[Canada-Wide] Build Communities Strong Fund - Direct Delivery Stream (ongoing)

Building a strong Canada starts with building strong communities.

The Build Communities Strong Fund is investing in a wide range of infrastructure projects that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation.

It provides $51 billion over 10 years, starting in 2026-27, and $3 billion per year ongoing, to support new and renewed public infrastructure.

The Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) is providing $6 billion over 10 years, starting in 2026-27, to support regionally significant projects, climate adaptation, and community infrastructure.

Projects are identified by the federal government through various channels, including those named in Budget 2025, an online portal for applicants, pipelines of projects within existing programs, consultations, and public calls for expressions of interest. The online portal is now open for project applications that are shovel-ready for 2026. For Indigenous and territorial projects, consideration will also be given to projects that will be shovel-ready in 2027.

Under this stream, Canada's Regional Development Agencies are delivering $1 billion in funding over four years to support smaller community infrastructure projects.

The BCSF Direct Delivery stream is organized in three project sub-streams:

1) Local infrastructure projects that increase capacity, quality, or accessibility of community infrastructure and support complete communities. Project types include, but are not limited to:

• Community buildings and spaces that are accessible to the public and provide community services such as community centres, cultural centres, and libraries;
• Recreation, sport, and park facilities such as arenas, pools, greenspaces, and parks; 
• Drinking water assets (whether grey, natural, or hybrid) such as drinking water treatment facilities, pump stations, and local drinking water pipes;
• Wastewater assets (whether grey, natural, or hybrid) such as wastewater treatment facilities, lagoon systems, pumping and lift stations, and sanitary sewer pipes;
• Stormwater management assets (whether grey, natural, or hybrid) such as permeable land covers, infiltration basins, shoreline protection assets, and diversion assets.

2) Climate adaptation projects that increase community resiliency by preventing, mitigating or protecting against the impacts of climate change, disasters triggered by natural hazards, and extreme weather events. Projects may include traditional, natural or hybrid infrastructure.

3) Regionally significant projects are unique assets that deliver broader economic, environmental, and social benefits beyond the immediate location of the project. When applicable, these projects must consider private sector investment, including through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, to maximize public investment capacity and reduce pressure on government budgets.

Who is eligible to apply

• A provincial or territorial government;
• A provincial or territorial public sector body (e.g., health authorities, provincial or territorial organizations that delivers municipal services);
• A municipal or regional government;
• A municipal or regional public sector body (e.g., municipally owned corporations);
• A public-sector body, including but not limited to:
• Any other form of local governance that exists outside municipal or regional governments (e.g. local health districts);
• A public or not-for-profit institution that is directly or indirectly authorized, under the terms of provincial, territorial or federal statute, or Royal Charter, to deliver post-secondary courses or programs that lead to recognized and transferable post-secondary credentials;
• An incorporated not-for-profit organization;
• A private sector, for-profit body, if it is working in collaboration with an eligible public-sector entity, as described above, or with an eligible Indigenous applicant as described below (note: additional partner information and letter of support is required with application);
• An Indigenous applicant, as follows:
• An Indigenous governing body, including but not limited to (and to be indicated in application):
• 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 His Majesty the King 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 established by or under legislation whether federal or provincial or territorial that incorporates a governance structure;
• A not-for-profit organization whose primary mandate is to serve Indigenous Peoples;
• An Indigenous development corporation.

VISIT WEBSITE for full details and to apply

Expression of interest

Eligible applicants who have a potential project that is not yet shovel-ready may submit an expression of interest for future consideration. The expression of interest process allows proponents to identify and describe potential projects at an early stage, whereas the application portal is intended for projects that are sufficiently developed and ready to proceed through the formal application process.

How to submit an expression of interest

Step 1: Identify a project

• Projects must have Class C estimates at a minimum.
• Projects that have already started construction are not eligible; however, applications for new and distinct phases of such projects may be eligible.

Step 2: Gather information on the applicant and project

• The following information should be provided in the expression of interest:
• Applicant information: Legal name, recipient type (i.e., not-for-profit, municipality, Indigenous recipient), and contact information;
• Project: Short project description, objective, estimated costs, anticipated federal funding share requested, and class estimates; and estimated construction start date.

Step 3: Read the Privacy and Third-Party Information Notice Statement

• Applicants should be aware that the information they provide in the expression of interest may be shared for the purpose of assisting with the project review, evaluation, and selection process.

Step 4: Send an email

• Submit the expression of interest, with all applicant and project information, by email to canadastrong-canadafort@infc.gc.ca.