Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure

Overview

Under the federal government's Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Alberta is receiving $159.7 million for rural and northern community projects over the next 10 years (2018-28).

Rural and remote communities with populations of 100,000 or fewer can apply for funding to support projects that improve food security, local road or air infrastructure, broadband connectivity, efficient and reliable energy sources.

Program Guidelines provide further information about ICIP.

Eligible projects

Eligible projects must be communities with a population of 100,000 or less and must meet at least one of the following outcomes:

• improved food security
• improved and/or more reliable road, air and/or marine infrastructure
• improved broadband connectivity
• more efficient and/or reliable energy
• improved education and/or health facilities (specific to Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action)
• one of the project outcomes in the other 3 streams

Ineligible projects include:

• projects in communities with a population over 100,000
• housing
• early learning and child care facilities
• health facilities and primary and secondary education facilities, with the exception of those projects which advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action
• highways and trade corridors, except for portions that connect communities that do not already have year round road access
• resource development infrastructure, notably industrial resource development access roads, except for portions that connect communities that do not already have year round road access in the territories

Cost sharing

The federal government will cost share for eligible projects up to the following:

• 50% for provincial projects or for municipalities with populations more than 5,000 and not-for-profit partners
• 60% for municipalities with populations less than 5,000
• 75% for projects with Indigenous partners
• 25% for private sector, for-profit partners (when eligible)

Please note that municipal projects funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program require a provincial cost-share of 33.33%.

Eligible applicants

• municipal governments
• public sector body that is established by or under provincial statute or by regulation or is wholly-owned by Alberta, or a municipal government
• not-for-profit organizations
• when working in collaboration with a municipality, a public or not-for-profit institution that is directly or indirectly authorized, under the terms of provincial or federal statute, or royal charter, to deliver post-secondary courses or programs that lead to recognized and transferable post-secondary credentials
• for-profit organizations, when working in collaboration with one or more of the entities referred to above or an Indigenous government listed below
• the following Indigenous Ultimate Recipients:
  • a band council within the meaning of section 2 of the Indian Act
  • a First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority established pursuant to a self-government agreement or a comprehensive land claim agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada and an Indigenous people of Canada, that has been approved, given effect and declared valid by federal legislation
  • a First Nation, Inuit or Métis government that is established by or under legislation whether federal or provincial that incorporates a governance structure
  • a not-for-profit organization whose central mandate is to improve Indigenous outcomes, working in collaboration with one or more of the Indigenous entities referred to above, a municipality, or Alberta

Important to know

The province will use information provided in the Expression of Interest to prioritize projects for submission to the federal government. Submissions will be reviewed to determine eligibility and assess the project for:

• alignment with Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program outcomes
• anticipated social, economic and environmental benefits
• impact on community and stakeholder identified needs
• project readiness, including the amount of funding secured and the level of planning that has occurred
• the applicant’s capacity to manage the project
• alignment with Government of Alberta priorities

Climate assessments

All projects with total eligible costs over $10 million will require climate assessments as part of the project submission process. This includes a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Assessment and the Climate Change Resilience Assessment.

All funding applications will be judged, in part, on criteria required by the Government of Canada's Climate Lens.

More details will be shared with eligible applicants.

After you apply

After applying:

• we will review projects for program eligibility, provincial priority and to ensure that cost-share requirements are met.
• we will identify projects to be submitted to the federal government for final approval.
• project applicants will be invited to complete a federal application form.

Any expenditures related to contracts signed prior to federal approval, except for costs related to completing a Climate Lens Assessment, are ineligible for ICIP funding.

Reporting requirements

All projects with total eligible costs over $25 million will be required to report on Community Employment Benefits generated by the project.

This requirement is intended to increase employment opportunities for the following targeted groups in the construction industry and related sectors:

• apprentices
• Indigenous peoples
• women
• persons with disabilities
• veterans
• youth
• new Canadians
• small-sized, medium sized and social enterprises

More details will be shared with eligible applicants.

Related grant programs

These grants may be used as potential sources of funding to fulfil provincial cost share requirements.

Alberta Community Resilience program is a multi-year, provincial grant helps communities develop long-term resilience to flood and drought effects to protect critical infrastructure and public safety.

Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program aims to improve natural watershed function to build resilience to droughts and floods through conservation, education and stewardship, research and data, and restoration and enhancement.

Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership provides cost-shared funding to eligible smaller municipalities to help construct water supply and treatment facilities and wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.

Water for Life supports the development of new regional water and wastewater systems, which are more cost-effective and/or environmentally desirable than independent systems.

Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program provides financial assistance to rural and smaller urban municipalities to develop and maintain key local transportation infrastructure, such as local road bridges, community airports and resource roads to promote economic growth, create jobs and improve mobility and local connectivity.

Contact

Email: [email protected]