Build Communities Strong Fund - Local Impact Stream in British Columbia - Applicant guide

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to help applicants complete the online application form for the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) Local Impact Stream in British Columbia.

PacifiCan reserves the right to modify this guide at any time without notice.

Signing and submitting the application form does not constitute a commitment from PacifiCan for financial assistance. In the event of any discrepancies between this document and an application form (blank or completed), the application form takes precedence.

If the application is approved by PacifiCan, the applicant must enter into a contribution agreement with PacifiCan containing terms and conditions to PacifiCan’s satisfaction. The contribution agreement will outline the rights, roles, and obligations of each party. In the event of any discrepancies between this document and a contribution agreement, the contribution agreement will take precedence.

Please note: The Local Impact Stream offers contributions up to $1 million for community infrastructure projects. For projects exceeding that amount and/or for different types of projects, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) delivers the Direct Delivery Stream nationally and the other streams of the BCSF.

It is important that you apply to the stream that best fits your project. Please review PacifiCan’s BCSF website for information regarding eligible applicants, project types, and other key details, or visit HICC’s BCSF website to learn more.  If you are uncertain where to apply for your project, please contact info@pacifican.gc.ca or canadastrong-canadafort@infc.gc.ca.

Sections

• Eligibility Checklist
• Complete Application Checklist
• Completing the Online Application Form

Eligibility Checklist

Applications must meet all the following criteria to be considered:

• The applicant must be a municipal or regional government, not-for-profit, or Indigenous community or organization based in British Columbia and legally incorporated in Canada
• All costs must be incurred between April 30, 2026, and March 31, 2030
• For municipalities, regional governments and not-for-profits, proof of confirmed funding for at least 25% of eligible project costs is provided at time of application
• Project activities must involve building or improving community infrastructure that is accessible to the public (i.e., access is not primarily limited to paid membership) and has economic, social, or environmental benefits for the broader community or region

Complete Application Checklist

Complete applications must consist of:

• a completed online application
• copy of ownership/lease agreement
• financial statements for the past two years
• proof of confirmed funding (if applicable)
• proof of permission to undertake renovations (if applicable)

Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible and not be assessed.

You may also submit additional supporting documents that may strengthen your application, such as:

• a project plan/Gantt chart
• proof of regulatory approvals
• letters of support
• resolutions to proceed
• other documentation acknowledging construction readiness

Completing the Online Application Form

The Application Form consists of ten tabs. Please refer to the guidance below for explanations of how to complete each tab of the application form.

If you need help to sign in to the funding application portal and access your saved application form, visit the Sign-in help page and Using a GCKey to access your saved application form page.

1. Organization Information
2. Project Information
3. Funding
4. Benefits
5. Timelines
6. Management
7. Additional Details
8. Diversity and Inclusion
9. Documents
10. Signing Authority

1. Organization Information

This section requires all applicants to provide details on their organization, including name, organization type, and other descriptive information.

Legal name of applicant organization *

Provide the legal name of your organization as shown on the certificate of incorporation or registration.

Operating name (if different than legal name)

Provide the name you are operating under if different from the full legal name.

Are you an Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, Inuit) organization or government? *

Indigenous organizations are defined as organizations majority-owned or led by Indigenous people. Indigenous governments are governments of Indigenous communities.

Corporate status *

Indicate whether your organization is a for-profit or not-for-profit organization.

Organization type (select best fit) *

Select from the drop-down menu what most accurately reflects your organization type.

I have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business number *

Select “yes” or “no”.

Provide your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business number or Goods and Services Tax (GST) number (first 9 digits only).

Provide the unique business number or GST number assigned to your organization by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For information on obtaining a business number visit the CRA’s Business Number Registration page. If your organization does not have a CRA Business Number or Incorporation Number, please provide an alternate number that can be used to identify your organization. For example, a band number or education number in “Alternate number”.

Jurisdiction of Incorporation *

Select from the drop-down menu your organization’s jurisdiction of incorporation.

