new orleans culture and tourism fund

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund

There are presently no open calls for submissions.

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) Grant Application Information

Thank You for your interest in NOTCF’s Grant Program! In 2024, there will be three (3) application cycles. The intake days are January 2, 2024, May 1, 2024, and September 3, 2024.

Please thoroughly read the UPDATED Grants Program Process

Cycle 2: May 2024 Intake Grant Information

The grant portal will be open on May 1, 2024, for 24 hours with no limit to the number of submissions accepted.

Applicants can only be approved for ONE (1) grant application in a calendar year.

For budget purposes, each level will have a limit to the number of applications approved. Maximum applications approved for Cycle 2:

Level 1 Mini-Grant ($1 - $2500): 100 applications ( 70 independently submitted applications and 30 applications with an appointment)
Level 2 ($2,501 - $9,999): 23 applications
Level 3 ($10,000 - $100,000): 20 applications

Applications that are missing required documentation will not be considered for funding and will be notified through the Submittable messaging system.

Once The Grants Team has reached the maximum number of completed applications per level, the initial vetting/review process will be closed.

Applications that are not reviewed because the maximum number of applications have been accepted and approved will be notified through Submittable.

If an LLC or For-Profit Entity has been awarded at least three (3) grants, the fourth (4th) and future grants are limited to Level 2 ($2,501 - $9,999). This would encourage for-profit businesses to seek other revenue streams or consider expanding the services to increase revenues and sustain their businesses.

The UPDATED NOTCF General Funding Terms and Conditions is available on our website.

Submittable Portal Information

With our new application portal, you must create a login to apply, and your account with Submittable will be used to communicate information about any applications or forms submitted with NOTCF.

If you are a returning user of Submittable, please log in and apply where applicable to your organization.

If you are experiencing login difficulties, please reset your password through the portal. If you are still unable to log in, you must contact Submittable's Help Desk (the orange magnifying glass) for additional assistance.

If you have questions regarding the new portal outside of what is stated above, please email The Grants Program Team at [email protected] .

NOTCF Mission

The mission of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund is to support cultural industries and culture bearers of the City of New Orleans through partnerships, grants, and programs to advance sustainable tourism.

Individuals and organizations who align with this mission are encouraged to apply for funding. Please ensure to read our General Funding Terms and Conditions before applying.

Thank you and remember that "Culture Is Our Open Door."

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In-depth news and investigations for New Orleans

First grant issued by new ‘culture bearer’ fund is $1.2 million to Super Bowl Host Committee

“It isn’t pulled from the air.”

The NOTCF was created last year as a result of Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s “fair share deal” that she brokered with the hospitality industry and the state in 2019. Cantrell wanted the city to retain a greater share of the city’s tourism-related tax revenue for infrastructure projects, specifically at the Sewerage and Water Board. As it stands, the majority of those tax proceeds are funneled back into the tourism industry.

Cantrell was able to secure millions in additional funding through the deal. Part of the compromise was allowing the merger of two publicly funded marketing agencies for the city’s tourism industry — the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation and New Orleans and Company. The merger was seen as a win for the hospitality industry since the two organizations were consolidated under New Orleans and Company — a private nonprofit — instead of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation — a public body with a publicly appointed board.

As a result of the merger, the majority of NOTMC’s budget and duties were transferred to New Orleans and Company. One funding stream was not transferred to New Orleans and Company, however — a hotel occupancy tax that brought in $5.7 million in revenue in 2019. The tax brought in a little less than $2 million in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and associated economic crisis.

Those leftover “fair share” dollars weren’t dedicated to infrastructure. Instead, the NOTMC was rebranded and restructured as the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, or NOTCF, which now operates with those leftover funds. It adopted a new mission statement: “To support the cultural economy and culture-bearers of the City of New Orleans through programs and projects, and to advance, promote and maintain tourism that is equitable and sustainable.”

The new NOTCF not only inherited those extra funds, it also inherited some financial obligations that NOTMC had previously agreed to, including payments to the Essence festival, Jazzfest and the Super Bowl.

But unlike the Super Bowl payment, the other payments didn’t go through a grant process. The Lens asked Alexis why only the Super Bowl committee contribution had to be approved by the board, unlike the Essence Festival payment.

“Essence has an actual contract in place,” she said. “And the Super Bowl did not have that same contract form. So we wanted to just bring it through the consistent process.”

The Lens asked Alexis where the $1.3 million figure came from, given that she wasn’t aware of a formal agreement.

“For that I’ll probably have to defer to general counsel on a response to that as well,” Alexis said. “It isn’t pulled from the air.”

A draft budget that was presented to the council as it was considering approving the NOTCF included a Super Bowl Host Committee payment. But the payment was listed at $125,000 in 2020, and was only supposed to last until 2023. Alexis said that the payments were always going to escalate and total $1.3 million, but again could not point to where that agreement was formalized.

Michael Isaac Stein

Michael Isaac Stein covers New Orleans' cultural economy and local government for The Lens. Before joining the staff, he freelanced for The Lens as well as The Intercept, CityLab, The New Republic, and... More by Michael Isaac Stein

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NOTCF Honors Gala

On Saturday, January 13, 2024, New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) will host its 2nd Annual NOTCF Honors Gala. This event will channel revelry, promote inclusiveness, and create an immersive cultural experience celebrating our people, their contributions and dedication to tailoring the colorful fabric of New Orleans! This gala event will take place at the Sugar Mill.

During the gala, we will bestow honors to artists in following 8 categories:

1 Honoree in each of the following 6 cultural sectors:

Culinary Arts Food-related cultural products, specialty food products, local non-chain restaurant & cafe, Culinary Instructor, Food Manufacturer, Specialty Food Shop, Mobile Vendor, Farm & Community Garden, Chef, and/or Caterer
Design Individual designers and firms involved in the communication arts such as Graphic Designer, Technology, Game/Product Designer, Web Designer/Programmer, Fashion Designer, Costume Designer, Event Designer, Set Designer, Parade Float Designer, and Advertising/PR
Entertainment The performing arts (music, theater, and dance), individual performers and the Film industries, Actor, Comedian, Dancer, Indians, Marching Club, Musician, Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Film Production, Recording Studio, Music Instructors, and Tour Guides
Literary Arts and Humanities Individual Writers/Editors, books, periodicals, and newspaper publishing, Print Media, Web-based Media, Creative Writer, Blogger, Spoken Word Performer, Journalist, Bookstores, Libraries, and Publishing
Preservation Building arts and economic activities focused on the restoration and redevelopment of the built environment including architecture, landscape architecture, and a percentage of construction activity focused on preservation and renovation, Building Arts Instructor, Architect, Interior Designer, Landscape Architect, Master/Preservation Craftsman
Visual Arts and Crafts Individual artists and craftspeople as well as the galleries and museums that present cultural products, Visual Artist, Photographer, Craft or Fold artist, Jewelry Maker, Art Instructor, Art Gallery, Art Museum, Art Market & Festival, Art Supplier

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The New Orleans Tribune

the right paper at the right time

For the Culture: As New Orleans’ Cultural Economy Rebounds, Culture Bearers, and Black-Owned Businesses Must Get Their Fair Share

New Grant Program Puts Funds in the Hands of Culture Bearers

New Orleans’ cultural economy has been hurt by the pandemic. That’s a fact. Hotel occupancy in New Orleans was down 43 percent in 2020, according to HVS, a global consulting firm focused on the hospitality industry. In 2020, every major festival and event was canceled, as was the 2021 Carnival season. And according to the New Orleans Business Alliance, nearly 50 percent of jobs in the accommodations, food service and retail industry were lost as a result of the pandemic.

