Canada Community Revitalization Fund - Application guide

The intake period for the Canada Community Revitalization Fund in southern Ontario is now closed. Applications received and acknowledged by FedDev Ontario prior to the intake period closing will be evaluated subject to remaining funding.

Review our funding opportunities to learn about other FedDev Ontario supports.

Table of contents


Introduction

This Application Guide has been developed to provide instructions to applicants on how to complete and submit FedDev Ontario's Application for Funding for the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF). It is recommended that you review this document prior to submitting an application. Incomplete applications will not be assessed.

If you have additional questions, please contact FedDev Ontario by phone at 1-866-593-5505 or by visiting our Contact us page.

About the CCRF

About the Canada Community Revitalization Fund

Program information

The Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) aims to help communities, towns and cities across Canada to build and improve community infrastructure projects so they can rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, assist with community vitality, support social and economic cohesion and help reanimate communities.

Regional development agencies across Canada are delivering $500 million over two years (2021-2022 to 2022-2023) for community infrastructure projects, with FedDev Ontario delivering $144.7 million in southern Ontario.

The Fund supports not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and other community groups, as well as Indigenous communities to:

  • build new community infrastructure and revitalize existing assets
  • bring people back to public spaces safely as health measures ease
  • create jobs and stimulate local economies

Eligible applicants

  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Co-operatives and business improvement areas (BIAs)
  • Municipal or regional governments established by or under provincial or territorial statute
  • Local service districts, regional districts or similar types of entities that are established as unincorporated units of governance
  • Rural communities that are incorporated but considered non-municipal bodies
  • Public-sector bodies that are established under provincial or territorial statute or regulation, or that are wholly owned by provincial, territorial, municipal or regional governments, that provide municipal-type infrastructure services to communities
  • Indigenous organizations such as Indigenous-led not-for-profits and organizations which include but are not limited to First Nations as represented by their Chief and Council, tribal councils, Indigenous Representative Organizations, Métis and Inuit organizations and settlements as well as Indigenous/First Nation/Métis settlement-owned organizations

Eligible activities

The Fund will provide support for the following types of projects:

  1. Adapting and reimagining/re-envisioning community spaces and maintaining accessibility standards so that they may safely be used by communities in accordance with social distancing and local public health guidelines to help revitalize areas and support future planning efforts. Projects could include community transformation infrastructure to help rejuvenate communities, downtown cores, main streets and shared spaces.
  2. Building or improving community infrastructure through the expansion, improvement or creation of community spaces to encourage Canadians to re-engage in and explore their communities and regions.

Priorities

Eligible projects will be prioritized in the following order of importance:

  1. revitalize downtown cores and main streets
  2. reinvent outdoor spaces
  3. create green infrastructure
  4. increase the accessibility of community spaces

Further priority will be given to projects that:

  • are shovel ready
  • bring in other partners to leverage project funding
  • are of a smaller scope, where the project will be completed quickly so the program benefits will be shared broadly
  • help communities rebound from the effects of the pandemic and contribute to the reanimation of communities, towns and cities
  • can demonstrate measurable direct or indirect social and economic benefits
  • encourage the participation of underrepresented groups and take into consideration the unique challenges of rural and remote communities
  • are submitted before July 23, 2021 (23:59)

Other projects will be considered if funds remain available.

Assessment

Projects will be screened based on the following criteria:

  1. Eligibility: The extent to which the organization meets the criteria for eligible activities and applicants.
  2. Alignment: The extent to which the organization demonstrates how the project aligns with the objectives of the Fund and its priorities (listed above).
  3. The project’s state of readiness and the organization’s capacity to complete the project.
  4. Other funding: The extent to which the project has secured funding from other sources.
  5. Inclusive growth: Projects may be prioritized by the extent to which they benefit or encourage the inclusion of underrepresented groups.

Application process

Application process

Process and deadlines

The intake period for the Canada Community Revitalization Fund in southern Ontario is now closed.

The CCRF remains open to applicants on a continuous intake basis until the end of the program on March 31, 2023, or until the allocated funding is fully distributed.