Incorporation Number

As shown on your Certificate of Incorporation.

In the province of

Indicate in which province the organization was incorporated.

Date of Incorporation

Indicate the date the organization was incorporated.

Alternate number type and Alternate number

If you do not have a CRA business number or an incorporation number, please provide an alternate identification number and type of alternate number, such as a band number or education number.

Number of employees working for your organization (full-time equivalents) *

Indicate the number of full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) working for your organization (and any affiliated companies if applicable). Part-time employees should be calculated based on their equivalent to an FTE. For example, a part-time employee working approximately 20 hours per week should be represented as 0.5 FTE.

Provide a brief description and summary of your organization.

Describe your organization and explain the organization’s mandate and priorities. Include the date your organization established business in Canada. Indicate if your organization is a subsidiary of another company.

2. Project Information

This section provides a detailed account of the proposed project, including duration, location of activities, and overall plan.

Project Primary Contact Person *

List the name of the person who will be contacted for any follow-up regarding this application.

Project Secondary Contact

This person will be contacted if the primary contact is unavailable.

Project title *

Provide a project title that accurately reflects the activities and results of the project. If you receive funding, this title will be disclosed on the Open Government Portal website.

Project address is the same as Mailing address on the account?

Select “yes” if the address at which the project will be undertaken is the same as the organization’s mailing address. If checked, the mailing address will automatically be entered.

Project address/location (Including suite, unit, apt #)

If the project address is different from the mailing address, enter the location at which the project will take place.

Briefly describe your project activities in plain language.

Summarize the project without using technical language. Outline how the project would support community infrastructure projects for public benefit that will strengthen communities and advance regional economic development. List the key activities you would undertake to achieve the project’s objectives. Please provide explicit details on the work being planned and clearly identify any project risks and mitigation measures to address these risks (e.g., project delays due to weather; challenges in finding contractors; inability to secure confirmed funding). You will be able to provide additional details about project activities later in the application. Please refer to the program website for more information on eligible activities.

Briefly describe the economic benefits associated with this project.

Summarize the incremental economic benefits that would be directly attributable to the project. This could include how many jobs you would create in Canada, how many businesses would benefit, how many communities you would support, or other measurable benefits. Explain how you identified these expected economic outcomes, including any assumptions, and how you will track and report on these outcomes. You will be asked to provide additional details on economic benefits later in the application.

Which regional development agency (RDA) Priority does this project best support?

For projects benefitting Indigenous communities or organizations, please select “Inclusiveness Indigenous”. For other projects, please select “Other”.

Explain how this project supports the indicated priority.

Please summarize how your proposed project’s objectives, activities, and outcomes would support community infrastructure projects for public benefit that will strengthen communities and advance regional economic development. If you selected “Inclusiveness Indigenous”, please also explain how your proposed project supports this priority.

Proposed start date *

Enter the date you propose an agreement between your organization and PacifiCan would come into effect, that is, a proposed project funding start date. In all cases, costs must be incurred and goods received or services rendered after April 30, 2026.

Proposed end date *

Enter the date you would anticipate the project activities would conclude, a proposed project funding end date. Costs must be incurred and goods received or services rendered before March 31, 2030.

3. Funding

This section provides PacifiCan with the key project financing information needed to assess your project.

Project costs *

List the costs you anticipate incurring to implement the project. Providing as much detail as possible at this stage will help expedite the review of your application. Categories of cost could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, salaries, professional services, and travel.

For salaries, list the positions and number of technical and non-technical employees that will be funded under the project salaries costs and their job title (engineer, technician, etc.). Please note that travel (e.g. meetings and site visits) must be in compliance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Travel Directive.

State costs in Canadian dollars (CAD) over the span of the project duration.

