Community Facility Enhancement Program

This program provides funding to purchase, build, renovate or upgrade public-use community facilities.

Important dates

CFEP Small Funding Stream

Annual application deadlines:

  • January 15
  • May 15
  • September 15

Projects must be completed within 18 months from the date the cheque is received by the organization.

CFEP Large Funding Stream

Annual application deadline:

  • October 1

Projects must be completed and reporting must be submitted within 30 months from the start date of the signed grant agreement.

Overview

Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) funding provides financial assistance to acquire, build, purchase, repair, renovate, upgrade or expand sports, recreational, cultural or other related public-use community facilities.

CFEP outcomes are to:

  • enhance the lifespan and support the creation of public-use community facilities.
  • stimulate economic activity across the province.

CFEP has 2 funding streams:

  • Small Funding Stream
  • Large Funding Stream

Additional details can be found in the CFEP Guidelines (PDF, 352 KB).

Funding

CFEP funding is approved on a matching basis. The applicant must contribute an amount equal to or exceeding the CFEP grant request towards the expenses of the project. The matching funding may be cash, donated labour, equipment or materials, all of which must be specifically related to the project.

CFEP Small Funding Stream

CFEP Small Funding stream maximum funding request is $125,000. Organizations may be considered for up to $10,000 non-matching funding (See section 5.6 of the CFEP Guidelines (PDF, 352 KB).

CFEP Large Funding Stream

The CFEP Large Funding stream is for projects requesting over $125,001 and up to $1 million.

Multiple applications

Organizations can apply for one capital and one non-capital grant per government fiscal year (April 1-March 31).

  • Non-capital grant requests can be accessed through any one of the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) grant streams (Project-Based, Operating, International Development or Major Cultural and Sport Events).
  • Capital grant requests can be accessed under CFEP and capital equipment grant requests can be accessed through CIP Project-Based.

Multi-year funding

Multi-year funding is not being considered as applicants have the opportunity to request larger grant amounts.

Switching streams

Organizations who wish to switch CFEP funding streams will need to contact program staff and may be required to withdraw their current CFEP application and reapply on the next deadline date with a new application.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations

The following organizations and community non-profit organizations can apply for this program:

  • organizations registered (and in good standing) under one of these Acts:
    • Provincial Legislation
      • Agriculture Societies Act
      • Part 21 of the Business Corporations Act - Extra-Provincial Corporations
      • Cemeteries Act or Cemetery Companies Act
      • Companies Act, Part 9 (Nonprofit Companies)
      • Libraries Act
      • Societies Act of Alberta
      • Special Act of the Alberta Legislature
    • Federal Legislation
      • Special Act of the Parliament of Canada
      • Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and must be registered in Alberta under the Business Corporations Act
      • Income Tax Act (of Canada and operating in the Province of Alberta (Charities))
  • First Nations and Métis Settlements
  • foundations established and regulated under the province’s Regional Health Authorities Act
  • universities, colleges and institutes as defined under Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act

Organizations must have an Alberta based address which must be regularly monitored by an active member of the organization.

Ineligible organizations

The following organizations are not eligible to apply for funding under CFEP:

  • municipalities
  • for-profit organizations
  • any other organizations not registered under one of the above mentioned Acts
  • organizations that have overdue or incomplete accounting or reporting relating to any grant previously awarded by Alberta Culture and Tourism
  • individuals

Eligible projects

An organization can only submit one application for a capital project per year through either CFEP or for a capital equipment project Community Initiatives Program (CIP) Project-Based.

A facility can receive funding for one capital project per fiscal year (for example, roof replacement).

However, if an organization shares a facility with other organizations, each organization can submit a grant request for a project that relates to their own leased space.

Projects can include:

  • building a new facility
  • acquiring or purchasing a facility
  • repairs, renovations, updates and expansion

Community facilities include sports, recreational, cultural or other public-use facilities.

Phased projects

Depending on the size and scope of a construction project, organizations may submit applications for stand-alone aspects for the same facility. For example, this could include phases such as a feasibility study, design and blueprint stage, initial construction to lock up stage and completion phase.

How to apply

Step 1. Fill out an application package

Small Funding Stream package

Large Funding Stream package

Keep a copy of your application as you may be contacted if further information or clarification is required.

Step 2. Submit the application package

Application packages can be emailed to LFP.application@gov.ab.ca or mailed to:
Community Facility Enhancement Program
Alberta Culture and Tourism
Suite 212, 17205 – 106A Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T5S 1M7

After you apply

CFEP Small Funding Stream

Applicants will be notified about the results during the following times:

  • July (for January 15 deadline)
  • November (for May 15 deadline)
  • March (for September 15 deadline)

CFEP Large Funding Stream

Applicants will be notified about the results in March of the following year.

All decisions are final and no appeals will be considered.

If your application was declined, you can submit a new application for the same project as long as the expenses are not considered retroactive as of the submission date of the new application.

Reporting requirements

CFEP Small Funding Stream

For the CFEP Small funding stream reporting, your final accounting and back up documentation needs to be submitted 18 months from date of cheque using the Final CFEP Financial Accountability Report (FCAR) (DOC, 120 KB).

An accountant is not required to prepare the FCAR.

CFEP Large Funding Stream

For the CFEP Large funding stream reporting, you will need to submit reporting based on the signed formal grant agreement requirements.

See the Reporting requirements guide (DOC, 67 KB) for more information and examples.

Please contact Community Grants staff about reporting requirements or project completion issues.

Previous grant recipients

You can find previous grant recipients in the Previous Grant Recipients Database.

Contact

Contact the Community Grants office at:
Phone: 780-422-9598
Toll-free: 1-800-642-3855
Email: LFP.application@gov.ab.ca

Address:
Community Facility Enhancement Program
Alberta Culture and Tourism
212, 17205-106A Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T5S 1M7