Overview

The Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG) provides funding to help communities and organizations purchase emergency supplies, equipment and services, such as:

  • chain saws
  • generators
  • sandbag machines
  • training delivery and education
  • exercise planning and coordination

The grant funds supplies, equipment and services that range from $5,000 to $50,000, supporting local efforts to protect Ontario by enhancing readiness and response capabilities.

This investment is part of the $110 million the government earmarked over three years in the 2023 Budget to strengthen emergency preparedness in Ontario.

Important dates

We are now accepting applications for Round 3 (2025 to 2026) starting September 16, 2025.

Deadline to apply: October 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST.

Virtual information session

Sign up in advance to join the virtual information session on September 23 at 1:00 pm EST. to learn about the grant and application process.

Eligibility

Applicants must be located in Ontario and have an emergency management mandate or responsibility.

Eligible applicants for Round 3 (2025 to 2026) include:

  • municipalities with a population under 100,000 (Statistics Canada data from 2021)
  • local services boards established under the Northern Services Boards Act
  • Indigenous communities and organizations, including Tribal Councils, and other Indigenous service organizations
  • non-municipal fire departments or entities providing fire protection services as defined in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act in unincorporated Ontario

Ineligible applicants for Round 3 (2025 to 2026) include:

  • organizations that previously received funding through the 2023 to 2024 and the 2024 to 2025 Community Emergency Preparedness Grant or the Emergency Readiness and Capacity Building (ERaCB) program
  • organizations without an emergency preparedness mandate or responsibility
  • organizations that serve a fixed membership or community, not the community at large (for example, long term care homes)
  • individuals
  • Crown corporations
    • federal, provincial and municipal agencies
    • universities, colleges, school boards, schools and hospitals
  • municipalities with a population over 100,000 (Statistics Canada data from 2021)
  • direct applications from municipal fire departments or other municipal services (e.g. police departments) will not be accepted, however they may apply through an eligible municipality
  • municipal fire departments may be eligible for other grant opportunities supported by the Government of Ontario, such as the Fire Protection Grant, see available funding opportunities

How to apply

  1. Create a My Ontario Account and register for Transfer Payment Ontario.
  2. Log in to Transfer Payment Ontario.
  3. Go to “Submit for Funding” and select the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant.
  4. Fill out the online application as per the guidelines.
  5. Attach all required documents.
  6. Submit your application.

Note for new registrants

If you’re creating a My Ontario account, it may take up to 5 business days to get access to Transfer Payment Ontario.

To make sure you can submit your application on time:

  • register your organization early
  • request to access Transfer Payment Ontario ahead of time

Past recipients

Browse the recipients of the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant.

2024-2025 recipients

 

2023-2024 recipients