Other important details

Incomplete applications, missing mandatory information or documentation, will be delayed in assessment. Applicants are permitted to re-apply with a complete Application for Funding, however, the application will be considered a new application.

The information contained in your Application for Funding is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Applicants are encouraged to contact FedDev Ontario electronically or by phone at 1-866-593-5505 if they have any questions regarding the Application for Funding.

The names of recipients, the amount of funding approved and a brief description of the project are included in public records and disclosed on FedDev Ontario’s website in accordance with the Government of Canada’s proactive disclosure practices.

Completing an application

Completing an Application for Funding

Applicant Information

  1. Legal name of Applicant Organization: The name of the organization that appears on your incorporation documents, and/or Partnership Agreement, letters patent, or other relevant documentation related to the formation of your organization.

    Operating name: The name under which the business is publicly conducted e.g., 123456 Ontario Ltd., operating as XYZ Technologies.

  2. Type of Organization: Select the category that accurately reflects your organization type or legal structure.

    Important notes: Eligible applicants must be capable of entering into a legally- binding agreement. Furthermore, applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to sustain the community asset beyond the funding period.

    See additional information on eligible applicants.

  3. Business Number: This is a unique nine-digit number assigned to not-for-profit organizations by the Canada Revenue Agency. Should you be an unincorporated Indigenous entity, please fill in the business number with zeros and include your band number under section 3 a).
    1. Band Number (if applicable): This is a unique three-digit number that distinguishes First Nations.
  4. Multiple applications: Applicants may submit multiple and distinct applications for funding under CCRF. Due to the expected high volume of applications and limited availability of funds, it is recommended that you identify the priority of each application against your total number of applications for this program. The ranking of one (1) will represent the highest priority.

    FedDev Ontario will consider multiple factors when assessing applications and funding decisions may not always align with an applicant’s project prioritization.

  5. Provide a brief description of the applicant organization: Please provide details about your organization. Items that should be included in your summary are:
    1. objectives, mandate, core activities, and/or key products and services
    2. details regarding your organization’s structure and how it is governed (e.g., board of directors, advisory board etc.)
    3. number of employees in your organization located in southern Ontario (including employees who are working remotely)
    4. group(s) to which your organization primarily provides services
    5. a brief biography of key management and/or technical staff required to complete the project (may include prior experience, education, professional designations, and any other information you consider relevant)
  6. Applicant Mailing Address: This address should be the same as the organization’s headquarters.
  7. Is the Applicant Mailing Address the same as the Primary Project Location: Indicate whether the Mailing Address provided in question 6 is the physical location where the community asset is located. Should the project have multiple locations, please put the location where the majority of activities associated with the project are expected to occur.

    Should the address be for a community asset such as a park, please indicate the address associated with the asset that can be commonly used to locate it (i.e., on Google maps etc.).

  8. Official language for correspondence: Select between English or French as the preferred language for correspondence.
  9. Date of Incorporation/Formation (YYYY-MM-DD): Indicate the date stated on the organization’s articles of Incorporation, letters patent or other relevant documentation.
  10. Date of organization’s fiscal year end: Provide the month and day of your organization’s fiscal year end.
  11. Number of full-time employees inside and outside of Canada: In the appropriate field, please list the total number of full-time employees (FTEs) working in Canada and outside of Canada, including those employees who may be working remotely but whose jobs were previously considered to be based in Canada (or outside of Canada).

    For reference, calculate any FTE jobs as the employment of one person full-time, or more than one person part-time, such that the total working time is equivalent to one person working full-time. Generally, FTE positions involve between 35-40 hours in a regular work week. Do not include FTEs employed by suppliers or contracted services.

Authorized Organization Contact

  1. Please indicate the person who is authorized to represent the organization, and who will be the main point of contact regarding the funding request. Ideally, the authorized organization contact is also a signing officer. If not, confirmation of that person's right to represent the organization may be required. Include this contact’s regular business number and a cell phone number.

