Green Construction through Wood (GCWood)
Created in 2017, the Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) program encourages the deployment of Modern Methods of Construction using advanced wood-based building products, systems, and technologies—such as volumetric modular and prefabricated structural components. To support the Government of Canada’s efforts to address the housing crisis, the program funds projects that demonstrate scalable and replicable solutions to accelerate housing construction and mainstream wood in design and construction.
Offered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Amount
Up to 50% of a project's eligible costs up to a total of $5 million
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Eligible recipients
Eligible recipients are legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as developers, builders, and not-for-profit housing providers; Indigenous organizations and communities; and provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.
Eligible projects
GCWood will fund eligible design, approval, and construction activities associated with projects for multi-unit residential (e.g., apartments, condominiums, purpose-built rental housing) and mixed-use residential (e.g., developments combining housing with commercial, office, community space) buildings. Construction projects related to market rate rental housing, student housing, northern and remote housing, transitional and social housing, and mixed-use buildings with residential components will be considered for funding.
To be considered for funding, projects must incorporate one or more of the following elements:
- deployment of innovative building solutions using wood-based products such as, but not limited to:
- building technologies, systems and design concepts
- MMC elements that improve productivity, quality, cost effectiveness and efficiency, including innovative off-site and on-site processes and products
- use of advanced non-structural bio-products (e.g., wood-based cladding, wood fibre insulation)
Projects that do not fall within these categories will not be eligible under this solicitation process. Due to program timelines, projects must also be at an advanced stage of design or permitting or be shovel-ready to be considered for funding. The applicant will be asked to provide details and support documents proving the status of their project.
Please note that for the purposes of this intake process, MMC refers to any innovative building method that improves how buildings are designed and constructed. It includes both off-site approaches like prefabricated panels and modular units, and on-site innovations like digital tools, robotics, and faster assembly methods. A detailed list of MMC elements is available in the applicant guidebook.
About the funding
The maximum amount payable by the GCWood program is up to 50% of a project’s eligible costs up to a total of $5 million.
Stacking provisions
Prior to signing a contribution agreement, recipients will be required to disclose all expected sources of funding applicable to the proposed project, including contributions from other federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments, as well as private sector sources.
Total government funding (federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of the total project cost.
Show all funding details
The costs associated with the following project design and construction activities are eligible to receive funding (for a full list of eligible activities and expenditures, please consult section 2.3.3 of the applicant guidebook):
Design development, permitting, and construction drawings, including, but not limited to:
- Research and development to support the design and approval of the system, technology or bio-product and that demonstrate code compliance (e.g., fire, seismic, acoustics, building envelope, connections, durability), including engineering design, testing and numerical modelling
- Deployment of MMC on-site and off-site, including efforts associated with streamlining the construction process to lower costs, reduce timelines and minimize construction risks and other uncertainties
- Standardization of the design concept (i.e., preapproved engineering solutions), including the development of prototypes targeting future replicability and scalability
- Development and implementation of construction fire safety and moisture management strategies or plans associated with the design concept, system, technology or bio-product
Construction and post-construction related activities, including but not limited to:
- Cost of innovative wood-based building technology/system and bio-product
- Cost of the manufacturing and processing of wood-based assemblies
- The design and implementation of case studies that include performance data, as well as sharing the results to encourage broader adoption; related eligible costs include the creation of digital and paper documents, like fact sheets, lessons learned, guidance materials, cost analyses, protocols, procedures, instruction manuals, etc.
- In situ testing, instrumentation and monitoring of structure performance associated with the innovative building system and/or technology and bio-based products
Businesses funded by this program
16 businesses funded since 2021
10 most recent recipients
| Business | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|
| SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS CANADA | Toronto, ON | 2025 |
| MTC MASS TIMBER COMPANY LIMITED | Bedford, NS | 2025 |
| 5468796 ARCHITECTURE INC. | Winnipeg, MB | 2025 |
| SAMCON STANLEY PROPERTIES | MONTRÉAL, QC | 2025 |
| PREFAB BUILDINGS INITIATIVE | Kelowna, BC | 2024 |
| TOOKETREE CONSULTING LIMITED | Baysville, ON | 2024 |
| SEAN MASON HOMES (VET LANE) INC. | Markham, ON | 2024 |
| ASSEMBLY CORP. | Toronto, ON | 2024 |
| POST OFFICE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER, 2748251 ONTARIO INC. | Toronto, ON | 2024 |
| SCIUS ADVISORY INC. | Vancouver, BC | 2024 |
Source: Government of Canada, Proactive Disclosure of Grants and Contributions.
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