Description	Type	Cost
Provide the category of cost as well as a detailed description. List separate costs as separate lines	Indicate whether the cost is capital or non-capital	Provide the estimated cost
Example:
Equipment – Machinery	Capital	$x
Equipment – Installation	Capital	$x
Materials – Lumber	Capital	$x
Signage	Capital	$x
Salaries – Project manager (1)	Non-capital	$x
Salaries – Engineers (2)	Non-capital	$x
Salaries – Technician	Non-capital	$x
Professional services – Legal fees	Non-capital	$x
Professional services - accounting	Non-capital	$x
Travel – site visit	Non-capital	$x

Eligible costs will be limited to costs considered by RDAs as reasonable, incremental, and necessary to achieve project and program outcomes. Examples of eligible costs include:

• costs associated with the construction or improvement (i.e., expansion, renovation, retrofit, climate adaptation or replacement) of community infrastructure
• direct materials and supplies related to the project
• purchase of equipment or machinery directly related to or necessary for the project
• incremental fees paid to professional, technical personnel, consultants and contractors for activities directly related to the project
• incremental wages and benefits for individuals employed for the project
• costs related to meeting legal, regulatory, or government requirements
• design and planning costs (e.g., studies, assessments, design work, and other pre‑construction activities)
• costs related to signage promoting the visibility of federal contributions

Project costs may be retroactively eligible up to 12 months prior to the receipt of a project application but no earlier than April 30, 2026, and must be incurred before March 31, 2030.

Ineligible costs include:

• acquisition or leasing of land, buildings, or other facilities
• recurring operations and maintenance
• motorized vehicles
• amortization or depreciation of assets
• refinancing of existing debt
• hospitality and entertainment
• goodwill, in-kind costs, and the purchase of any assets for more than fair market value
• costs not incremental, reasonable, or necessary

Cash Flows *

Please provide information for each fiscal year in which your project would have cash flows. Estimate your cash flows carefully, as changes will not automatically be approved. PacifiCan’s fiscal year starts on April 1 and ends on March 31 (e.g., Fiscal Year 2026/27 is from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027).

Funding Partners *

The first line in the list is reserved for your own organization. Please add other funding partners or contributors, if any, in subsequent rows to provide funding partners’ information to allow PacifiCan to identify all potential contributors that will provide a monetary contribution to the project. In-kind contributions (e.g., volunteer labour, equipment and material donations, financial discounts for equipment and materials) are not eligible and therefore should not be listed in this section.

Briefly describe any project partnerships (non-financial and financial), including any costs covered.

Please briefly describe any partnerships that would be important to the success of the proposed project. If applicable, explain how your organization avoids and real or perceived conflicts of interest.

4. Benefits

This section describes the objectives and expected outcomes of your project. This section should serve as a rationale for why this project should receive funding.

Primary Activity *

Choose the primary activity that best aligns with your project’s objectives, activities, and outcomes (either creation of community infrastructure or improvement of community infrastructure). Your project may be compared to similar projects of a chosen primary activity. Refer to the program website for more details.

Indicator *

In the Indicator table, targets should represent the incremental results expected as a result of the project, over the period from the proposed funding start date to a date up to one year following the project completion. If the project does not have a value to report for a listed indicator, input “0” and enter a target date. If your project will have economic or other benefits not captured by these indicators, describe them in the following section, about other significant benefits. In providing your response, consider the following indicators:

• Number of jobs created
  A job created refers to a full-time equivalent (FTE) job that did not exist prior to the project, but which was created as a result of the project. One FTE equals one year (12 months) of full-time employment (typically 40 hours per week). Seasonal or part-time employment should be converted to FTEs.
• Number of communities supported
  Number of communities supported refers to the number of communities benefiting from the project.
• Number of community public spaces created, improved, or expanded
  The total count of distinct community public spaces that will be newly created, significantly improved, or expanded as a direct result of the project. A space is counted if it meets at least one of the following criteria:
  • Created: A new public space is built or established where none previously existed.
  • Improved: An existing public space undergoes substantial upgrades that increase usability, accessibility, safety, capacity, or quality.
  • Expanded: An existing public space is physically enlarged or its functional capacity is significantly increased (e.g., added facilities, additional square footage, new amenities).
• Value of Canadian content used
  Canadian content refers to Canadian value‑added in goods, services or labour, including both goods and services. Only the Canadian portion of each good or service is counted.
  • For services: Canadian content reflects work performed by people based in Canada.
  • For goods: Canadian content reflects value added in Canada, such as assembly, customization, installation, integration, training, commissioning, or support carried out in Canada.
• Value of Canadian materials used
  Canadian materials refers only to steel, wood products, and aluminum that are produced and manufactured in Canada. Produced in Canada means materials that have undergone primary manufacturing and fabrication in Canada.  Further details are available in the Policy on Prioritizing Canadian Materials in Federal Procurements.