    Note: This cannot be a consultant, as FedDev Ontario will only communicate with the applicant.

Financial Contact within Organization

  1. Provide information for your chosen financial contact within your organization. The listed person should have signing authority with your organization, and will be the main point of contact for all finance-related matters concerning the funding request. Include this contact’s regular business number and cell phone number.

Project Information

  1. Project Title: On the Application for Funding, use the drop-down menu to select your project activity. Please provide the specific location of this project as well as the community asset your project will focus on in the respective fields.

    Please note, this information will be used to create a title for your project that may be used by FedDev Ontario for public reporting.

  2. Type of Community Asset: Use the selection buttons to identify a category that most closely describes the community asset or infrastructure project you are seeking funding to support.

    If “Other” is selected, describe your project category in under 50 characters.

  3. Project Description: In this section, provide a brief description of your project, including why you are undertaking this project, the goals you aim to achieve within your community and the steps you are proposing to achieve these results.

    Please refer to the section Eligible activities above for more information.

    Note: your answer should serve as a rationale for why this project should receive funding through the CCRF and contain any relevant information on the community asset being impacted, as well as any information about the specific population or community need that this project will address.

    If your project falls within one of the four priority areas (defined below), please be sure to explain this in your description.

    1) Revitalize downtown cores and main streets
    • Core: The areas within a community encompassing the highest job density based on the place of work information from the census.
    • Downtown neighbourhood: Area composed of the downtown core, and the encompassing one-kilometre adjacent area surrounding the core, using the Census classification.
    • Main street broadens this to not only the highest job density but also important commercial areas for shopping.
    2) Reinvent outdoor spaces
    • Open air facilities or spaces including but not limited to active facilities, beaches and open air markets that are not fully enclosed/roofed.
    3) Create green infrastructure
    • Projects that support decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and/or offer other environmental benefits. This could include, for example, projects to mobilize communities that want to reduce their carbon footprint (e.g., support for the development of a green local development plan, support to local businesses for local circular economy projects, support for the construction of community greenhouses).
    • Projects that make a community space more energy efficient (e.g., new infrastructure built to net zero standards), lower carbon (e.g., electrification), more resilient (e.g., more resistance to extreme climate events like floods), and higher performing (i.e., better results with same or fewer resources resulting in less inputs and/or waste). 
    • Other examples of green projects could be those that reduce impacts on landscapes and aquatic systems, improve recycling/ waste management, conserve or restore access to natural spaces, and/or improve environmental quality through other sustainability or green actions or measures.
    • Details on your project’s environmental benefits and green impacts can be further explained in your response to Question 31.
    4) Increase the accessibility of community spaces
    • Projects that will meet or exceed the highest published accessibility standard as defined by the requirements in the Canadian Standards Association's Technical Standard Accessible Design for the Built Environment (CAN/CSA B651-18) or the most recent standard, in addition to provincial or territorial building codes, and relevant municipal by-law.
    • Details on your project’s accessibility elements can be further explained in your response to Question 31.

    Use non-technical language when describing your project (i.e. description of the project for the general public) and avoid including any confidential or proprietary information. The project description should highlight the key themes or purposes of the project, along with briefly answering the 'who', 'what', 'where', 'when' and 'why.'

    Please note these details may be used by FedDev Ontario for public reporting.

  4. Estimated Project Start Date: For projects that are already underway, insert the date from which your organization began incurring eligible costs for activities associated with this project.

    For projects that have yet to begin, insert the date you anticipate incurring expenses for your project.

    Note that project start date cannot be earlier than April 19, 2021. 

  5. Estimated Project End Date: Insert the last day you anticipate incurring expenses for your project.

    Note that the project end date cannot be later than March 31, 2023.

  6. Is your project shovel-ready?: ‘Shovel-ready’ describes projects that are considered to be at an advanced state of development for which activities are set to begin promptly. Priority may be given to those projects that can demonstrate the capacity of the applicant to complete the project within the required timeframe.

