Low Carbon Communities Program
Support is available for transportation, buildings, electricity and other projects that have the potential to reduce emissions. Funding can be used for community planning, feasibility studies, public engagement sessions, program promotion and demonstration projects.
Types of grants
The Low Carbon Communities Program includes the Connect2 program, and can support community projects in the following areas:
Connect2:
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Active Transportation (AT) Infrastructure and Design
- support for minimum bike grid infrastructure or design
- minimum bike grid network plans
- engineering or feasibility studies
Projects in this category may include:
Grants of up to $100,000 per project are available in this category.
Note: AT infrastructure projects which have had studies or construction phases previously funded through the Connect2 program and are ready for construction in Summer / Fall 2019 are eligible for the Accelerated Stream. Please contact us at connect2@novascotia.ca before July 3, 2019 to learn more.
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Clean Fleets and Shared Mobility
- shared mobility services pilot projects
- zero-emission fleet pilot projects
- bicycle fleet pilot projects, including electric bikes
- zero-emission vehicle fleet conversion strategies
- zero-emission vehicle charging station deployment strategies
- municipal staff training, capacity building, or networks
- education campaigns
- marketing and communications
- public engagement activities
Projects in this category may include:
Grants of up to $75,000 per project are available in this category.
Community Building and Engagement
Projects in this category may include:
Grants of up to $50,000 per project are available in this category.
Low Carbon Communities:
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Advanced Buildings
- community building efficiency - non-electric (energy retrofit audits and design plans)
- demonstration of deep energy retrofits and/or innovative heating systems
- Building energy performance benchmarking, modeling, data collection, and analysis
- advanced building designs and plans
- building policy development, strategies, and implementation plans
- Advanced building industry development
- smart grids and storage
- community or neighbourhood energy planning
- new energy financing mechanisms
- solar garden and solar feasibility studies
- district energy planning and feasibility
- project strategies and implementation plans
- municipal staff training, capacity building, or networks
- education – energy literacy initiatives
- marketing and communications – social marketing
- public engagement activities
- community energy conservation challenges
Projects in this category may include:
Grants of up to $75,000 per project are available in this category.
Electricity
Projects in this category may include:
Grants of up to $75,000 per project are available in this category.
Community Building and Engagement
Projects in this category may include:
Grants of up to $50,000 per project are available in this category.
To Apply
Step 1: Review the Low Carbon Communities or Connect2 Grant Program Description
Step 2: Submit a brief overview (Expression of Interest) of your project idea online by September 18, 2019.
Step 3: You will receive an application form by e-mail from Department of Energy and Mines within 48 hours only if your EOI has been approved. The Program Coordinator may contact you with questions.
Step 4: After receiving an application via e-mail, submit the completed application no later than September 25, 2019. Early application submission is highly encouraged.
- Please do not send scanned applications or hard copies.
- Video and Visual Materials are encouraged.
All applications will be reviewed following the September 25, 2019 deadline. Approved projects will be awarded in Fall 2019.
Questions?
Contact the Program Coordinator at lowcarboncommunities@novascotia.ca or connect2@novascotia.ca