Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) Program
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Non-repayable contributions for demonstration projects that use innovative mass timber and engineered wood products in non-residential, tall wood, and multi-unit residential buildings. Funds the incremental costs of being a 'first mover' in wood-intensive construction, supporting updated building codes, reduced construction emissions, and accelerated housing delivery.
Eligibility Requirements
- Legal entities incorporated or registered in Canada
- For-profit corporations and not-for-profit organizations
- Industry associations and standards associations
- Indigenous organizations and groups
- Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments
- Housing developers and housing providers (for 2026 MURB stream)
- Project must demonstrate innovative wood-based building products or technologies
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $5,000,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Periodic Calls for Proposals — 2026 call for multi-unit residential buildings opening February 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe EOI form takes only 30-60 minutes. The strongest applications demonstrate clear replicability: NRCan wants projects that can be copied across Canada, not one-off architectural showcases. Join the mailing list immediately ([email protected]) — call windows are short. Highlight domestically manufactured Canadian wood products given Buy Canadian Policy priority. Projects combining mass timber with modular/prefabricated methods are particularly favoured under the 2026 MURB stream.
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Rejection Pitfalls 5
- Project uses conventional wood framing rather than innovative engineered wood products
- Lack of replicability — one-off architectural projects with no broader adoption pathway
- Insufficient co-funding commitments
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Success Profile
Construction firm, developer, or building owner with an active project in design or pre-construction phase incorporating mass timber or engineered wood products. Has architectural and structural engineering teams experienced in wood construction, secured building permits or clear permitting pathway, and can demonstrate the project will be replicable across Canada.
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Evaluation Criteria
Two-stage competitive process. Mandatory criteria: applicant and project eligibility, use of Canadian-manufactured structural wood, off-site prefabricated wood materials, commitment to knowledge sharing and duty to consult. Rated criteria: innovation and cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility and business case, applicant experience and expertise, value for investment and project readiness, and benefits to Canadians. Projects prioritized for high unit volume, scalability/replicability, speed of construction, and Canadian-sourced wood products.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 8
- Research and development for innovative wood-based building system design and approval
- Manufacturing and processing of wood-based assemblies and components
- Fire safety and moisture management engineering and testing
- Modern Methods of Construction deployment (prefabrication, modular assembly)
- Standardization of design concepts and prototypes
- Building permit and code equivalency process costs
- In-situ performance testing and monitoring systems
- Case study development and knowledge dissemination activities
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Conventional wood-framing construction costs (must be innovative/engineered wood)
- Softwood lumber production or export costs
- Land acquisition and standard site preparation
- Regular construction costs not attributable to the innovative wood component
- Operating costs of the completed building
Intake Periods
Periodic Calls for Proposals with defined windows. Current call (MURB demonstration): February 25 - April 27, 2026. Previous non-residential/tall wood EOI closed June 2024. Calls are typically announced 2-3 months before deadline. Join the mailing list to receive notifications.
Deadline Notes
Program operates through periodic Calls for Proposals, not continuous intake. Most recent EOI window for non-residential/tall wood closed June 2024. A new call for multi-unit residential buildings announced for February 2026 as part of $500M forest sector transformation commitment. Sign up for mailing list at [email protected].
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- International organizations without Canadian incorporation or registration
- Individuals (must be a legal entity)
- Organizations proposing conventional wood-frame construction (must use innovative engineered wood)
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How Green Construction Through ... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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