But a return is on the horizon. Several festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Voodoo Festival, the Fried Chicken Festival and the French Quarter Fest, are slated to return this fall. And the 2021 Satchmo Summerfest is scheduled to take place even sooner, July 30-Aug. 1.

As the city’s tourism and hospitality industry begins to slowly rebound from the impacts of COVID-19, the cultural contributions of Black people and the role they play in making New Orleans a destination city that attracts 20 million visitors annually can no longer be sidelined or exploited for financial gain. The impact and work of the city’s culture bearers must be fully recognized as an integral, if not dominant, part of the whole and subsequently positioned to benefit from the economic largess that results from the thriving tourism industry.

Now is the time to ensure that happens.

The Roots of the Culture

Mardi Gras Indians. Jazz. Second Lines. A savory bowl of gumbo or a plate of spicy jambalaya—like so much of the food, music or culture that is authentically New Orleans, these things have their roots in traditions that originated in Africa, then were preserved, shared and handed down to generations of Black New Orleanians that followed.

Of course, it is true that New Orleans is a place where diverse histories, cultures and traditions meet. Still, the major impact that African traditions and Black culture have on the New Orleans is undeniable.

Just why New Orleans’ culture is so Africanized today ought now to be well known. Under French and Spanish rule, enslaved Africans were given Sundays off and were free to trade goods or hire themselves out. They were also free to gather, and they did that too—dancing and playing music steeped in their varied African heritages and keeping their cultural traditions alive. So while in much of colonial America, enslaved Africans had their traditions and cultures obliterated, African culture continued to thrive in New Orleans. In fact, it was reinforced as others of African descent, such as Blacks emigrating from the Caribbean, arrived and other free Blacks joined in to connect to the culture as well.

A quick survey of those traditions and how they have impacted the culture that permeates New Orleans today yields several examples.

For instance, the roots of Jazz music are traced back to those weekly gatherings in Congo Square, which in 1817 by order of New Orleans’ mayor, became the only place the enslaved could gather to dance and sing to the beat of rhythmic drumming.

The influence of Black culture bearers on New Orleans culinary scene are just as impactful. The red beans and rice that are so nice on a Monday—or any day of the week for that matter—were brought here by the Black people fleeing Haiti and the revolution there at the turn of the 19th century. Enslaved Africans made a stew reminiscent of home and called it gumbo, a word that means “okra” in the Central Bantu dialect of West Africa—a region of the continent that was the native land of many of the Africans who were brought to Louisiana.

Both the Mardi Gras Indian culture and the Second Line tradition, both of which have become all but synonymous with celebrating in New Orleans, are part of Black cultural traditions in New Orleans that date back hundreds of years.

Yet, as heavily influenced as it has been by Black culture, this economy has not always treated and respected the role its culture bearers have played and continue to play in making it one of the most unique cities in the world. While the African influences and the impact of culture bearers cannot be dismissed, they have not been given the commensurate credit or the remuneration they deserve.

In fact, the city’s main attraction—Mardi Gras—has a history steeped in exclusion, racism and classism that was not successfully challenged until the near end of the 20th Century in1991 when City Councilwoman Dorothy Mae Taylor proposed an ordinance to a bill that would desegregate Carnival krewes by refusing to issue parade permits to krewes that practiced discrimination and withheld membership on the basis of race, sexuality, religion, etc.

Often times, even the narratives surrounding the existence of Black people in New Orleans have been told in a way that diminishes the influence of people of African descent. Consider the constant promulgation of placage to explain the growing number of households of free people of color during French and Spanish colonial rule. Though placage existed, the system, which describes the practice of European men joining in civil unions with free women of color and providing for them and the children that resulted from these relationships, is given far more credit than it deserves with regard to the means by which Black households were established. A search of historic property records will reveal that many households were led by both free Black men and women, who married, purchased property, engaged in business, led robust social and civic lives and raised families. Institutions such a Le Musée de f.p.c., a house museum believed to be the only of its kind in the country dedicated to preserving and sharing the history and legacy of free people of color through its unique collection of art and artifacts, helps to shine light on that truth—and the even larger truth that the story of Black New Orleans is not just one just of suppression and subjugation, but one of achievement, creativity, pride and innovation that has played an integral role in creating a unique and enthralling culture now at the bedrock of a $10 billion a year industry.

“This is why having institutions by, for and about Black people is so important,” says Beverly McKenna, co-founder of The McKenna Museums, of which Le Musée is a part. “We cannot and should not rely on others to tell our story. The story of Black New Orleans is the story of New Orleans. Those who have played a role in the history, tradition and culture must be recognized. But more than that, they must benefit.

To McKenna’s point, small Black-led institutions throughout New Orleans From Back Street Cultural Museum to Treme’s Petit Jazz Museum to the Donald Harrison Sr. Museum & Legacy Performance Pavilion and others—have, with few resources and often relying on personal sacrifice—worked, for decades, to share authentic stories of local culture and traditions. But without resources, these cultural repositories have not enjoyed the success and economic growth that mainstream institutions experience. Even now, funds earmarked to support exhibitions of Black history, art and culture are funneled large mainstream institutions while smaller Black organizations continue to struggle.

Steps in the Right Direction

For its part, there have been some positive moves within the tourism industry in recent years to do more to ensure the equitable participation of Black culture bearers and Black-owned businesses in the industry. In 2018 and 2019, the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corp., which has since merged with New Orleans & Company, partnered with McKenna Publishing Company on the annual Welcome magazine, a guide for tourists in New Orleans designed to direct visitors to Black-owned businesses and authentic cultural experiences.

Before the merger, Mark Romig served as the CEO of NOTMC. In a February 2020 interview with BlackEnterprise.com, Romig, who now serves as chief marketing officer of New Orleans & Company, talked about efforts to ensure the tourism industry was a more economically integrated one.

In the BlackEnterprise.com article, Romig said, “We have increased our intentionality around supporting all businesses in our community involved in the tourism economy, especially those who have not been part of the conversation in years past. We recognize the vast variety of diverse service providers in our community and we will continue to do as much as we can to continue having a positive impact on the community.”

Before its merger with New Orleans & Company, NOTMC also partnered with the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network (NOMTN) to develop a creative quarterly workshop to maximize opportunities for local and diverse businesses. The “In It to Win It” workshop series provided participants with real-time news and information about procurement opportunities as well as strategies and best practices to improve their businesses. For instance one workshop focused on helping attendees tap into the city’s festival economy. Though COVID-19 put a damper on things in 2020 and the for the first half of 2021, there are more than 135 licensed festivals in New Orleans that serve as major economic drivers in the tourism industry.

