal Councils, Development Corporations/Organizations wholly owned and operated by a BC First Nation.

INTAKE OPENS: May, 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December, 2025 (or when the annual funding available has been exhausted)

GWAII INSIGHTS: Given the broad range of projects this grant will support, this is an opportunity not to miss for First Nations in BC. Get ahead of the intake date and start the application process early. GIven the structure of the funding allocation, the earlier you are able to apply, the higher chance your project has of being funded!

Nation representatives are encouraged to review the list of example projects that have been funded previously.