Nova Scotia Funding Portal
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Agriculture and farming
    • Arts, culture and heritage
    • Education, science and research
    • Emergency services and public safety
    • Employment, training
    • Environment, water and climate change
    • Health and human services
    • Housing, retrofits and new construction
    • Parks and recreation
    • Planning and development
    • Solid waste and wastewater
    • Transit and active transportation
  • News & Updates
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • Tips and Guides
    • FAQ
  • Contact
Subscribe to Updates
Sign in
Subscribe to Updates

Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund (SCCF)

The Fund supports community efforts to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, and/or to prepare for and respond to the impacts of a changing climate.

  • Provider
    NS Department of Environment and Climate Change
  • Closing Soon

Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund (SCCF)

The Fund supports community efforts to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, and/or to prepare for and respond to the impacts of a changing climate.

  • Provider
    NS Department of Environment and Climate Change
  • Closing Soon
  • DETAILS
  • prev
  • next
  • prev
  • next
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
  • Information Sessions
    • Information webinar: June 11, 2026 at 10:30AM
  • Contact
    • info@sccfns.ca

     

Important Dates
  • Application Deadline
    June 25, 2026
  • Anticipated Open Date
    May 28, 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
    • Round 4 Applicant Guide
  • 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

You May Also Be Interested In

Capacity Development Partner Grants

  • Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) – Green Municipal Fund (GMF)
  • Supports organizations delivering climate adaptation training and capacity-building for local governments.
  • Closing Soon
    • Deadline: July 21, 2026

    Build Communities Strong Fund – Local Impact Stream

    • Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
    • Supports small-scale community infrastructure projects that improve public spaces, community assets, and climate resilience across Atlantic Canada.
    • Active
      • Deadline: Ongoing intake

      Broadband Fund - Call 4

      • Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
      • Supports broadband infrastructure projects that improve high-speed Internet access in underserved Canadian communities.
      • Active
        • Deadline: August 13, 2026
        Facebook X-twitter Linkedin Youtube
        Menu
        • About Us
        • FAQ
        • Contact Us
        • Subscribe to Updates

        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

        Cart