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Planning Assistance Program

Provincial grants assisting organizations and municipalities with professional planning, design, and research for sport and recreation facilities.

  • Provider
    NS Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
  • Closed

Planning Assistance Program

Provincial grants assisting organizations and municipalities with professional planning, design, and research for sport and recreation facilities.

  • Provider
    NS Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
  • Closed
  • DETAILS
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Categories
  • Parks and recreation
  • Planning and development
Description

The Planning Assistance Program helps organizations obtain professional expertise required to research, assess or design new facilities or expand existing facilities that advance sport and recreation in Nova Scotia. The program supports projects that respond to community priorities and the Shared Strategy for Advancing Recreation in Nova Scotia.

Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage is committed to ensuring programs and services are free of discrimination and barriers, and value equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA).

Critical Facility Requirement:

The facility must have recreation, sport, and/or physical activity as its primary function, and must be open to all members of the public at reasonable times and at a reasonable rate or no cost.

Eligible Projects:

  • General Facility Planning: Needs assessments, feasibility studies, master plans and facility operation plans
  • Schematic Design: For new or renovated facilities and landscaping, including preliminary cost estimates
  • Research Projects: Investigation of specific topics to gather data, test theories, or solve problems to guide decision-making
  • Building Audits: Professional forecasting of building component replacement, resulting in development of life cycle plan for facility

Project Requirements:

  • Project end dates must be before March 1 of following calendar year (e.g., projects funded in 2025 must end before March 1, 2026)
  • Applicants strongly encouraged to contact Regional Manager before applying
  • Terms of Reference, Request for Proposal, or Statement of Work must be attached to completed application
  • Applicants expected to follow organization's procurement policies; if none exist, obtain three quotes recommended
  • Only project expenses incurred after application submitted or file opened with Regional Manager are eligible for reimbursement
  • Final report required upon project completion (written report, financial statement, copy of consultant's report)
  • All overdue final reports for previously funded applications must be submitted before new applications considered
Resources
  • Funder's website
    • Planning Assistance Program
  • Contact
      • Cape Breton Region
      • • Email: capebretonregion@novascotia.ca
      • • Phone: 902-578-4813
      • Central Region
      • • Email: centralregion@novascotia.ca
      • • Phone: 902-578-4813
      • Fundy Region
      • • Email: fundyregion@novascotia.ca
      • • Phone: 902-338-0659
      • Highland Region
      • • Email: highlandregion@novascotia.ca
      • • Phone: 902-338-0659
      • South Shore Region
      • • Email: southshoreregion@novascotia.ca
      • • Phone: 902-698-9407
      • Valley Region
      • • Email: valleyregion@novascotia.ca
      • • Phone: 902-698-9407
Important Dates
  • Application deadline
    Application period: April 1 to December 1 (annually)
  • Anticipated Open Date
    2026-04-01
Eligible Applicants
  • Municipalities
  • First Nations
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • Municipal-owned Organizations
Funding Details
  • Estimated amount per fund
    Up to $10,000 per project
  • Funding Notes
    • Up to 50 % of total project costs
    • Special cases: Projects with inter-municipal or large-scale planning may receive more (requires Regional Manager approval)
    • Total provincial contributions cannot exceed 75 % of total project costs
How to Apply
  • Fund Guidelines
    • Available here
  • Online Application
    • Contact Regional Manager to discuss project
    • Prepare Terms of Reference, Request for Proposal, or Statement of Work
    • Complete and sign application form
    • Application reviewed by staff
    • If approved, Terms and Conditions agreement sent for signature
    • Payment issued after agreement signed and submitted

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Disclaimer

We make every effort to ensure the program details in this guide are accurate. In the event of a discrepancy between this guide and the funder’s official website, the information on the program website will take precedence.

© 2026 Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

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