Funding for Transportation
Including public transit, community transit, active transportation, and electric vehicles.
Active Communities Fund
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The fund supports community-wide initiatives to encourage less structured physical activity and movement. The fund aims to encourage physical activity and movement through policies, social initiatives or physical environments. Projects should target community members who are less active, or who have fewer opportunities for physical activity. Applicants can apply for up to 75% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000.
Example(s): A plan to design & implement a safe, walkable connector pathway between Glace Bay High School and the nearby shopping plaza.
Deadline: Ongoing intake until fully allocated, ending December 1st, 2023.
Website: Active Communities Fund
Municipal Capital Growth Program
Department - Organization: Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Description: The program supports investment in municipal infrastructure projects. Municipalities and villages can apply for funding from the Municipal Capital Growth Program to help reduce the cost of infrastructure projects that support the province’s growing population.
Example(s): Accessibility: Capital projects required to comply with the Accessibility Act. Projects supported by accessibility plans. Accessibility improvements to municipal infrastructure including sidewalks and active Transportation (excluding Fleet) .
Deadline: December 13th, 2023
Website: Municipal Capital Growth Program
Charged for Change
Department - Organization: Aviva Canada/Earth Day Canada
Description: The program will enable the installation of at least two new charging stations in underserved communities across Canada, and will cover 100% of project costs. Funding of up to $125,000 per community is available.
Deadline: February 22nd, 2024.
Website: Charged for Change
Information Session: November 21st, 2023. Register here. January 23rd, 2023. Register here. French sessions are also availble, please see the website.
Green Freight
Department - Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Description: The program will help fleets reduce their fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from on-road freight through fleet energy assessments, fleet retrofits, engine repowers, best-practice implementation and the purchase of low-carbon vehicles. There are two streams, municipal governments are listed as eligible applicants on both streams. Stream 1 of the program provides grant funding up to a maximum of $250,000 per Applicant. Stream 2 contributes up to 50% of total project costs, up to a maximum of $5 million per project.
Deadline: Stream 1 is a continuous intake.
Website: Green Freight Program
Green Municipal Fund
Department - Organization: Infrastructure Canada/Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Description: GMF provides local sustainability projects that help municipalities adopt climate solutions faster in five priority sectors: energy, waste, transportation, land use and water. The funding can cover between 50 and 80 percent of the eligible project costs. There are grants to support projects in all stages, planning, studies, pilot projects, and capital projects. You can use their Funding Opportunity Finder Funding Opportunity Finder to search for applicable funding under the GMF.
Example(s): Transportation: Invest in greener modes of transportation for your community.
Deadline: Continuous
Website: Green Municipal Fund
Permanent Public Transit Funding: Rural Transit Solutions Fund
Department - Organization: Infrastructure Canada
Description: This fund supports locally-driven transit solutions for rural and remote communities, with flexibility for different local transit system innovations from fixed route to on-demand services to ride-shares.
Deadline: Continuous intake.
Permanent Public Transit Funding: Zero Emission Transit Fund
Department - Organization: Infrastructure Canada
Description: The fund is to support the electrification of public transit, support the purchase of 5,000 zero-emission buses and build supporting infrastructure, including charging infrastructure and facility upgrades. There is a planning stream and a capital stream.
Example(s): Eligible projects include studies, modelling and feasibility analysis that will support the development of future larger-scale capital projects. Eligible capital projects include buses, charging and refueling infrastructure, and other ancillary infrastructure needs.
Deadline: Currently open for applications.
Website: Zero Emission Transit Fund
Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program
Department - Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Description: To install EV charging systems in public places, on-street, at workplaces and multi-unit residential buildings, as well as infrastructure for ZEV fleets
Example(s): Killam Properties – Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta – 438 electric vehicle chargers under construction ($731, 783).
Deadline: Continous
Community Transportation Assistance Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Public Works
Description: The program provides an operating grant to community transit operators in rural NS. To find out how your municipality can become eligible, please contact Gregory Sewell.
Deadline: There is no annual application for this program, once a community transit operator is approved for funding under this program they continuously receive funding as long as they meet their reporting requirements.
Closed Funding, Next Intake TBD:
Permanent Public Transit Funding: Active Transportation Fund
Department - Organization: Infrastructure Canada
Description: The fund invests in projects that build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, in addition to supporting active transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.
Deadline: The first intake closed on March 31st, 2022.Next intake TBD.
Connect2
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: Active transportation projects that will improve connectivity within and between communities and have the potential to reduce emissions. There are three streams. 1) Capacity Building and Community Engagement, Connect2 provides grants of up to 75% to a maximum of $50,000 per project in this category. 2) Shared Mobility & Bicycle Fleets, Connect2 provides grants of up to $75,000 per project in this category. 3) Active Transportation Infrastructure and Design, Connect2 provides grants of up to 75% to a maximum of $50,000 per project in this category.
Deadline: Closed May 31st, 2023. The next intake is TBD.
Website: Connect2
Accessible Transportation Assistance Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Public Works
Description: The program is a capital grant for municipally operated accessible services. To find out how your municipality can become eligible, please contact Gregory Sewell. Applications are mailed directly to the applicants.
Example(s): Transit Cape Breton - Handi-Trans Service
Deadline: Closed April 2023, next intake TBD.
Nova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Public Works
Description: For municipalities that provide a fixed route service. The Nova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program provides funding to develop or enhance transit in underserved areas. Applications are mailed to the recipients. Funding is available for 1 project per year per organization.
Deadline: Closed April, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Public Transit Assistance Program Funding
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Public Works
Description: The Public Transit Assistance Program is a capital grant for municipalities that provide a fixed route service. Applications are mailed directly to the applicants.
Deadline: Closed April, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Low Carbon Communities
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Natural Resources and Renewables
Description: The program helps communities develop and advance innovative solutions in building 75% of total project eligible costs efficiency, clean electricity, and clean transportation. The Low Carbon Communities program supports community-led, innovative solutions to create long-lasting greenhouse gas reductions. The funding helps communities complete the preparatory work required to implement their projects. 75% of total project eligible costs up to $75,000.
Example(s): Electric fleet and charging infrastructure planning in Kings County.
Deadline: Closed June 29th, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Website:Low Carbon Communities
Zero Emission Trucking Program
Department - Organization: Transport Canada
Description: The program will support municipalities to develop, modernize, and align the necessary guidelines, codes, standards and regulations to accelerate the safe deployment of zero-emission trucking in Canada. Up to $1 million per project, up to 75%.
Deadline: Closed October 3rd, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Website:Zero Emission Trucking Program
Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative
Department - Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Description: Supports projects that aim to increase awareness, knowledge and public confidence in zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) and public charging and refuelling infrastructure.
Example(s): Edmonton Electric Vehicle Trade Show
Deadline: Closed September, 2023. Next intake TBD.
If you can't find a grant that suits your needs, please reach out. Similarly, if you are applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.
