The Government of Canada’s Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) is now accepting applications through the Local Impact Stream. The intent of the Local Impact Stream is to provide support to small projects that create economic benefits through the creation, improvement, or modernization of public infrastructure.
Applications are open to municipal governments, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous organizations. The Local Impact Stream is administered in the Prairie provinces by PrairiesCan. The Local Impact Stream will fund up to 50% of eligible projects, with an allocation of between $250,000 and $1 million per project.
Eligible projects
Eligible projects include the creation and improvement of “community infrastructure,” which is defined by the Government of Canada as “infrastructure that is accessible to the public (not primarily limited to paid membership) that provides economic, social, or environmental benefits to the broader community, region, or to Canada.” RMA’s understanding is that projects related to core infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water/wastewater systems would not be eligible for funding under the Local Impact Stream. Core infrastructure is expected to be eligible under other streams of the BCSF that are still under development. The intent of Local Impact Stream is related to construction or expansion of facilities that support community or economic development.
PrairiesCan will prioritize shovel-ready projects for which construction activities begin and associated costs can be incurred in the 2026-27 construction season.
Deadline and submission process
The deadline to submit an application for the first round of funding is July 17, 2026. Future rounds of funding are expected to open in the coming months. Applicants are required to submit a project plan as outlined in the applicant guide, which includes verification of funding sources for project costs not covered by the BCSF.
Other BCSF Streams
RMA is currently seeking information from both the governments of Alberta and Canada on the progress of other BCSF streams, including the Provincial and Territorial Stream, through which funding is expected to be made available to municipalities (through the Government of Alberta) for core infrastructure projects.
For more information, contact RMA’s Policy and Advocacy Team at advocacy@rmalberta.com or 825.319.2383.