Before You Apply

Prior to developing an application, please ensure that both the proposed project and your organization are eligible for funding. If you have any questions regarding eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact us at projects@coastfunds.ca or 604-684-0223.

Eligible Applicants

The community prosperity fund supports community infrastructure, sustainable businesses, and other economic development initiatives led by First Nations that are participating in the Great Bear Sea PFP.

Eligible applicants include:

• The governing bodies of participating First Nations specified in the Great Bear Sea PFP Closing Agreement
• A delegated agent of a participating First Nation
• An entity that is fully or partially controlled by a participating First Nation (e.g. economic development corporation, business development office, Nation-owned business) which has a council resolution from the participating First Nation in support of the project application
• An individual member of a participating First Nation or a business owned by any such member who has a council resolution in support of the project application

Participating First Nations:

Great Bear Sea PFP: Da’naxda’xw, Gitga’at, Gitxaała, Haida, Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk), Haisla, K’ómoks, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Kwiakah, Mamalilikulla, Metlakatla, Nuxalk, Tlowitsis, Wei Wai Kum, Wuikinuxv.

Eligible Projects

The community prosperity fund supports two streams of projects:

Business and Economic Development, which can support the development, acquisition or expansion of businesses; economic development activities, including planning and capacity development; as well as contributions to the operating budgets of eligible projects.

Infrastructure Development, which can support the planning, development, and maintenance of infrastructure that supports conservation, stewardship, culture, and community well-being.

Projects and businesses that may be eligible for funding:

• Aquatic plants and shellfish aquaculture
• Fisheries and community fisheries infrastructure (e.g. refrigeration, boats, warehouses, smoking)
• Technology and communications infrastructure (e.g. broadband internet)*
• Wildlife viewing
• Tourism, including cruises, trails, and strategic cultural/marketing infrastructure*
• Economic development capital corporations that utilize funding standards consistent with the Fund’s policies and guidelines
• Transportation infrastructure (e.g. airports, wharves, marinas, fuel docks)*
• Small business infrastructure (e.g. retail market space, small business or artisan incubator facilities)*
• Cultural, administrative and emergency and operations centres supporting stewardship and conservation efforts.
• Stewardship and community facilities, infrastructure and equipment that support the presence of Guardian programs in communities and remote areas*
• Stewardship and community facilities, infrastructure and equipment that support the stewardship efforts in line with MaPP and the MPA Network*
• Other infrastructure that will support any of the above projects and businesses*

* Please note that infrastructure projects require:

• A document equivalent to a business plan, which may take the form of:
• A business plan for a business that will directly benefit from the infrastructure investment, or
• A summary analysis of the projected direct economic benefits to existing businesses in the community, and the potential for creation of new businesses directly resulting from the infrastructure investment.
• A detailed capital expenditure budget for the infrastructure investment, including valid quotations for materials and construction; and
• A detailed multi-year operating and maintenance (O&M) budget to support the infrastructure.

Funding will not be approved for any of the following activities:

• Activities to promote British Columbia, Canada or the Philanthropy Donors, provided that this restriction will not prevent the Fund from acknowledging the contributions of British Columbia, Canada and the Philanthropy Donors
• Any activity inconsistent with GBS PFP Closing Agreement, or the MPA Network Goals and Design Elements or MPA Conservation Objectives or with MaPP objectives
• Any financial costs or obligations incurred by First Nations with respect to any consultations with any government or corporation concerning that government or corporation’s duty to consult or accommodate, except in support of MPA management or other marine stewardship initiatives
• Costs associated with meeting statutory obligations of the provincial or federal governments or other entities, except in support of marine conservation capacity building for participating First Nations. This restriction is intended to prevent the off-loading of statutory obligations, or the costs of meeting statutory obligations, of the provincial or federal governments to First Nations. This restriction is not intended to preclude the funding of negotiations or discussions between Participating First Nations and the provincial or federal governments regarding the implementation of a conservation or stewardship project or an economic development Project
• Large-scale and/or industrial resource development or extraction projects including fossil fuel exploration, development, or transport facilities; extraction of subsurface resource including undersea mining; bottom trawling; open net-cage finfish aquaculture; or dumping of marine pollutants
• Political activities as defined by the Income Tax Act
• Any activity or expenditure for initiatives not consistent with provincial laws, permits, regulations, established policies, orders and/or approvals
• Any activity inconsistent with the Fund’s constitution
• Federal Commercial Fishing licenses for species targeted for protection in support of the Conservation Objectives of a MPA or the Network Goals and Design Elements
• Trophy hunting for game
• Cetacean, Bear and/or carnivore hunting

Funding Approval Policy

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for applications, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation process for the community prosperity fund. The policy encapsulates the parameters contained in the governing documents as well as recommendations for best practices.

> View the Community Prosperity Fund – Funding Approval Policy