Local Blue Economy Growth Fund
| Call for applications is now open. Sign up to receive updates and reminders about upcoming deadlines, virtual information sessions, and program announcements. |
| Download the LBEGF Application Package. |
Funding for Green Infrastructure and Low-impact Development Projects
Helping municipalities and Indigenous communities improve water quality and build climate resilience.
Persistent and emergent pressures on water quality from extreme weather events, community growth, and legacy and emerging contaminants across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region are intensifying and outpacing the capacity of municipalities and other organizations to effectively protect infrastructure and maintain water quality.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (“Cities Initiative”) has launched the Local Blue Economy Growth Fund Program (LBEGF) to support Cities Initiative member municipalities and First Nations communities in Ontario with project-based funding for green infrastructure, innovative water management technologies, and low impact development solutions to stormwater and wastewater management. This program will lay the foundation for advancing the Cities Initiative’s Economic Transformation Action Plan to build a stronger, more resilient Fresh Coast Economic Corridor.
Expected Outcomes
Projects funded by the Local Blue Economy Growth Fund are expected to promote healthy lakes and rivers, reduce water pollution and improve water quality, and strengthen community climate resilience, while contributing to the growth of Ontario’s freshwater blue economy through the adoption of innovative water technology solutions.
Funding Snapshot
| Total funding available: | $1,000,000 |
| Maximum funding amount per project: | $50,000 |
| Minimum funding amount per project: | $5,000 |
| Required matching funds: | Communities with populations greater than 250,000 must provide at least 20% matching funds (cash or in kind) to be eligible. |
| Project duration: | Application intake 1: 16 months Application intake 2: 11 months |
| Project completion: | All projects must be completed and final reports submitted by 11:59 PM ET December 31, 2027. |
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements:
- Be located in Ontario
- Be a municipal government or First Nations community
- Be a member in good standing of the Cities Initiative as of the date of application
Note: Regional Affiliates (i.e., lower tier municipalities of a county or regional municipality that is a member) are not eligible to apply unless they are themselves a member in good standing of the Cities Initiative. If you’re unsure about your organization’s eligibility, contact us at lbegf@glslcities.org.
The applying organization must have primary responsibility for overseeing, managing, and delivering the project.
What projects are eligible for funding?
Proposed projects must focus on one or more of the following activities with the goal of promoting healthy lakes and rivers, improving water quality, and/or strengthening community climate resilience:
- Pollution capture and contaminant removal
- Stormwater and wastewater treatment and filtration
- Smart and innovative technology solutions for stormwater management
- Circular economy and resource recovery practices
- Nature-based and green stormwater infrastructure
Ineligible Projects
Projects that focus on the following are ineligible for funding:
- Drinking water
- Community engagement
- Shoreline stewardship
- Ecosystem restoration
Eligible Costs
Eligible costs are those that are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the delivery of approved project activities. Costs are considered eligible only if they are incurred on or after the effective date of the funding agreement and no later than the date of submission of the final report.
All costs must be supported by appropriate documentation and are subject to review by the Cities Initiative. The following are considered eligible costs:
- Technology and equipment costs (for the length of the funding agreement)
- Professional and contracted services (for the length of the funding agreement)
- (up to 10% of the total grant amount)
- Materials and supplies, including printing and promotional materials
Ineligible Project Costs
- Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the funding agreement
- Costs incurred after the submission of the final report
- Overhead and core administrative costs (e.g., rent)
- Insurance
- Capital expenses related to the purchase, construction, or betterment of tangible capital assets for use in the organization’s operation on a continuous basis
- Land securement
- Clothing
- Appreciation gifts
- Honoraria other than for Indigenous Elders or community knowledge holders
- Refundable harmonized sales tax (HST)
- Legal costs (including but not limited to litigation)
Please note the above list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure about cost eligibility, contact us.
Attend a virtual information session
The Cities Initiative will hold two (2) virtual information sessions, one for each application intake, to help eligible applicants prepare for upcoming application deadlines. These virtual information sessions will include details about the program, the funding available, the eligible project types and costs, and tools and guidance on preparing a strong application.
| Intake 1 – Virtual Information Session | 2:00 PM ET Thu, May 28, 2026 | Register |
| Intake 2 – Virtual Information Session | 2:00 PM ET Thu, Oct 8, 2026 | Register |
How to apply
There will be two application intakes: Thu, May 7, 2026 and Fri, Sep 18, 2026 for implementation by December 31, 2027.
All applicants must submit a completed application package by the deadline to be considered for funding. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Application Deadlines
| Intake 1 – Call for applications | Thu, May 7, 2026 |
| Intake 1 – Application deadline | 5:00 PM ET Fri, Jun 19, 2026 |
| Intake 2 – Call for applications | Fri, Sep 18, 2026 |
| Intake 2 – Application deadline | 5:00 PM ET Fri, Nov 13, 2026 |
Download the application package
The provided application package includes the following:
- Grant guidelines (PDF)
- Application questions worksheet (DOC) to help you prepare your final application.
- Final Application (PDF) that must be submitted alongside the supporting documents.
- Supporting documents templates (XLSX) which includes the project budget, workplan, cashflow forecast, and performance measures templates.
| Download the LBEGF Application Package. |
Key Dates
| Intake 1 – Call for applications | Thu, May 7, 2026 |
| Intake 1 – Virtual information session | Thu, May 28, 2026 |
| Intake 1 – Application deadline | 5:00 PM ET Fri, Jun 19, 2026 |
| Intake 2 – Call for applications | Fri, Sep 18, 2026 |
| Intake 2 – Virtual information session | Thu, Oct 8, 2026 |
| Intake 2 – Application deadline | 5:00 PM ET Fri, Nov 13, 2026 |
| Project Completion and Final Report Submission Deadline | 11:59 PM ET Dec 31, 2027 |
Contact
If you have any questions, contact Calantha Elsby, Ontario Program Manager, at lbegf@glslcities.org.
Acknowledgment
This project has received funding support from the Government of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Government of Ontario of the contents of this material.
FAQ
Can an organization submit more than one application per intake?
Yes–as long as each project submission is distinct from the other. In other words, a single organization can submit more than one application for two separate projects.
What are some examples of projects that would be eligible for funding?
Below is a non-exhaustive list of example projects. If you are unsure whether your project is eligible, please contact us at lbegf@glslcities.org.
- Pollution capture and contaminant removal: Catch basin inserts, oil and grit separators, sediment traps.
- Stormwater and wastewater treatment and filtration: Membrane filtration, membrane bioreactors, biofilters.
- Smart and innovative technology solutions for stormwater management: IoT sensors, digital twinning, predictive analytics and machine learning systems.
- Circular economy and resource recovery practices: Greywater reuse systems, nitrogen recovery systems, two-pass reverse osmosis.
- Nature-based and green stormwater infrastructure: Rain gardens, bioswales, infiltration trenches, green curbside systems.
How will projects be evaluated?
Projects will undergo a three-stage evaluation process:
- An administrative review
- A technical review
- An internal review
You can find details for each in the Application Guidelines.