    The sub-questions will be used to help FedDev Ontario determine the shovel-readiness of your project. For each sub-question (unless marked Not Applicable), you must indicate the date the activity was completed or your best estimate of when it is expected to be completed. You are also required to provide a short explanation for each sub-question that may include: the status of each activity, why the activities have not yet been undertaken (if applicable), when they are expected to occur, or any other pertinent information that could help assess the readiness of your project.

  7. Do you own the community asset for which the investment is being requested?: Should you not be the owner of the community asset, you must ensure your application includes a signed Applicant Declaration and Landlord Authorization form.
  8. Is the community asset available to the public?: Only community assets that provide open, available and accessible services directly to the public are eligible for funding under this program.

    Please briefly describe how the public will engage with the community asset once your project has been completed.

Impact Assessment

  1. Are any project activities expected to take place on federal lands? Indicate and explain if any of the proposed activities will occur on federal lands, as defined in the Impact Assessment Act.
    Federal lands are:
    1. lands that belong to Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, or that Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada has the power to dispose of, and all waters on and airspace above those lands.
    2. The following lands and areas:
      1. the internal waters of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province
      2. the territorial sea of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province
      3. the exclusive economic zone of Canada, and
      4. the continental shelf of Canada
    3. Reserves, surrendered lands and any other lands that are set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act, and all waters on and airspace above those reserves or lands.

    Activities on federal lands could be subject to additional requirements.

  2. Does the project result in an increased footprint to an existing community asset or the creation of a new community asset? If the project involves expanding the area of an existing community asset, or the creation of a new community asset, please provide details on the size of the expansion (e.g., percentage increase) or the new asset in the accompanying text box.

    Note that projects that are expected to involve a significant percentage increase to the existing footprint or result in the creation of a new asset may be required to complete an additional environmental impact assessment.

  3. Proximity to Indigenous communities: Indicate whether your project will take place on, or in close proximity to, an Indigenous group or community. If you select yes, describe any impact that the project may have on surrounding peoples.
  4. Indigenous Consultation: Indigenous groups need to be consulted when the project will have an impact on their lands. Indicate whether any Indigenous communities have been or will be consulted about the implementation of your project and why.

Benefits and Results

  1. Economic and Social Benefits: Describe the ways in which your project will create economic and social change in and around your community. In your answer, explain how your project will:

    • Adapt and reimagine/re-envision community spaces and maintain accessibility standards in accordance with local public-health guidelines. Highlight how this will help revitalize areas and/or support future planning efforts, and the impact(s) this will have on communities, downtown cores, main streets and shared spaces; and/or
    • Build or improve community assets (through expansion, improvement or creation of community spaces) to encourage Canadians to re-engage in and explore their communities.

    Note: Please describe any specific groups or neighbourhoods within your community that will be impacted by your proposed project.

  2. Environmental Benefits: Please indicate and provide details on the environmental benefits of your project, and where available, provide estimates, values or other metrics (i.e., percentage of energy saved, amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced).

    Some environmental benefits include, but are not limited to: 

    • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
    • Promoting clean energy
    • Reducing impact on landscapes/aquatic ecosystems
    • Improving recycling/waste management
    • Conserving or restoring natural spaces
    • Improving environmental quality through other sustainability or green actions or measures.
  3. Total number of jobs created and maintained at the End Date of your Project: Indicate in the respective fields how many full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs are expected to be created and maintained as a direct result of your project.

    • A job created refers to a job that did not exist within the applicant’s organization prior to the project, but was created as a direct result of the project activities.
    • A job maintained refers to a job that existed within the applicant organization prior to the project, but would not continue, or would likely be lost if the project is not funded.

    For reference, calculate any FTE jobs as the employment of one person full-time, or more than one person part-time, such that the total working time is equivalent to one person working full-time. Generally, FTE positions involve between 35-40 hours in a regular work week. Do not include FTEs employed by suppliers or contracted services.

  4. Total number of public spaces impacted

    Indicate how many public or community spaces are expected to be created, expanded, or improved as a result of the completion of your project. For the purposes of the CCRF, a public space (or community space) is considered to be a non-commercial community-oriented structure or space that provides open, available, and publicly-accessible community services.