Romig recently spoke with The New Orleans Tribune , saying that programs like the In it to Win It workshop series could relaunch soon under New Orleans & Company.

“We loved doing that when we were with NOTMC,” he said. “It was a series we were very proud of. And we want to continue providing resources like that as we get out of this pandemic and are able to have more face to face meetings.”

In the meantime, Romig shared other efforts being taken by New Orleans & Company to help ensure that the economic benefits of the city’s lucrative tourism industry are felt throughout the community, including a very new partnership between New Orleans & Company and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce that provides Black Chamber members with “access and a presence in the tourism ecosystem.”

Executive Director of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber Laverne Toombs explains that with their paid membership to the Black Chamber, business owners will also get a one-year membership Chamber membership to New Orleans & Company at no additional cost. And while the partnership has just started, Toombs says several Chamber members have already begun taking advantaged of the benefits the dual membership provides, adding that she encourages business owners to take advantage of all the opportunities available to them.

New Orleans & Co. is also offering free membership to Black-owned restaurants across the city to help ensure that more are able to participate in the upcoming Coolinary New Orleans, an annual culinary event designed to promote local restaurants by featuring specially-priced lunch, dinner and brunch menus throughout the summer, Romig says.

Right now a lot of attention is going to filling jobs in the hospitality industry, including many on career-building jobs that lead to management level positions with good pay and benefits in the restaurants and hotels, Romig said. Some 400 applicants showed up to a recent hospitality job fair that featured 100 different companies. Of those 400 applicants, more than half left that day with jobs; and two more hospitality job fairs are planned for the summer, he adds.

The intentionality Romig talked about remains at the center of ongoing efforts at New Orleans & Company to ensure that the city’s cultural economy touches everyone, he says.

“We are talking about and thinking through things to be more intentional that ever,” Romig told The Tribune . “We can always do better, and we are trying to do better.”

New Program Connects Culture Bearers Directly with Funding

More recently, the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) recently announced the launch of its initial grants program for culture bearers.

At the press conference held to announce the program, NOTCF board member, contemporary artist, and local culture bearer Big Chief Demond Melancon of the Young Seminole Hunters spoke directly to his experience as a purveyor of the culture economy that generates billions of dollars each year. He was especially pleased to let his fellow Mardi Gras Indian maskers know that this Fund is real and available to them.

“I have been in the culture. For over 30 years, I have been masking. And they make money off of us, and we know that,” Melancon said. “Through me standing here, I want the culture and masking Indians in New Orleans to realize that they can go to this fund for help to be able to buy feathers, to be able to buy beads, to be able to buy needle and thread to continue this tradition that we have been doing for over 250 years in this city.”

For its initial grant program, NOTCF is distributing $600,000 through June 30, or until funds have been exhausted.

To be sure, $600,000 is not a lot of money. The funds will likely be exhausted in short order. But for the initial grant period, it is a start. It will be important that NOTCF operates within its intended purpose, and that its limited funding is used for the direct benefit of culture bearers. We intend to keep a watchful eye on this process.

Nonethless, through the NOTCF grant, culture bearers and programs can be funded at one of three levels.

• Level One: Mini-grants up to $2500 provide support for smaller projects.

• Level Two: Mid-level grants between $2,501 and $10,000 to support projects and programs that reach a larger audience.

• Level Three: The Fund’s largest grants provide up to $20,000 for larger-scale projects and programs that stretch over a larger time period, reach a wide audience, train a class of culture bearer/worker in multiple skills, larger multi-community/city-wide events.

Grant funds have also been set aside to help live music venues pay for artists and meet state-mandated requirements related to personal protective equipment. The special music grants include $2,000 to cover PPE costs and an additional $1,000 once the live booking entertainment has been verified.

“The mission of the NOTCF is to support our culture bearers, the cultural industries and businesses to advance sustainable tourism,” said NOTCF President Lisa D. Alexis.

Revenue for the Fund comes from the hotel occupancy tax tourists and others pay each night they stay in a hotel room in Orleans Parish. NOTCF was established one year ago, in May 2020, by City Council ordinance, with its creation coming out of Mayor Cantrell’s plan that merged the NOTMC, which had largely served as a tourism promotion agency, with New Orleans & Co., which had focused its efforts on attracting big conventions and business travelers to the city.

NOTCF Board chairman Lloyd Dennis says the Fund is important to supporting New Orleans’ “authentic culture and make sure that it lives, thrives and evolves.”

For more information or to apply for a grant, visit www.notcf.com.

We Are Proud to Have Served Our Community for 38 Years. Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Providing a Trusted Voice. We Look Forward to 38 More! More by The New Orleans Tribune

Experience Louisiana's rich culture, irresistible charm with these tourism locations

Louisiana is a state with a rich cultural history and an irresistible charm.

While almost everyone has heard of Louisiana Cajun cooking and New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration , the Bayou State has even more to offer.

Louisiana is home to a litany of festivals all year round as well as nearly two dozen state parks and 10 state museums. And, of course, Cajun food and Creole food; as any Louisiana native would tell you, there is a difference.

Louisiana's 21 state parks are dispersed across its northern, central and southern regions. Water sports, hiking and fishing are popular activities in the parks, and many flock to the parks to witness the seasonal migration of diverse varieties of birds.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST TO FEATURE VIBRANT CULTURAL SHOWCASE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS

Chicot State Park is the largest in Louisiana at 6,400 acres. The park is popular among canoeing, kayaking and fishing enthusiasts, and it has even been the site of state record-setting freshwater catches. Visitors can hike trails around Lake Chicot and keep their eyes peeled for wild creatures like deer and bobcats that call the rural park home.

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The park is also the site of the Louisiana State Arboretum, a 300-acre forest that is a favorite of camping fans. Miles of hiking trails, including boardwalks over the water, are waiting to be explored, and boating around the cypress trees growing out of the water is an experience unlike any other.

Fontainebleau State Park is located about an hour from New Orleans. Inside the park, visitors can imagine the hustle and bustle of what used to be the sugar plantation on which the park is now built. Aged brick ruins still dot the landscape, and the park offers an educational experience with items such as old handcrafted tools on display.

Fontainebleau offers campsites, hiking trails and a scenic pier over Lake Pontchartrain, as well as swimming at the lakefront and cabins with beautiful lakeside views. Its 2,800 acres contain ample opportunities to see more than 400 species of birds and other wildlife that live or migrate through the park. Like most of the Pelican State, Fontainebleau State Park falls within the Mississippi Flyway, a bird migration route that stretches from central Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, so if you time your visit just right, you could be in for a show.

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a native Louisianian would never get them twisted.

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Cajun food comes from the French colonists who lived in the Acadia region of Canada before they were ousted by the British and subsequently moved to Louisiana. The term "Cajun" is derived from the name for this group in French, "les Acadiens."

