Bringing It Home Project Accelerator Program – Canada

Deadline: 30-Aug-2024

The Indigenous Clean Energy is inviting applications for the Bringing It Home Project Accelerator Program.

The Project Accelerator is designed to support the development of Indigenous energy efficiency housing projects. They accept applications from all First Nation, Inuit, Métis communities, and Indigenous housing organizations who are committed to making improvements to housing.

Over 18 months, participating communities will receive virtual and in-person training and access to a national network of experts and mentors to support the creation of a project plan.

Each community will select a Project Steward to participate in training and lead the project development, using knowledge and resources gained from the program. The Project Accelerator is a community-scale initiative. Strong projects are rooted in community with active involvement of leadership, staff, and members.

The in-person training takes a deep dive into project development and includes site visits, hands-on activities, and time to work on projects. Sessions are led by Indigenous mentors, industry experts, and leaders across many areas of energy efficiency and housing.

Examples of session topics include:

• Maintenance Education for Community Members
• Project Development and Financing
• Quality Assurance at Every Stage
• Proposal Writing
• Project Budgeting

How it Works?

• The program will guide participants through two phases:
  • Phase 1 (January – June 2025) – In the first 6 months of the program, participants will attend a webinar series and a week of in-person training. The curriculum covers the basics of energy efficiency and project development practices. Using this knowledge, participants will begin initial community project work and submit a project development work plan.
  • Examples of project work include:
    • Community engagement and project visioning
    • Engagement with community leadership
    • Building a project team
    • Gathering community housing and skills information
    • Gap and opportunity assessment
  • Phase 2 (July 2025 – July 2026) – Over 12 months, participants will go through comprehensive project development to complete their project plan. This phase includes a second week of in-person intensive learning and hands-on training.

Benefits

• Participating communities and organizations who meet program deliverables can receive two rounds of grant funding to directly support project development:
  • Project Kick-Start Funding: In Phase 1 participants will be awarded up to $25,000. This grant is designed to support initial planning and community work.
  • Project Development Funding: Participants who complete Phase 1 and meet deliverables will be eligible for up to $100,000 to support project development.
• In addition to the grants, the program will offer:
  • Coaching and Mentorship: Project Stewards will have access to 1-on-1 mentorship with technical experts and project coaches to support their work.
  • Wrap-Around Support: Wrap-around supports are offered to Project Stewards to cover childcare or other personal needs to enable full participation in the training.

What work will need to be done during the Project Accelerator? 

• The scale of energy efficiency work that will be developed through the program is a major undertaking. The scope of work can be similar to a medium-sized renewable energy project.   The following are examples of project activities that will need to be undertaken by the community/organization under the leadership of the Project Steward:
  • Community engagement and project visioning
  • Engagement and communication with community leadership
  • Gathering community housing and skills information
  • Assessing gaps and opportunities for capacity development and project implementation
  • Scoping the energy efficiency project
  • Developing an implementation plan
    • Project scope and components
    • Timelines
    • Estimated project impacts
    • Financial pro forma
    • Description of community support

Program Impacts

• They recognize that energy efficiency is rarely the top priority for housing in Indigenous communities. However, energy efficiency can drive co-benefits that are important to community members, such as improved health, durability, and availability. By enhancing capacity in energy efficiency, they believe that communities can use the connection between clean energy and sustainable investment to make lasting improvements to housing.
• Through this program, participants will walk away with:
  • A comprehensive energy efficiency project plan
  • The ability to lead energy efficiency project work
  • Enhanced literacy and knowledge of financing for energy efficiency
  • Knowledge of healthy housing and how to make lasting change
  • An established network with other communities, energy efficiency leaders, and partners
  • Enhanced skills related to community engagement, asset management, and maintenance

Criteria

• They will be accepting up to 20 participants, pending funding.

For more information, visit Indigenous Clean Energy.