Build Communities Strong Fund Provincial and Territorial stream

The Regional Development Corporation (RDC) has signed a multi-year agreement with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)  to support strategic infrastructure investments to strengthen communities, increase housing supply and promote long-term economic growth in New Brunswick.

The Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) aims to invest in a broad range of infrastructure types, including housing-enabling, education, and health infrastructure. NB’s federal allocation under the bilateral agreement is $461.4 million.  $155.5 million is dedicated to the health-related sub-stream, and $306 million is dedicated to the housing and education-related sub-stream.

The housing-related sub stream is being administered by the RDC on behalf of the Province of New Brunswick and Government of Canada, with support from partnering departments. The health-related infrastructure is being administered by the Department of Health, with support from RDC.

The following are eligible to apply for BCSF funding:

• Local governments
• Regional Service Commissions
• Provincial government
• First Nations
• Incorporated not-for-profit organizations
• Public or not-for-profit post-secondary institutions
• Private sector, for-profit organizations

For more information, please see Schedule A, Section A.2 (Ultimate Recipients) of the NB-Canada agreement.

Eligible projects

Eligible projects include the construction, expansion, renovation, retrofit or replacement of assets under the following categories:

• drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure 
• local roads and bridges
• public transit systems and related infrastructure
• active transportation infrastructure or networks
• community Infrastructure, which includes community centres, libraries, cultural centres, parks, aquatics centres and pools, recreation centres, recreational arenas, child and youth centres, community adult learning centres, senior day centres, monuments, community theatres, convention centres, sports facilities, arts and culture facilities, green spaces, etc. 
• college and university infrastructure: 
  • academic buildings
  • laboratories
  • libraries 
  • sport and recreation complexes
• natural Infrastructure when related to the above asset categories  

Planning projects can be considered eligible for funding if they support the potential construction of a capital infrastructure project that would be eligible under this program.

Funding

Under BCSF, Canada and New Brunswick will provide matching contributions for each project. Provincial and federal contributions are expected to be 33.33 to 40 % from each government, for most projects. Provincial and federal contributions to large infrastructure projects may be subject to a contribution cap. Recipients may receive the following funding for approved projects:

• Up to eighty percent (80% - 40% federal, 40% provincial) of Eligible Expenditures for local governments, regional governments, public sector bodies, and not-for-profit organizations.  
• One hundred percent (100% federal) of Eligible Expenditures for Indigenous Recipients. 
• Up to fifty percent (50% federal) of Eligible Expenditures for provincial government projects.
• Up to twenty-five percent (25% federal) of Eligible Expenditures for any for-profit, private sector Recipients.

Planning costs for capital projects are retroactively eligible up to 2 years prior to project approval but no earlier than February 26, 2026.

RDC is now accepting applications for BCSF funding under the housing-related infrastructure sub-stream. There is no deadline to apply.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply by:

• completing the RDC’s standard application form (PDF 423 KB) 

Completed applications should be sent to [email protected]. Applications should be signed by authorized parties and be as complete as possible, including supporting information such as housing needs assessments, business cases, detailed costing, site plans, designs, etc.

Once received, RDC will work with the applicant to revise and finalize the submission. Applications will be assessed against program criteria.