CLER Notional Project Fund

What is the CLER Notional Project Fund?
Why a CLER Notional Project Fund?
Who is eligible to apply?
What projects are eligible for funding?
What are eligible project costs?
What is the application process?
How will projects be selected for funding?

What is the CLER Notional Project Fund?

The CLER Notional Project Fund supports designated CLER program participants in reducing corporate (from municipal operations only) and/or community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Designated CLER program participants are municipalities and community organizations selected to participate in the CLER pilot program.

The CLER Notional Project Fund provides a per-capita share of funding to each of the designated CLER program participants to implement select GHG emissions reduction projects or activities from their council- or board-approved local climate change action plans.

Why a CLER Notional Project Fund?

Reducing GHG emissions can provide economic as well as environmental benefits for municipalities, community organizations, businesses and individual residents. The CLER Notional Project Fund assists CLER communities in realizing these benefits by supporting projects that aim to reduce current Manitoba emissions, provide a good rate of return on investment and/or have broad public appeal.

The CLER program encourages partnerships among municipalities, community organizations, the private sector and not-for-profit organizations. CLER communities are encouraged to lever cash and/or in-kind contributions from other sources in addition to CLER. In-kind support includes the contribution of labour, materials, services, equipment, office space, time or professional services.

Who is eligible to apply?

Only designated CLER program participants are eligible to apply to the CLER Notional Project Fund.

CLER program participants may grant their CLER notional project funding to another organization in their community to deliver a GHG emissions reduction project or activity.

The CLER program participant retains responsibility for all monitoring and reporting related to projects funded through the CLER Notional Project Fund.

What projects are eligible for funding?

CLER notional projects aim to directly reduce current Manitoba GHG emissions. Potential projects could include:

• sustainable transportation such as public transit or active transportation
• energy efficiency and conservation
• waste diversion or reduction
• green landscaping and lawn care
• education and awareness campaigns
• support for community based not-for-profit projects

All GHG emissions reduced through CLER-funded projects will be transferred to the Province of Manitoba to retire towards its Beyond Kyoto commitment. GHG emissions reductions will not be sold or traded.

To be eligible for funding, projects or activities must:

• be included in a council- or board-approved local climate change action plan, completed with confirmed public input
• demonstrate an ability to produce, and report on, quantifiable reductions in current GHG emissions by no later than February 2012
• demonstrate at least one of the following: good GHG reduction potential; positive rate of return on investment; or, broad public appeal
• be consistent with other Province of Manitoba programs, policies or regulations
• be implemented, at least partially, within the designated boundaries of a CLER municipality, planning district or neighbourhood
• demonstrate a collective benefit. Projects or activities cannot solely benefit or contribute to individual or private gain.

What are eligible project costs?

Eligible costs for the CLER Notional Project Fund are:

• purchasing of materials, supplies or services directly related to implementation of the GHG emissions reduction project or activity
• salaries/wages directly related to implementation of the project or activity
• incremental costs to purchase capital equipment directly related to implementation of the project or activity
• costs to educate the community about the project or activity

Up to 20% of project funding may be allocated to project costs directly associated with project administration and reporting.

Ineligible costs for the CLER Notional Project Fund include:

• expenses incurred prior to project approval
• purchase of equipment or services not directly linked to the reduction of current Manitoba GHG emissions
• debt financing
• purchase of property, land or buildings
• administration costs not related to the funded project

Any revenue generated by CLER-funded projects must be re-invested back into the community’s notional projects. Project applications must indicate how revenue generated will be re-invested.

What is the application process?

All applicants must submit a completed CLER Notional Project Fund application to:

    Manager, Community Led Emissions Reduction Program
    Programs and Policy Branch
    Department of Local Government
    604-800 Portage Avenue
    Winnipeg MB R3G 0N4
    Phone: 945-3908
    Fax: 945-5059

Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged by e-mail.

The application must include

• Completed CLER Notional Project Fund application form sent by the municipal chief administrative officer (CAO) / designate or not-for-profit board chair / designate signing off on the project. The application must demonstrate that the project meets all CLER Notional Project Fund eligibility criteria.
• Completed local climate change action plan that includes a summary of the public consultation process.
• Council or board resolution approving the local climate change action plan.
• Identification of project(s) recommended for funding, drawn from the local climate change action plan.
• Budget and implementation strategy for each project.
• Projected GHG emissions reductions per project.
• Proposed method for data collection and project evaluation.

Applicants are encouraged to first consult a CLER project officer to confirm eligibility.

How long is the approval process for project applications?

CLER Notional Project Fund applications will be reviewed to confirm eligibility. This process will take up to three weeks to complete. Once a signed agreement is received, CLER program participants may begin incurring eligible expenses.