Apply for funding to support innovative approaches to regional collaboration: Municipal Innovation Program

You need to use the funding to create:

• new or enhanced regional municipal services
• improved municipal capacity to respond to municipal and regional priorities
• effective inter-municipal relations through joint and collaborative activities

Projects that include collaborating with multiple municipalities or have beneficial impacts for larger populations are given priority.

Funding amount

The Municipal Innovation Program may fund up to 75% of eligible costs for each project (maximum of 2 projects per applicant). The applicant or other sources need to fund the remaining balance of the project.

Eligible costs

Eligible costs include:

• professional services work that supports the development of action plans and implementation plans
• employment costs for a shared term position that builds capacity within participating municipalities to help achieve project outcomes
• costs for implementing project, including professional services (like legal services, land use planning and facilitation costs)

Ineligible costs include:

• general feasibility studies or projects to determine if municipalities should collaborate on a project
• employment costs of existing staff positions
• bonuses or severance related to a term position
• equipment and furniture purchases
• costs of purchasing or owning buildings and land
• capital projects and pilot projects
• facility construction
• principal costs, interest costs, bond discount and other financial costs

Reporting requirements

If you receive funding from the Municipal Innovation Program, you need to submit a Project Closeout Report and Statement of Expenditures within 60 days of completing the project. You also need to confirm that you met the project outcomes.

Accessing the funding

Once a project is approved, the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides an approval letter and terms and conditions that outline the conditions of the funding. The department provides 100% of the funding after you agree to the terms and conditions (and return the signed document).

Eligibility

Only municipalities and villages can apply for funding. You need to have 2 or more municipalities to apply.

The application needs to demonstrate the project’s potential to improve inter-municipal collaboration for regional economic development, regional planning and other services.

You need to apply for funding by 13 June 2024.

How to apply

1. Review detailed program criteria in the Municipal Innovation Program Application Guidelines.
2. Contact the Municipal Innovation Program to discuss your project idea.
3. Complete the application form.
4. Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
5. Send your completed application and supporting documents by email.
6. Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing reviews your application after the submission deadline (this can take 6 to 8 weeks).

How long it takes

It should take 6 to 8 weeks for the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing to review your funding application and let you know if your funding application is approved. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly.

Cost

There is no cost to apply for the funding, but you need to provide funding (from 1 or more sources) to fund the balance of the project.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

• relevant studies to support the project
• council resolutions from all participating municipalities
• project proposal
• Keyhole Markup Language (KML) file of the project location

Application form

Municipal Innovation Program Application Form (PDF 861 kB)