Important note:
The program budget is limited. Please contact Ché Curtis-September, or your FedNor Officer to discuss your project.
Northern Ontario has seen a surge in Indigenous participation in the clean energy sector. First Nations leaders have been at the forefront of clean technology opportunities, including hydro, wind, and solar, as well as biomass generation. The Northern Ontario Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (NOICE) aims to help Indigenous-led clean energy projects establish, optimize and grow in the region.
Funded through the federal Strategic Partnerships Initiative of Indigenous Services Canada, and led by FedNor, the NOICE will provide projects with a targeted support team of funders to coordinate project funding and services to fill gaps and address community capacity, as well as project planning, implementation, and optimization of clean energy opportunities.
Expected Results
Results generated by FedNor's investments in NOICE will include:
- Increased capacity of Indigenous communities to address economic and business development opportunities related to clean energy.
- Strengthened community economic competitiveness through implementation of clean energy projects to diversify and stimulate business investment and growth.
- Enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to plan and implement Indigenous-led clean energy projects in Northern Ontario.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants located in Northern Ontario include:
- Indigenous (First Nation/Métis) communities and organizations; and
- Indigenous-owned entities such as an Indigenous/First Nation/Métis settlement-owned businesses
All eligible applicants must be able to demonstrate broad benefit of the project to at least one Indigenous community in Northern Ontario.
Eligible Activities
Activities directly associated with Indigenous clean energy projects are eligible within the following three (3) categories:
- Capacity Building: Building First Nations capacity to identify and prioritize clean energy opportunities including through strategic or comprehensive community planning, apprenticeships or mentorships, workforce planning, consultations, and engagement coordination.
- Project Planning: Supporting planning and preparatory activities related to clean energy project opportunities and business developments, including, for example, workforce development and training, feasibility studies, project management, engineering and business planning.
- Project Implementation and Optimization: Funding clean energy project capital construction, equipment and upgrades for small to medium-scale energy generation projects where a gap in funding exists.
Examples of eligible project activities include:
- pre-feasibility and feasibility studies; diagnostic studies; environmental evaluations; information gathering; proposal development; market assessments; strategic, business and financial planning; community economic development planning; negotiations; and research activities;
- organizational capacity for the Indigenous communities or organizations mandated to lead and/or support the implementation of clean energy projects;
- skills development including management and technical training;
- construction, architectural, engineering and project design activities;
- economic infrastructure development; and
- establishment, expansion or modernization of an Indigenous community-owned clean energy related business.
For more information
Please contact FedNor Initiatives Officer Ché Curtis-September at 249-377-5304 or email Ché Curtis-September to discuss your project. Or if you prefer, you can reach out to your FedNor Officer who serves your region to initially discuss your project.