Please provide information on any other significant economic benefits that your project could achieve. *

List any economic outcomes not covered above, such as long-term plans for the project beyond the funding period, plans to ensure your project continues generating economic benefits after the initial investment, and mechanisms or partnerships you plan to establish to support continuation or scaling of the project. If your project will have other, non-economic benefits, you may describe them here. Explain how the economic outcomes listed above will be achieved. Identify and detail any assumptions you made in estimating the expected economic outcomes of your project. All projects will be screened for the significance of outcomes and their likelihood of achievement.

Does your project have activities that will benefit Francophones? *

If your project activities will benefit Francophones, please select “yes” and explain how it will or could benefit the Francophone community in B.C. and what specific activity or activities will or could be included. If the project will not have targeted impacts on B.C. Francophone communities, select “no” and write “not applicable”.

Clearly outline if the project aligns with other Government of Canada priorities, provincial government priorities, industry needs, and your organization’s long-term research, capital, and/or strategic plans.

Describe whether and how your project advances PacifiCan’s priorities. PacifiCan may give priority to projects that:

• Are “shovel-ready” (i.e., have secured necessary permits and other inputs and will complete construction and be available for public use and/or benefit before March 31, 2030)
• Leverage greater funding from other partners (i.e., more than 50% of total project costs)
• Generate significant economic benefits for the community or region (e.g., create jobs; attracts investment or workers; catalyzes or supports investments in major projects, homebuilding, or the defence industry)
• Benefit Indigenous communities
• Are identified as a priority by local or provincial governments (e.g., in an official community or regional plan)

5. Timelines

By completing this section, you are providing project timeline details, including a full project description, project milestones and dates of expected completion.

Full project description

Describe your project by explaining the following:

• The objectives of your proposed project
• Key activities of the project and how these activities contribute to achieving its objectives
• Your plan to achieve the objectives and key activities
• Engagement and/or commitment(s) from other partners (e.g., industry, other levels of government)
• Any project risks and mitigation measures to address these risks (e.g., project delays, staff turnover, other challenges) to secure confirmed funding and meet or exceed your project’s economic benefits/outcomes

Project timeline – Milestone

Provide a list of significant activities or project milestones that can be measured and tracked to ensure the project is proceeding as planned. A milestone is a project activity that can be clearly defined and measured. These should be significant milestones that will be used to ensure your project’s performance over the course of the project, up to the stated completion date of the project.

Timeline comments *

Add any information needed to clarify the milestones. If no additional information is required, enter “not applicable.”

6. Management

In this section, we want a full picture of your organization’s management and governance. Please provide details about how your organization is currently managed and governed, as well as individuals who drive your organization’s success, including members of the board of directors (if applicable) and key management personnel.

Clearly demonstrate that your organization has effective governance measures in place to execute this project. Indicate how oversight will be provided to the project. *

In this section, explain how your organization is governed (e.g., board of directors, advisory board) and its structure along with a brief explanation of key executives’ credentials (e.g., indicate the level of experience of the board members, such as the number of years of experience each member has on the board of directors).

Please also clearly demonstrate that your organization has effective governance measures in place to provide appropriate oversight of this project. Indicate how these individuals will specifically be involved in providing oversight on the project.