    Ensure to include (if applicable) changes that enhance accessibility, such as investments in Wi-Fi hotspots to provide access to community spaces, parks in urban areas or gathering places, and/or the removal of barriers and improved accessibility (please see information on Question 31 below for additional details regarding accessibility).

    • New community public spaces are ones that are created as a result of this project and did not exist prior to receiving funding.
    • Expanded community public spaces are ones that existed before the project began but will increase the square footage of the existing space or add incremental components to the existing space, in size or scope as a result of this project.
    • Improved community public spaces are ones that existed before the project began but will undergo improvements, renovations, rehabilitation, repairs and/or retrofits that may or may not lead to an increase in the footprint of the existing space as a result of this project.

Diversity and Inclusion

Gender and diversity data collected may be used for research, statistics, program and policy evaluation, risk management, strategy development, reporting, and gender-based analysis (including GBA+). This information can help the Government of Canada monitor progress on inclusive access to federal support programs and services; to identify and remove barriers; and, to make changes to improve inclusive access. Aggregate and anonymous data may be shared with other federal organizations, and/or published for reporting and monitoring purposes.

  1. The Government of Canada understands that participation of underrepresented groups is an integral part of building strong and inclusive communities. Therefore priority may be given to applications that demonstrate support to promoting diversity and inclusion.

    If your organization or project does not align with or support the below groups, or you do not wish to declare your status, leave the following fields blank.

    “Led or majority-led” includes organizations where persons of underrepresented groups are involved in long-term control and management of the business or organization and play an active role in both strategic and day-to-day decision making.

    If applicable, please indicate whether your organization is led or majority-led by one or more of the following groups, or if your project will support or benefit any members of the following underrepresented groups:

    • Women
    • Indigenous peoples
    • Members of Official Language Minority Communities
    • Youth
    • Persons with Disabilities
    • Newcomers to Canada and Immigrants
    • Black Communities
    • Racialized Communities
    • LGBTQ2
    • Other, please explain

    Describe how your community asset supports or represents the members of the underrepresented groups you selected, as priority may be given to projects that benefit or encourage the inclusion of underrepresented groups. If applicable, explain any benefits and impacts your project may have on these groups or communities, particularly those that have been disproportionally impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  2. Removing Barriers: Where applicable, accessibility improvements and/or the removal of barriers will be considered in project assessment.

    Indicate whether your project will remove barriers and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, either as a component of the project or as its primary focus. Some activities include, but are not limited to:

    1. installing accessible entrance door openers
    2. elevators
    3. accessible washrooms
    4. visible and audible alarm systems
    5. obtaining signage with large print
    6. implementing high-contrast lettering on all text
    7. braille
    8. installation of Wi-Fi hotspots in public gathering areas
    9. bilingual signs

    For more information on the definitions of each activity, please reference the Annex section below.

    If you answered yes, please describe how your project intends to improve accessibility standards. If you have already detailed these components previously in your Application for Funding, please highlight them here and add any additional details that may be pertinent.

Risk and Mitigation

  1. Associated Risks: Indicate the risks associated with your project as well as key methods of risk mitigation that will be used for the project. Examples of risk may include: financial, trade, regulatory, implementation, and/or any risks that may impact a successful project outcome.
  2. Internal Capacity: Describe the management, technical and financial capacity of your organization to execute your proposed project. Capacity can be demonstrated by highlighting past projects, any past experiences with the Government of Canada and comparable results. 

Financial Attestation

  1. Ability to sustain the community asset: By selecting Yes, applicants confirm that their organization has the capacity, experience and financial ability to support the success of the investment beyond the project completion date.
  2. Funding Use: By selecting Yes, applicants confirm that all funding will be used only towards activities deemed eligible.

