The Rural Enhancement Funding Stream is designed to support priorities of rural communities to contribute to healthy and strong communities.
Who is Eligible?
Rural municipalities, Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations and Local Services Boards having or serving a population of less than 30,000.
What Projects are Eligible?
Incremental improvements, repairs, and/or renovations to improve and extend the useful life of capital assets including; social and recreational facilities, municipal assets and community halls, that contribute to a healthy and vibrant community.
The NOHFC Board of Directors may consider exceptions to these eligibility criteria for projects that address a priority need in Northern Ontario.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Identification and alignment with a planning process such as community or organizational plan
- How the project builds on and optimizes the capacity and efficiency of existing infrastructure
- Strength of project plan that identifies the technical, managerial and financial capacity for implementing the project and sustaining the facility
- Applicant should demonstrate how an NOHFC investment is necessary to make the project viable
Funding
- Funding is in the form of a conditional contribution, and will not exceed:
- For communities under 1,500 and Indigenous communities, up to 90% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $200,000;
- For communities over 1,500, up to 75% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $500,000.
- The amount of funding for each project is determined by the NOHFC Board of Directors, and limited funding is available. Not all projects meeting the criteria will necessarily receive funding.
- NOHFC may decline funding where support for a project is considered to fall within the mandate of another federal or provincial government program, except that NOHFC may provide additional assistance to a project once a decision is made under such other program, at NOHFC’s sole discretion.
What is Not Eligible?
- Core infrastructure such as municipal public services including roads, bridges, water, and sewer
- Administrative space or office buildings
- Residential projects
- Operating expenses, including routine and on-going maintenance
- Rolling stock
- Stand-alone equipment purchases
- Stand-alone furniture purchases
- Stand-alone studies (feasibility, engineering, strategy etc.)
Program Requirements
- All buildings, facilities or land improved with NOHFC funding must be owned by the applicant.
- The applicant may be required to reimburse NOHFC if assets financed by NOHFC are sold within the first three years after project completion.
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