Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII)

Description

To address housing pressures across the country, on April 12, 2024, the Prime Minister unveiled Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada's Housing Plan to address housing shortages across Canada. To support the plan, Budget 2024 allocated $50 million over two years to Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs) to advance new homebuilding methods and boost productivity.

1. What this program offers

To address housing pressures across the country, on April 12, 2024, the Prime Minister unveiled Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada's Housing Plan to address housing shortages across Canada. To support the plan, Budget 2024 allocated $50 million over two years to Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs) to advance new homebuilding methods and boost productivity.

Eligible applicants include:

• incorporated small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Indigenous-owned businesses (including Indigenous sole proprietors)
• not-for-profit organizations

Important eligibility requirements for businesses: a formal commitment letter is required from at least one Canadian end-user/buyer of the homebuilding solution, product or service developed as a result of your project.

Eligible activities

The Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative's (RHII) goal is to advance innovative homebuilding solutions and boost productivity within the homebuilding sector in Canada. Through RHII, the Agency is prioritizing projects that support innovative homebuilding solutions and demonstrate a clear connection in expediting change in the way homes are built in Canada. Priority will be given to small-and medium-sized businesses and/or organizations applying for projects that:

• Increase productivity or output in manufacturing and construction technology (e.g., modular and/or pre-fabricated housing, panelized construction, 3D printing, etc.).
• Promote the innovation, demonstration, commercialization and/or update of new materials/methods for homebuilding.
• Support the development of industry tools that accelerate homebuilding innovation through improvement/adoption of off-site manufacturing technologies and practices.

Financial assistance

• For small- and medium-sized enterprises
  • contributions will normally be repayable
• For not-for-profit organizations
  • contributions will normally be non-repayable

Please consult How funding works for additional information on supported project activities and program funding parameters.