Cajun food is known for its abundant seasoning, especially cayenne pepper, and using a base of celery, onion and bell pepper. The French colonists' influence mixed with the other cultures of the bayou to produce what we today think of as Cajun-style cooking .

It is sometimes said that Creole food is from the city and Cajun food is from the countryside. This may be because Creole food originated in high-society kitchens, where it was typically cooked by slaves who had access to a wider variety of ingredients and spices. As a result, the Creole cultural blend that includes Spanish, African, Caribbean, Native American, German and Portuguese influences seeped into the cooking and produced dishes that involved a greater number of components than most Cajun food. Cajun food is also less likely to contain tomatoes.

Though Louisiana is home to more than 10 museums, its 10 state museums are some of its most popular.

The 1850 House is a model of what an upper middle-class New Orleans home might have looked like in 1850, a prosperous time period for the city.

The Cabildo is one of New Orleans' most important historical buildings. It is where the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies took place in 1803 and where the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision was given in 1892. Much more has happened here, but since 1908, the Cabildo has served as a Louisiana history museum.

This museum traces Louisiana's unique cultural heritage, explaining how European colonists, Native Americans and enslaved Africans came together to create the culture of the Bayou State. Rotating and permanent exhibits expose Louisiana's diverse history.

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On the scenic Bayou Lafourche, this National Historic Landmark was home to Edward Douglas White, governor from 1835 to 1839, and his son, Edward Douglass White, the U.S. Supreme Court chief justice from 1910 to 1921. The museum explores the family's history as well as that of the Bayou Lafourche region, featuring exhibits on the Chitimacha Indians, Acadian settlers, slavery and sugar cane plantations.

The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum features three dynamic exhibits titled "the Right to Assemble," "the Right to Education" and "the Right to Vote." They bridge the gap between late-19th century events and the modern civil rights movement through videos, oral histories and an interactive virtual reality room.

Two museums were combined into one site. As you might expect, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame lauds the achievements of Louisiana athletes and coaches, illustrating sports' importance in Louisiana life. The Northwest Louisiana History Museum honors the history and culture of the region.

Madame John's Legacy is another National Historic Landmark and one of the best examples of French colonial architecture in North America. It is one of the few remaining Louisiana-Creole, 18th-century residential-style buildings.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum is in the heart of the city’s vibrant music scene, right on Frenchman Street's live music corridor. The museum includes a state-of-the-art performance venue with a near-perfect sound environment used to record performances for historical archives. The Jazz Museum promotes the global understanding of jazz as one of the most historically pivotal musical art forms in world history.

The Presbytère features a permanent exhibit on Mardi Gras, diving into the history and culture of the yearly festival, and another on Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing rescue, rebuilding and renewal. The building was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo and was built on the site of the residence, or "presbytère," of Capuchin monks.

The Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection tells the story of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry P. Williams. The Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana, the state’s first significant manufacturing industry.

Aside from sampling regional cuisine, exploring natural wonders and learning American history, there is always a festival or celebration of some kind going on in Louisiana. The ever-popular Mardi Gras serves as the state's calling card, but cultural enrichment opportunities abound all year round.

In downtown Shreveport in autumn, the Red River Revel comprises musical performances all day for nine days in a row. Businesses and families alike take advantage of the lively atmosphere to network and bond as they admire the artwork on display by visual artists who congregate to sell their pieces.

This food festival is another fall favorite that includes live music and plenty of activities for the whole family. In downtown New Iberia, a weekend of local cooking competitions determine the yearly winner of the Gumbo Cookoff, Youth Gumbo Cookoff, Meanest Beans Competition and more.

Each June sees the monthlong Food, Wine, Music & Art Festival return to Historic Downtown Covington. The month is filled with special events like wine tastings and Vintners' Dinners, during which participating restaurants cook gourmet meals served with wine pairings. Proceeds benefit marketing for local businesses through nonprofit organizations.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle .

Original article source: Experience Louisiana's rich culture, irresistible charm with these tourism locations

A couple picnics in a canoe in Chicot State Park, which is Louisiana's largest state park at 6,400 acres. Getty Images

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Chapter 1: More Affordable Homes

On this page:, solving the housing crisis, 1.1 building more homes, 1.2 making it easier to own or rent a home, 1.3 helping canadians who can't afford a home.

Fairness for every generation means making housing affordable for every generation.

For generations, one of the foundational promises of Canada's middle class dream was that if you found a good job, worked hard, and saved money, you could afford a home. For today's young adults, this promise is under threat.

Rising rents are making it hard to find an affordable place to call home and rising home prices are keeping homes out of reach for many first-time buyers. The ability of an entire generation of Canadians to achieve the promise of Canada is at risk, despite their sheer grit and hard work. Millennials and Gen Z are watching the middle class dream become less and less achievable. They worry that they won't ever be able to afford the kinds of homes they grew up in. They deserve the same opportunity to own a place of their own as was enjoyed by generations before them.

The government is taking action to meet this moment, and build housing at a pace and scale not seen in generations. We did it when soldiers returned home from the Second World War, and we can build homes like that again. And we can make sure that Canadians at every age can find an affordable home.

On April 12, the government released an ambitious plan to build homes by the millions, Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada's Housing Plan. It includes our plan to make it easier to afford rent and buy a home, and makes sure that the most vulnerable Canadians have support, too. At the heart of our plan is a commitment that no hard-working Canadian should spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs.

Tackling the housing crisis isn't just about fairness, it's also about building a strong economy. When people can afford housing, they can also invest in their local community, supporting local businesses and jobs. When workers can afford to live near their jobs, short commutes turn into high productivity. Businesses want to establish new headquarters in cities where workers can afford to live. When people can more easily save for a down payment, they can pursue their dreams, like starting a business. Housing policy is economic policy.

Budget 2024 and Canada's Housing Plan lay out the government's bold strategy to unlock 3.87 million new homes by 2031 , which includes a minimum of 2 million net new homes on top of the 1.87 million homes expected to be built anyway by 2031. Of the 2 million net new homes, we estimate that the policy actions taken in Budget 2024, Canada's Housing Plan, and in fall 2023 would support a minimum of 1.2 million net new homes.

Given the significant provincial, territorial, and municipal levers that control and influence new housing construction, we call on every order of government to step up, take action, and achieve an additional 800,000 net new homes, at minimum, over this same period.

To get this done, the government will work with every order of government, with for profit and non-profit homebuilders, with Indigenous communities, and with every partner necessary to build the homes needed for Team Canada to restore fairness for every generation.

Working together, we will reach at least 3.87 million new homes by the end of 2031.

Chart 1.1: Federal Housing Investments Since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis

Immigrants built Canada. And when new Canadians arrive today, our society is enriched. Canada, like other advanced economies, needs immigrants today more than ever, given our aging population. Immigrants are essential to maintaining a young and capable workforce, to ensuring we can find the doctors, construction workers, nurses, and early childhood educators that we need.

But our ability to successfully welcome new Canadians depends on having the physical capacity to do so properly—in particular having enough homes. That is why current housing pressures mean that Canada is taking a careful look to make sure immigration does not outpace our ability to supply housing for all.