Describe the qualifications and related experience of the key individuals that will be responsible for managing and implementing the project. *

In this section, provide a list of the members of your organization who will be directly managing and implementing the project including their relevant prior experience, education, professional designation(s), and other achievements.

Please also clearly demonstrate that your organization has the management skills and leadership to carry out the project.

7. Additional Details

This section will allow PacifiCan to assess additional project details, including ownership/lease status and project readiness.

Does your organization own the community infrastructure which you are planning to rehabilitate, or is a long-term lease and permission to undertake the renovations in place? *

Choose the option that best describes your organization’s relationship with the infrastructure involved in this project. If the community infrastructure is on a long-term lease, please select “Lease with permission” and attach the lease in the “Documents” tab. Please also indicate the governance relationship between you and the entity that owns the infrastructure.

Are plans and specifications for the project prepared? *

Select “yes” or “no”.

Have all necessary construction permits and environmental approvals been secured? *

Select “yes” or “no”.

If yes, please explain. *

Please advise what permits were necessary, and when the permits were issued. Further, please indicate if the permit requires work to be completed by a specific date. If the project is subject to the Impact Assessment Act, 2019, please advise what stage the approval process is at, and if there are any restrictions or conditions that need to be met.

Are any project activities expected to occur on federal lands? *

Select “yes” or “no”. This will support PacifiCan’s assessment of whether any of the proposed project’s activities would be subject to additional requirements pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act, 2019.

Will your project have a significant impact on Indigenous communities? *

Select “yes” or “no”. Depending on the nature of your project activities, PacifiCan may be expected to complete requirements related to the duty to consult with Indigenous Groups as set out in Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. To find out more, visit the Government of Canada and the duty to consult.

8. Diversity and Inclusion

By completing this section, you are providing information on gender, equity, and diversity. Answering this section is not mandatory and will not be used to determine your eligibility.

Is your organization majority (i.e. over 50%) owned or led by individuals who self-identify as:

If applicable, please indicate whether your organization is led or majority owned by people belonging each of the listed groups. Aggregate and anonymous data may be shared with other federal organizations, and/or published for reporting and monitoring purposes. If you do not know if a particular group is involved in the management team, or prefer not to answer, please select ‘prefer not to answer/do not know’ from the drop-down box.

Will your project directly support any of the following diverse groups?

Select any groups to which your project will provide targeted supports. The purpose of this question is to gather information related to the benefits or targeted clients for the project to see which diverse groups directly benefit from PacifiCan funding. If you do not know if your project will directly support a particular group, or prefer not to answer, just leave the field blank. If “yes” is selected for any of the diverse groups, please explain how your project will directly support the diverse group(s) selected.

9. Documents

Please upload the following mandatory documents (marked *) and supporting documents with your application. Please do not provide your Social Insurance Number on any documentation.

Mandatory Documents

• Copy of Ownership/Lease Agreement *
• Financial Statement for the past two years *: Provide financial statements from the past two complete years and period since the end of the most recent annual statement. They should be reviewed by an external accountant. Interim financial statements may be internally prepared. If you provide internally prepared financial statements, please provide a rationale.
• Confirmed Funding (if applicable) *: Submit proof of confirmed funding of both government and non-government sources with the submission of the application.
• Proof of Permissions to Undertake Renovations (if applicable) *

Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible and will not be assessed.

You may also submit additional supporting documents that may strengthen your application, such as:

• Project plan/Gantt chart
• Proof of regulatory approvals
• Letters of support
• Resolutions to proceed
• Other documentation acknowledging construction readiness

10. Signing Authority

The application form must be submitted by a member of your organization with signing power/authority to enter into a legal agreement. Indicate here the individual within your organization who has signing power/the authority to enter into an agreement. This person may be different from the contact person. Note that the fields marked with the red * need to be completed in order to submit this form.

If you have questions about the Build Communities Strong Fund - Local Impact Stream in British Columbia, or issues submitting your application, please contact us at info@pacifican.gc.ca.