Project Budget

    1. Project Costs by Fiscal Year: Indicate your estimated project costs in CAD over the span of two fiscal years (2021-2022 & 2022-2023). The fiscal year for the Government of Canada is defined as April 1 – March 31 of any given year.
    2. Project Costs by Category: The CCRF will only fund eligible costs. Eligible costs include:

      Facility Construction/Renovation

      These are costs associated with the creation, expansion or improvement of a community asset which may include: construction, purchase of materials, enhancements, alterations, restoration and/or the undertaking of leasehold improvements on fixed capital assets.

      Equipment Purchase/Installation

      The purchase and/or installation of equipment or machinery directly related to, or necessary for, the completion of the project.

      Project Management

      These can include costs associated with the oversight and administration of the project such as the costs of a public announcement, an official ceremony, of required temporary or permanent signage, environmental assessments, or monitoring and follow-up activities.

      Expertise

      Incremental fees paid to professional, technical personnel, consultants, engineers or contractors.

      Labour

      Incremental salaries and benefits for individuals employed for the project may be eligible should they meet the following conditions:

      • The recipient confirms and substantiates that it is not economically feasible to tender a contract;
      • Costs are for those employed directly in respect of the work that would have been the subject of the contract; or
      • Labour hired to work exclusively on the project (i.e., not existing employees of the recipient). 

      Note: All costs are approved in advance and are included in the contribution agreement. FedDev Ontario reserves the right to make the final determination on the value of contributions and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or outside the scope of the project.

    3. Funding Sources: If you are seeking or have secured any private funding or other government funding towards the project, please indicate the source, the funding amounts and the status of confirmation in the table.

      Please note, Total Project Costs must be equal in the three tables (A. Total Project Costs by Fiscal Year, B. Total Project Costs by Cost Category and C. Funding Sources).

Supporting Documentation

  1. Include the following mandatory documentation as an attachment to the PDF form:

    1. Historical financial statements for the last two fiscal years either in the form of an Audit, Review Engagement or Notice to Reader. Note: Internally-prepared financial statements are accepted. At a minimum, this should include a balance sheet, income statement (including a breakdown of costs), and statement of cash flow;
    2. Incorporation documents, and/or Partnership Agreement, letters patent or other relevant documentation.

    Applications submitted without these documents will be considered incomplete and will not be assessed.

    Other attachments are permitted as supporting information that are relevant to the project and answers provided in the Application for Funding. The total size of all supplementary materials cannot exceed 100MB.

Certification

  • Certification is the act of signing a formal document to confirm that you are bound by its contents.
  • Making a false statement or providing misleading information may result in the Minister exercising any remedy available to him/her at law.
  • You must review each statement and sign the Certification.
  • Checking ‘I Agree’ provides an authorized signature of your business or organization certifying the information provided on the application.

Annex: Glossary of terms - removing barriers

Accessible entrance door openers

An automatic door opener is a device, either pneumatic or electronic, that is retrofitted to an existing door on a business or residence that allows the door to be opened or closed automatically. There are four sub-categories of automatic door openers: motion detector, by touch (push button), handheld control, or a combination.

Elevators

Elevators are usually required where there are two or more floors that require access, or whenever there are stairs within a building.

Accessible washrooms

This term refers to a restroom that does not have any physical barriers that restrict people from easily using is it. Anyone, including people using wheelchairs and handicapped people, can get in and out, and can use the bathroom equipment.

Visible and audible alarm systems

According to the Ontario Building Code, a visual signaling component must conform to the requirements in the National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code. At minimum, visual signaling systems are required to be installed wherever a smoke alarm is required. The luminous intensity of these signals must be at least 175 cd (luminosity).

Signage with large print

Accessible signs with large print and consistent font should be placed wherever signs would generally be hung. In general, signs are either designed to communicate information, provide directions, or identify locations.

High-contrast lettering

High-contrast signage uses colours such as black and white, yellow and black, or yellow and purple. High-contrast signage ensures that all patrons, including those with mild to moderate vision impairments, can read signs, even at a distance.

Braille

Individuals that are blind, have low-vision or are deafblind require building signage that is touch or high contrast. Braille signage represents letters of the alphabet using dots in combinations which those with vision impairments can read and navigate independently.