It is important to note that Canada's immigration system has two parts: permanent and temporary.

Throughout Canada's history, permanent immigration has become subject to extensive consultation with communities, provinces, territories, and employers. It is planned and designed in collaboration with Canadian society.

However, temporary immigration, which includes our student and temporary worker programs, has traditionally been demand-driven, determined by the requests from international students and workers, and from employers in Canada.

Canada has recently undertaken a review process for our temporary resident programs, to better align with labour market needs, to protect against abuses in the system, and to match our capacity to build new homes. We will also be setting targets both for the number of permanent residents we welcome, and for temporary residents.

Starting this fall, for the first time, we will expand the Immigration Levels Plan to include both temporary resident admissions and permanent resident admissions.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure a well-managed, responsive, and sustainable immigration system to help balance housing supply with housing demand. We also need to be sure that our temporary worker programs do not create a disincentive for businesses to invest in productivity, or drive down wages in Canada, especially for low-wage workers.

The federal government's plan starts with turbocharging the construction of new homes across the country because the best way to bring down home prices is to increase supply—and quickly. The government is already making the math work for homebuilders by breaking down regulatory and zoning barriers, providing direct low-cost financing, and making more land available. To ensure we have the workers and innovative construction methods needed to build more homes, faster, the government is training and recruiting the next generation of skilled trades workers, and transforming how homes are built to increase construction productivity.

Second, to make it easier to own or rent a home, Budget 2024 announces new action to support renters and lower the costs of homeownership. For renters, new action will help protect them from unfair practices like steep rent increases and renovictions, and unlock new pathways for them to become homeowners, including ensuring they get credit for rental payments. For first-time homebuyers, new support will make it easier to save for their down payment faster and get their first mortgage. And, existing homeowners with mortgages will benefit from new protections from rising payments through the strengthened Canadian Mortgage Charter.

Third, because everyone in Canada deserves a safe and affordable place to call home, this plan is unlocking more homes for Canadians in need. This includes building more affordable units for low- and middle-income Canadians by investing in affordable housing projects and partnering with non-profits, co-ops, the private sector, and other orders of government. This also means offering immediate support for Canadians without shelter and Canadians at risk of becoming homeless.

At the crux of this effort is ensuring that fiscal policy works in tandem with monetary policy, and that Canada's immigration policy works in tandem with housing policy. The government recently announced plans to adjust immigration programming which would lead to about 600,000 fewer temporary residents in Canada compared to current levels. These efforts are critical to creating the necessary conditions to lower interest rates, lower housing demand, and restore housing affordability.

Building enough homes to restore fair prices and make sure everyone has a place to call home is going to take a Team Canada effort. All orders of government—federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal—need to work together to remove all barriers that often slow down the construction of new homes. This includes working together to overcome financial, zoning, and regulatory barriers.

Already, the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund is cutting red tape across the country, with 179 agreements with municipalities, provinces, and territories enabling the construction of over 750,000 new homes over the next decade. It is working, so we are topping it up with $400 million to build more homes, faster, in more communities.

Under a new Canada Builds approach, the federal government is offering to partner with provinces and territories that launch their own ambitious housing plans, with federal financing to help rapidly increase housing supply for Canadians in every province and territory.

We must use every possible tool to build homes at a scale and pace not seen since the Second World War. The federal government is announcing a range of new measures to make the math work for homebuilders, unlock the lands needed to build new homes, cut red tape that holds back new construction, attract and train skilled workers, and accelerate the implementation of innovative ways to build more homes, faster.

Chart 1.3: New Home Starts (6-month moving average)

Key Ongoing Actions

The Affordable Housing and Groceries Act , which is making it less expensive to build new homes by removing the GST on new purpose-built rental housing projects.
Over $40 billion through the Apartment Construction Loan Program, which is providing low-cost financing to build more than 101,000 new rental homes across Canada.
Over $14 billion through the Affordable Housing Fund to build 60,000 new affordable homes and repair 240,000 additional homes.
$4 billion through the Housing Accelerator Fund, which is incentivizing municipalities to make transformative changes by removing zoning barriers and ramping up housing construction. The Housing Accelerator Fund is already fast-tracking the construction of at least 100,000 homes over the next three years, and more than 750,000 homes across Canada over the next decade.
Unlocking $20 billion in new financing to build 30,000 more rental apartments per year by increasing the annual limit for Canada Mortgage Bonds from $40 billion to up to $60 billion.

Building Homes on Public Lands

The high cost and scarcity of land present key barriers that prevent key homes from being built. These barriers also contribute to higher costs of building, which are then passed on to Canadians.

Today, governments across Canada are sitting on surplus, underused, and vacant public lands, such as empty office towers or low-rise buildings that could be built on. By unlocking these lands for housing, governments can lower the costs of construction and build more homes, faster, at prices Canadians can afford.

Since 2016, Canada Lands Company has enabled the construction of more than 10,300 new homes on underused federal land, including more than 1,100 affordable homes. Over the next five years, Canada Lands Company currently aims to enable the construction of over 29,200 new homes, with a minimum of 20 per cent affordable units. Canada Lands Company is working to unlock new homes each day, but we need to do more, faster.

To ensure every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home, the government will transform its approach to federally owned land and lead a national, Team Canada effort to unlock public lands for housing.

Whenever possible, public land should be used for homes. Moving forward, the federal government will partner with the housing sector to build homes on every possible site across the federal portfolio. By leveraging new approaches to building homes on public lands, such as leasing, the federal government will also be able to maintain the strengths of its balance sheet.

By building homes on public lands,the federal government will lead a Team Canada effort to unlock federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal public lands across the country. The federal government will partner with homebuilders and housing providers to build homes on every possible site across the public portfolio.

With the new Public Lands for Homes Plan , the federal government is announcing an historic shift in its approach to unlock 250,000 new homes by 2031.

To get this done, Budget 2024 announces:

The federal government will use all tools available to convert public lands to housing, including leasing, acquiring other public lands for housing, and retaining ownership, whenever possible. Keeping land under public ownership and leasing it to builders—instead of selling to the highest bidder—will enable new homes to be affordable, forever. This effort will help housing providers avoid unnecessary upfront capital costs, allowing them to build more affordable housing, all while strengthening the federal government's balance sheet to unlock more homes.
Review the entire portfolio of federally owned land and properties to rapidly identify sites where new homes can be built;
Require departments and agencies to offer up specific parcels of land according to specified targets;
Consult with municipal, provincial, and private sector partners to identify the most promising lands to be made available for housing;
Publish a new Public Land Bank, encompassing an inventory of available lands, before fall 2024 to accelerate construction on public lands;
Release a new geo-spatial mapping tool to help homebuilders more easily access and navigate public lands; and,
Introduce legislation, as required, to facilitate the acquisition and use of public lands for homes, in partnership with other orders of government.
Cut approval times in half, while abiding by constitutional obligations;
Initiate redevelopment processes early;
Bundle multiple properties to be transferred at once;
Provide leases, including long-term, low-cost leases, for housing providers;
Transform underused government offices into multi-use properties;
Transfer land from the federal government to Canada Lands Company for $1, whenever possible, to support more affordable housing;
Enable housing development on actively used federal properties; and,
Work with Crown corporations to redevelop their surplus, underutilized, or actively used properties for housing.
$500 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, on a cash basis, to Public Services and Procurement Canada to launch a new Public Lands Acquisition Fund, which will purchase land from other orders of government to help spur sustainable, mixed-market housing.
$112.6 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $4.3 million in future years, for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to top up the Federal Lands Initiative to unlock more federal lands for affordable housing providers. This investment, which is expected to unlock a minimum of 1,500 homes, including 600 affordable homes, will also prioritize new approaches, such as leasing, to make federal lands available to affordable housing providers;
$20 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for Public Services and Procurement Canada to scale-up its centre of expertise on public lands; and,
$15 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for Public Services and Procurement Canada to work with Infrastructure Canada on delivering the new Public Land Bank and geo-spatial mapping tool.
Nearly 100 homes at Currie in Calgary, Alberta;
Nearly 500 homes at Wateridge Village in Ottawa, Ontario;
Over 40 homes at the Village at Griesbach in Edmonton, Alberta;
100 homes at Arbo Neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario; and,
Over 100 homes at 3155 Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse in Montréal, Quebec.
Shannon Park, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia;
Village at Griesbach, Edmonton, Alberta;
Downsview, Toronto, Ontario; and,
Wellington Basin, Montréal, Quebec.
The Public Lands Action Council will bring all players together to identify specific parcels of land across Canada with high potential for housing and take concerted action to accelerate construction on these lands. This group will also help shape the federal government's approach to building homes on public lands, including the design of the Public Lands Acquisition Fund.
To support this work, Budget 2024 proposes to provide $1.8 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for the Privy Council Office to create a Public Lands Action Council Secretariat.

The federal government recognizes that connecting existing federal financing to public lands can accelerate home construction and ensure deeper housing affordability. The federal government will explore leveraging its low-cost financing initiatives, including its new Canada Builds partnership and its new Canada Rental Protection Fund, to encourage housing providers to build more homes on public land.

Figure 1.1: The Federal Government is Canada's Largest Landowner

Building homes on public lands will enable new non-profit housing

Housing Society Co. is a non-profit housing provider and homebuilder that wants to build an apartment building of 125 homes in Edmonton, with at least 30 per cent of its units to be affordable. However, the property Housing Society Co. wants to purchase costs $9 million—representing 25 per cent of total development costs.

Between the land, construction costs, and interest rates, the math just doesn't work to make the project viable. By building homes on public lands, Housing Society Co. will now be able to lease a parcel of land from the federal government at little to no cost upfront and can use rent proceeds to repay the lease over time.

As a result, Housing Society Co. will be able to go forward with the project, and charge affordable rents on a higher percentage of units than initially anticipated.

Building Homes on Canada Post Properties

Canada Post manages a large portfolio of land, including more than 1,700 post offices, in over 1,700 communities across the country. Many of these sites often house one-storey Canada Post buildings, which could be leveraged to build new homes across the country, while maintaining Canada Post services.

The following six Canada Post properties are being assessed for housing development potential:

1285 rue Notre-Dame Centre, Trois-Rivières, Quebec;
37 rue Saint-Laurent, Beauharnois, Quebec (recently listed for sale);
4 rue du Centre Commercial, Roxboro, Quebec;
9702 Hardin Street, Fort McMurray, Alberta (recently listed for sale);
120 Charles Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia; and,
45 Mary Street, Port Moody, British Columbia.

These six properties are just the start. Across Canada Post's portfolio, many more properties could be unlocked for housing, while maintaining high service standards for Canadians, including in rural communities.

Budget 2024 announces that Canada Post will continue to be a "service first" organization focused on delivering the mail. Additionally, the government will now consider leveraging Canada Post's portfolio of federal properties to contribute to housing supply. This strengthens the expectation that Canada Post embraces innovation to meet the needs of Canadians and their communities.
As part of its work to build homes on public lands, Budget 2024 announces that the government will take steps to enable Canada Post to prioritize leasing or divestment of post office properties and lands with high potential for housing, where doing so maintains high service standards for Canadians.
Budget 2024 also announces the government's intention to launch a new Canada Post Housing Program to support affordable housing providers to build on disposed or leased Canada Post properties. Details will be available later this year.

Figure 1.2: Sample Canada Post Properties That Could be Unlocked for Housing

Building Homes on National Defence Lands

National Defence owns 622 properties across every province and territory, totaling 2.2 million hectares, in addition to providing housing to many members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Many of these National Defence properties in cities and communities across Canada are not fully utilized and could be unlocked to build more homes for Canadian Armed Forces members, and civilians, to live in.

As part of its work to build homes on public lands, Budget 2024 announces that the government is exploring the redevelopment of National Defence properties in Halifax, Toronto, and Victoria that could be suitable for both military and civilian uses.
The Amherst Armoury in Amherst, Nova Scotia;
96 D'Auteuil and 87 St-Louis in Québec City, Quebec;
The National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa, Ontario;
The HMCS Armoury in Windsor, Ontario; and,
The Brigadier Murphy Armoury in Vernon, British Columbia.

The review of federally owned lands and properties announced as part of the government's work to build homes on public lands is also expected to identify additional National Defence properties with a high potential for housing development.

Those who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) stand ready to deploy and relocate in order to defend Canada. Wherever they are posted, service members and their families shouldn't have to worry about finding a suitable home.

Budget 2024 also proposes additional investments for the Department of National Defence to build and renovate housing for CAF personnel on bases across Canada. This would support the construction of up to 1,400 new homes and the renovation of an additional 2,500 existing units for CAF members on base in communities such as Esquimalt, Edmonton, Borden, Trenton, Kingston, Petawawa, Ottawa, Valcartier, and Gagetown. See Chapter 7 for additional details.

Building more on-base housing will not only help meet the housing needs of military personnel but also help address housing demand in surrounding communities, since fewer military personnel will require rentals in these areas.

Converting Underused Federal Offices Into Homes

Sparked by the pandemic, like many organizations in Canada and around the world, the federal government shifted to hybrid work. Today, Public Services and Procurement Canada has over 6 million square metres of office space, of which an estimated 50 per cent is underused or entirely vacant. This is not an effective use of resources, particularly at a time when Canada is facing a shortage of homes.

The federal government is moving forward with a significant disposal effort to reduce its office footprint. This would enable more office buildings, particularly in urban areas, to be converted into homes for Canadians, while also ensuring the responsible use of government resources.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $1.1 billion over ten years, starting in 2024-25, to Public Services and Procurement Canada to reduce its office portfolio by 50 per cent. This funding, which is expected to be fully recovered through substantial short- and long-term cost savings, will help to accelerate the ending of leases and disposal of underused federal properties, and address deferred maintenance. Where applicable, the government will prioritize student and non-market housing in the unlocking of federal office properties.

