FCM's Green Municipal Fund doubles funding, expands eligibility for municipal
green projects

OTTAWA, Nov. 30 /CNW/ - Karen Leibovici, second vice-president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), chair of FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF) Council, and City of Edmonton councillor, announced more GMF funding and broader eligibility requirements for municipal environmental projects in Canada at the November meeting of FCM's National Board of Directors.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce that FCM is increasing its GMF loan and grant amounts for green capital projects, as well as broadening our eligibility criteria and adding flexibility in terms of disbursement and payback," declared Leibovici.

FCM has increased GMF loan and grant limits for capital projects from a $4 million low-interest loan with a 10% grant, to a $10 million low-interest loan with a 20% grant, up to a maximum grant of $1 million. Total grant funding is up from $8 million to $12 million each year. Added Leibovici: "These important changes are key milestones in our ongoing work to understand and meet the needs of municipal governments and their partners."

Along with the higher funding limits, FCM has broadened eligibility for GMF funding and structured it on environmental objectives or outcomes as opposed to specific project types. FCM also added flexibility in terms of the number and timing of disbursements and payback, and eliminated penalties so that municipal governments can have more confidence about the total amount they can expect to receive once they have been approved for funding. Funding details and a new online application form are available on the GMF website.

Through GMF, FCM funds sustainable community plans, feasibility studies and field tests, and capital projects in five sectors: brownfields, energy, transportation, waste and water. There is no specified funding limit for brownfield remediation projects, one of GMF's funding priorities.

GMF funding is available to all municipal governments and their partners in eligible projects.

The Government of Canada endowed FCM with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.

For further information:

Maurice Gingues
Media Relations Officer
Green Municipal Fund
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Tel.:  [phone]
Fax:  [phone]
E-mail:  [email protected]
www.fcm.ca/gmf