The Municipal Innovation Program (MIP) supports regional governance, regional economic development and regional planning by encouraging Nova Scotia municipalities to work together on collaborative initiatives.

The program is designed to help municipalities achieve three key outcomes: new or enhanced regional municipal services, improved capacity to respond to municipal and regional priorities, and effective intermunicipal relations through joint and collaborative activities.

Eligible project categories:

• Collaboration frameworks and planning: Creation of project plans determining how municipalities will collaborate; cost/benefit studies for agreed-upon approaches; regional land use planning including creation, review, or harmonization of municipal planning strategies and land-use bylaws; by-law harmonization between municipalities.
• Regional economic development: Regional planning initiatives to zone land for development; coordination of infrastructure investments with regional economic development plans; regional tax-base sharing agreements; streamlining development and business approval processes; coordination activities with federal and provincial departments.
• Capacity building and dispute resolution: Collaborative processes and protocol development including dispute resolution mechanisms; professional services supporting action and implementation plans; shared term positions building capacity across participating municipalities; designation, sale, or transfer of land or assets between municipal units.

Project requirements:

Applications require a minimum of two municipal partners. Regional municipalities may apply but should contact the Department to discuss eligibility. All partner municipalities must make financial contributions (not necessarily equal). Maximum two applications per municipality.

The Department encourages municipalities to engage with Regional Enterprise Networks and strongly encourages including First Nations and other under-represented communities as project partners. Proposals with more collaborating municipalities or benefiting larger populations may receive special consideration.