Reducing the federal office footprint will generate substantial savings, expected to reach $3.9 billion over the next ten years, and $0.9 billion per year ongoing.

Taxing Vacant Lands to Incentivize Construction

At a time when we need to build as quickly as possible, it makes no sense that good land, in good areas, is sitting there, underused. As all orders of government put in place policies to tackle housing supply shortages, there is a concern that some landowners in Canada may be sitting on developable land, hoping to profit from rising land values when the land could instead be used for immediate residential development. Vacant land needs to be used, and it is best used to build homes.

The government is taking significant action to resolve Canada's housing crisis, and the federal government believes owners of vacant land in Canada must also do their part to unlock unused land for homes.

Budget 2024 announces that the government will consider introducing a new tax on residentially zoned vacant land. The government will launch consultations later this year.

Building Apartments, Bringing Rents Down

Building rental homes requires significant investment, even more so when interest rates and land prices are high, as in recent years. Access to low-cost financing can help homebuilders move a rental project from being financially unfeasible to feasible. To help more apartment buildings break ground, the government is investing heavily in its low-cost construction financing programs, ensuring homebuilders have the financing needed to keep building.

The Apartment Construction Loan Program plays a crucial role in filling Canada's housing supply shortage by providing developers with the necessary capital to build rental homes. This support accelerates the development of apartments in neighbourhoods where people want to live and work. This is good for people, good for communities, and good for our economy.

Of this amount, at least $100 million will be used to build homes above existing shops and businesses, especially in big cities where land is scarce and where density is key.
Extending the terms of the loans offered;
Extending access to financing to include housing projects for students and seniors;
Introducing a portfolio approach so builders can move forward on multiple projects at once;
Providing additional flexibility on affordability, energy efficiency, and accessibility requirements; and,
Launching a new frequent builder stream to fast-track the application process for proven home builders.

These measures will make it easier, cheaper, and faster to build homes in Canada. For students, it will mean getting the keys to their first home and living close to campus. For young families, it will mean getting a good home near work, opportunity, and in a vibrant neighbourhood. And for seniors, it will mean an affordable place where you can downsize with security and dignity.

Federal financing is complemented by the government's community-building funding, from more early learning and child care spaces to housing-enabling infrastructure funding. This is how we build more affordable, liveable communities.

Figure 1.3: Homes Supported through the Apartment Construction Loan Program

Lowering costs to build more apartment buildings

Camille Homes Corp. is interested in building a 20-story rental building in Winnipeg, which is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars. Loans for such developments are typically not available through private lenders, unless syndicated through several lenders to diffuse risk, a process which adds significant complexity and time. Private financing, with a prime rate above 7 per cent, is just too costly to make this project viable. Camille Homes Corp. is considering abandoning this project, but instead decides to apply for low-cost financing from the Apartment Construction Loan Program.

The Apartment Construction Loan Program's favourable financing terms, which include competitive interest rates, insurance premiums covered by the program, and longer terms and amortization periods are reducing borrowers' building costs by millions of dollars when compared to private financing.

Low-cost financing and flexible terms, combined with tailored support to meet the project's needs, as well as CMHC's ability to act as a single lender, is making the math on rental buildings work for builders such as Camille Homes Corp. and helping to build more homes across Canada.

Launching Canada Builds

To build homes across the country, we need a Team Canada approach. Provinces and territories control a number of critical levers to unlocking more housing supply, such as zoning rules, development approvals, lands and land use planning, rules for tenants and landlords and the adoption of building codes and regulations.

The federal government is supporting a number of provincial and territorial-led initiatives through cost-shared bilateral housing agreements. Most recently, this includes partnering with British Columbia in support of the BC Builds initiative with $2 billion in low-cost financing through the Apartment Construction Loan Program.

The federal government's partnership with BC Builds is a testament to the progress possible when multiple orders of government work collaboratively to deliver thousands of new rental homes for people in communities across Canada.

Building on this momentum, Budget 2024 announces Canada Builds , the federal government's intention to leverage its $55 billion Apartment Construction Loan Program to partner with provinces and territories to build more rental housing across the country.
Complementing federal funds with provincial or territorial investments;
Building on government, non-profit, community-owned, and vacant lands;
Considering access to early learning and child care, and the expansion of non-profit child care, in the development process;
Streamlining the process to cut development approval timelines to no longer than 12 to 18 months; and,
Meeting the criteria of the Apartment Construction Loan Program, including affordability requirements.

The federal government will initiate discussions with provincial and territorial governments as soon as possible. This transformative approach links portfolios of underused land, homebuilders, and federal and provincial investments. This Team Canada mission will help pave the way for new housing supply across the country.

Topping-Up the Housing Accelerator Fund

In March 2023, the government launched the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund to work with municipalities to cut red tape and fast-track the creation of at least 100,000 new homes across Canada. Through 179 agreements signed to date, the government has committed nearly $4 billion to spur the construction of 750,000 new homes across the country over the next decade.

Building on this success, Budget 2024 proposes to provide an additional $400 million over four years, starting in 2024-25, to the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation, to top up the Housing Accelerator Fund. This will help fast track 12,000 new homes in the next three years.

Figure 1.4: The Housing Accelerator Fund is Building More Homes Across Canada

Enabling Communities to Build More Homes

Building more homes in communities that people want to live in requires building more essential infrastructure, like power lines, transit stations, water and wastewater facilities, internet cables, libraries, and recreation centres. Without this infrastructure, communities have trouble growing, and new homes cannot get built.

The federal government is providing support to help growing communities build the infrastructure needed to build more homes, including through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Budget 2024 also proposes new support for growing communities through a new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Further details on the federal government's infrastructure funding programs are outlined in Chapter 5.

A New Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund

Building more homes requires putting in place the essential infrastructure to support growing communities and denser, more vibrant, and liveable neighbourhoods.

In particular, communities must invest in effective and reliable water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure in order to keep pace with growth and encourage densification. These investments are critical as all orders of government work together to unlock more housing, faster.

$1 billion available directly to municipalities to support urgent infrastructure needs that will directly enable housing supply.
Legalize more housing options by adopting zoning that allows four units as-of-right and that permits more "missing middle" homes, including duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and small multi-unit apartments;
Implement a three-year freeze on increasing development charges from April 2, 2024, levels for municipalities with a population greater than 300,000;
Adopt forthcoming changes to the National Building Code to support more accessible, affordable, and climate-friendly housing options;
Provide pre-approval for construction of designs included in the government's upcoming Housing Design Catalogue; and,
Implement measures from the forthcoming Home Buyers' Bill of Rights and Renters' Bill of Rights.
Provinces will have until January 1, 2025, to secure an agreement, and territories will have until April 1, 2025. If a province or territory does not secure an agreement by their respective deadlines, their funding allocation will be transferred to the municipal stream. The federal government will work with territorial governments to ensure the actions in their agreements are suitable to their distinct needs.

To ensure this funding reaches communities of all sizes and needs, provinces must dedicate at least 20 per cent of their agreement-based funding for northern, rural, and Indigenous communities.

