Rural Enhancement Funding Stream
by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
Also known as: Rural Enhancement Funding Program · Rural Enhancement Program
NOHFC's Rural Enhancement stream funds capital repairs and renovations to community assets (recreation facilities, community halls, municipal assets) in rural Northern Ontario communities under 30,000 population. Communities under 1,500 and Indigenous communities get up to 90% of costs to $200,000; larger communities up to 75% to $500,000, as a conditional contribution. Core infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) is excluded, and fire halls became ineligible effective February 3, 2026.
Key facts
- Amount
- Up to $500,000
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Instrument
- Conditional contribution
- Status
- Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
- Your share
- See terms
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Who qualifies
- Rural municipalities, Indigenous communities, not for profit organizations, Local Services Boards
- Applicant must have or serve a population of less than 30,000
- Eligible projects: incremental improvements, repairs, and/or renovations extending the useful life of capital assets, social and recreational facilities, municipal assets, community halls
- Ineligible: core infrastructure (roads, bridges, water, sewer), administrative space, residential projects, operating expenses, rolling stock, standalone equipment, furniture, studies
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Common questions
How much can my community get?
Communities under 1,500 population and Indigenous communities: up to 90% of eligible costs to a maximum of $200,000. Communities over 1,500 (but under the 30,000 eligibility cap): up to 75% to a maximum of $500,000.
Can we fund a fire hall project?
No, effective February 3, 2026, fire halls and related fire service activities (construction, expansion, renovation, upgrading) are not eligible for NOHFC funding; they are treated as core community infrastructure. NOHFC directs communities to their local Northern Development Advisor for alternative programs.
What projects qualify?
Incremental improvements, repairs, and renovations that extend the useful life of capital assets, social and recreational facilities, municipal assets, and community halls. Roads, bridges, water, sewer, residential projects, operating expenses, rolling stock, standalone equipment, and studies do not qualify.
How does this differ from Enhance Your Community?
Rural Enhancement is restricted to rural applicants having or serving under 30,000 population, with higher cost-share ratios (75-90%) but lower dollar caps ($200,000-$500,000) than the broader Enhance Your Community Program.
Apply
Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: