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Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund (SCCF)

Grants for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in NS, from coastal restoration to renewable energy, supporting community-led climate action.

  • Provider
    NS Department of Environment and Climate Change
  • Closed

Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund (SCCF)

Grants for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in NS, from coastal restoration to renewable energy, supporting community-led climate action.

  • Provider
    NS Department of Environment and Climate Change
  • Closed
  • DETAILS
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Categories
  • Environment, water and climate change
  • Planning and development
Description

The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is a provincial grant program that supports community-led climate action across Nova Scotia. The Fund supports projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, and/or helps communities prepare for and respond to climate change impacts. The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities administers the program on behalf of the NS Department of Environment and Climate Change.

The Fund supports adaptation and mitigation projects ranging from renewable energy installations and deep energy retrofits to coastal restoration, forest and wildfire vulnerability assessments, and flood mitigation initiatives.

Projects are funded through two distinct streams: Mitigation and Adaptation. The Mitigation Stream focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere, while the Adaptation Stream helps communities build capacity to respond to climate change impacts. Some projects may incorporate elements of both streams.

The fund was established under the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and launched in November 2022 with $15 million in funding. The program received an additional $15.4 million in September 2023 and has been extended through 2028.

Funding Streams:

Mitigation Stream

Projects in the Mitigation Stream seek to slow the rate of climate change by avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions or by removing carbon from the atmosphere. Focus areas include:

  • Buildings (e.g., deep energy retrofits, energy-efficient construction)
  • Transportation (e.g., low-carbon transportation initiatives, electric vehicle infrastructure)
  • Energy generation and storage (e.g., renewable energy installations, battery storage)
  • Waste management and circular economy (e.g., waste reduction, composting programs)
  • Carbon storage and sequestration (e.g., tree planting, wetland restoration)

Adaptation Stream

Projects in the Adaptation Stream help communities improve their capacity to adapt to climate change, with the goal of reducing vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems. Focus areas include:

  • Climate-ready infrastructure (e.g., flood-resistant infrastructure, heat mitigation)
  • Ecosystems and nature-based solutions (e.g., coastal restoration, green infrastructure)
  • Community coordination and planning (e.g., climate adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments)

Project Requirements

To be eligible, projects must:

  • Be based in Nova Scotia
  • Meet at least one of the two core objectives (mitigation or adaptation)
  • Be led by one of the eligible applicant groups: Nova Scotia municipalities, First Nations bands and tribal councils, post-secondary institutions, registered non-profit organizations active in Nova Scotia

Eligible Project Stages

The fund supports projects at various stages of the project development cycle:

  • Ideation and assessment
  • Feasibility studies
  • Planning and design
  • Implementation
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Knowledge mobilization and sharing
Resources
  • Funder's website
    • Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
    • • Mitigation Stream
    • • Adaptation Stream
  • Subscribe to fund updates
    • Join the mailing list to be notified when the next SCCF funding round opens
  • Contact
    • info@sccfns.ca

     

Deadline
  • April 22, 2025
Important Dates
  • Application deadline
    Round 3 is closed; Round 4 is expected to launch in early 2026
Eligible Applicants
  • Municipalities
  • First Nations
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • Registered Charities
Funding Details
  • Estimated amount per fund
    $75,000 to $1,000,000 per project
  • Letter of Intent Required
    No (pre-screening form required)
  • Funding Notes
    • Contribution Requirements
    • Projects with total eligible costs up to $249,999:
    • • Minimum 20% applicant contribution required
    • • Fund provides up to 80% of eligible costs
    • Projects with total eligible costs $250,000 to $499,999:
    • • Minimum 30% applicant contribution required
    • • Fund provides up to 70% of eligible costs
    • Projects with total eligible costs $500,000+:
    • • Minimum 40% applicant contribution required
    • • Fund provides up to 60% of eligible costs
    • Provincial Stacking Rules:
    • Grants from SCCF are considered provincial funds. No more than 80% of total project costs can be covered by the Province.
How to Apply
  • Fund Guidelines
    • Available here
  • Online Application
    • • Review the Applicant Guide
    • • Create an account in the Submittable portal
    • • Complete the pre-screening form
    • • If eligible, proceed with full application
    • • Submit application before deadline

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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.

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