Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII) in the Prairie Provinces
Through the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is providing direct support to eligible businesses to help enhance the local housing supply chain and advance innovation in the residential construction sector.
The RHII supports businesses that are seeking to scale-up, improve productivity, and commercialize or adopt technology in the residential homebuilding sector. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses.
Offered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
Amount
Interest-free repayable contribution of up to 50% of total eligible costs, minimum funding request of $200,000 and maximum of $5,000,000 per project, repaid over 5 years beginning 1 year after the project end date
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Organizations are limited to one RHII project approval per calendar year.
You must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for this program.
- You’re a growing business that is scaling up and producing innovative goods, services, or technologies in the home building industry.
- You’re incorporated to conduct business in Canada.
- You’ve been in business for at least 2 years in Canada.
- You have staffed operating facilities in the Prairie provinces.
- You have confirmed, at the time of expression of interest submission, funding from all other sources, including government and non-government (non-government funding must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs).
Indigenous applicants
Indigenous-led organizations and businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.
Eligible activities
Your project must focus on advancing innovative homebuilding solutions and boosting manufacturing efficiency in the homebuilding sector through activities such as:
- Productivity Improvement: Investing in manufacturing and construction technology to increase productivity and accelerate housing production, such as modular, mass timber construction, and panelized construction.
- Business Scale-up: Adapting, adopting, and scaling innovative construction methods such as prefabrication/modular construction (designing and upscaling) and 3D printing.
- Technology Commercialization: Investing in innovation, demonstration, commercialization and/or uptake of new materials and methods for residential home construction and its supply chains (e.g., technology acquisition, automation, energy efficiencies), that accelerate home construction.
The RHII is open to incorporated businesses that have been operating in the Prairie Provinces for a minimum of 2 years. Preference may be given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 500 full-time employees (FTEs).
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