Leveraging Transit Funding to Build More Homes

Many Canadians rely on public transit to go to school, to get to work, to see their friends, and to explore their communities. More homes need to be built closer to the services that Canadians count on. Transit that is more accessible and reliable means Canadians can spend more time with their friends and family. It's crucial that all orders of government work together to achieve this.

Eliminating all mandatory minimum parking requirements within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line;
Allowing high-density housing within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line; and,
Allowing high-density housing within 800 metres of post-secondary institutions.
Completing a Housing Needs Assessment for all communities with a population greater than 30,000.

These are long overdue changes that will mean more people can live near transit to access the services and opportunities in their communities, and will allow home construction to happen faster and at more affordable prices.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank's Housing Initiative

As Canada's cities and towns build more homes, they need to build more infrastructure. From water and sewer infrastructure to public transit to high-speed internet, the federal government is providing municipalities with the tools they need to grow.

That is why, since 2017, the Canada Infrastructure Bank has made investment commitments of over $11 billion in more than 50 projects, and catalyzed over $31 billion in total investment, to address critical infrastructure gaps across the country. These include:

$1.28 billion for the Réseau express métropolitain in Montréal;
$1.3 billion for rural broadband internet in Ontario;
$165 million for the City of Calgary to buy zero-emission buses;
$138.2 million for energy storage to enable increased renewable electricity in Nova Scotia; and,
Up to $80 million for the Atlin Hydroelectric Expansion in Yukon.

The 2023 Fall Economic Statement announced that the Canada Infrastructure Bank would be exploring further opportunities to support the needs of growing communities by helping to finance the infrastructure needed to build more homes.

In March 2024, the Canada Infrastructure Bank announced the launch of its Infrastructure for Housing Initiative to provide low-cost financing to enable municipalities and Indigenous communities to build housing-enabling infrastructure. Funding for this initiative is sourced from the CIB's existing funding envelope.

Building the infrastructure communities need to build more homes

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has already made its first investment commitment under its Infrastructure for Housing Initiative, committing up to $140 million in financing for new and enhanced water and wastewater infrastructure in five communities in Manitoba, including the City of Brandon. The project will support cleaner water and better wastewater treatment, which will provide the enabling infrastructure to support an estimated 15,000 new housing units.

Fast growing communities, like the City of Brandon, require not only significant new home construction but also investments in water and wastewater systems and other local infrastructure. Paying for this new infrastructure can be challenging, especially where the up-front costs would burden existing residents. By lowering the cost of borrowing and taking on some of the risk associated with new development, the CIB's investment can help municipalities build the infrastructure needed to support thousands of new homes across the country.

Changing How We Build Homes

We have to build homes smarter, faster, and at prices Canadians can afford. That means investing in ideas and technology like prefabricated housing factories, mass timber production, panelization, 3D printing, and pre-approved housing design catalogues. We need to bring the same spirit of innovation that we are investing in across the economy, and build homes in a 21st century way.

To spur the development of innovative housing technologies, Budget 2024 proposes $50 million over two years, beginning in 2024-25, for Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)—one of Canada's Global Innovation Clusters—to launch a new Homebuilding Technology and Innovation Fund. NGen will seek to leverage an additional $150 million from the private sector, and other orders of government, to support a targeted $200 million investment in housing innovation in Canada. The first projects will aim to be announced this summer.
Grand River Modular Ltd., in Kitchener, Ontario, to support commercialization efforts to bring modular housing units to market, supported with $188,485 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario;
Structures KSM in Gatineau, Quebec, to acquire innovative, automated production equipment and software to improve the production capacity of roof truss manufacturing, supported with $200,000 from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions;
Nunafab Corp., in Nunavut, to create a modular home production plant in the community of Cambridge Bay where homes can be rapidly built for local housing needs and shipped to other Nunavut communities, supported with $2.15 million from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency;
Island Structural Systems, in Kensington, PEI, an automated facility that will improve the productivity of the PEI residential construction sector, supported with $2 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; and,
Landmark Group of Companies Inc. and Promise Robotics Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta, to establish a mobile, robotic micro-factory to construct housing components, supported with $1 million from Prairies Economic Development Canada.

Any new innovative housing designs funded through the Regional Development Agencies and NGen will feed into the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's work on the Housing Design Catalogue.

To help simplify the way Canada builds homes, Budget 2024 announces that the National Research Council will launch consultations with provinces, territories, industry, and fire safety experts to address regulatory barriers, including point block access and single egress designs, and streamline the inspection process. In addition, the National Research Council will identify ways to reduce duplication between factory inspections of modular home components and on-site building inspections, and support efforts to address regulatory barriers to help scale up factory-built housing across the country.
Budget 2024 also announces that the Apartment Construction Loan Program will earmark at least $500 million to homebuilders that use innovative construction techniques, such as modular housing, for new rental projects.

In the coming months, the government will engage with housing, construction, and building material sectors, along with labour unions, Indigenous housing experts, and other relevant stakeholders, to co-develop a Canadian industrial strategy for homebuilding. Together, we will explore all essential inputs into building homes in Canada, including raw and manufactured materials, supply chains, and building techniques to ensure that all orders of government and industry can achieve our ultimate goal of building homes smarter, faster, and at prices Canadians can afford.

Strengthening innovation and increasing productivity in the residential construction sector is critical to building more homes, faster. In addition to new measures in Budget 2024, the federal government is supporting homebuilders who use new, innovative ways to build more homes, faster.

Existing support to advance innovative construction includes:

Over $600 million through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund to support innovative solutions for the next generation of housing in Canada.
$300 million through the Housing Supply Challenge to develop solutions to remove barriers that hinder housing supply.
$191.8 million over seven years and $7.1 million per year ongoing to conduct research and development on innovative construction materials and to revitalize national housing and building standards to encourage low-carbon construction solutions.
$38 million through the Green Construction through Wood program to encourage the use of innovative wood-based building technologies in construction projects.
$13.5 million per year to make the National Building Codes free to access and to modernize codes, including by reducing barriers to internal trade and aligning building codes across the country.

Further support available for housing and construction innovation and productivity includes:

The Industrial Research Assistance Program, which helps Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market.
The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program, which helps businesses scale-up new innovative technologies.
The Strategic Innovation Fund, which helps attract and spur private investment in innovative projects across all regions and sectors of the economy.

Housing Design Catalogue

The government is reviving and modernizing its post-war housing design catalogue, which will provide blueprints that can be used across the country to speed up the construction of new homes.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $11.6 million in 2024-25 to support the development of its Housing Design Catalogue for up to 50 housing designs, such as modular housing, row housing, fourplexes, sixplexes, and accessory dwelling units, that provinces, territories, and municipalities could use to simplify and accelerate housing approvals and builds.

This first phase of the catalogue will be published in fall 2024.

Modernizing Housing Data

To better understand the needs of local housing markets, we need better data. Every order of government should be committed to a data-driven response to the housing crisis.

To help modernize housing data, Budget 2024 proposes to provide $20 million over four years, starting in 2024-25 for Statistics Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to modernize and enhance the collection and dissemination of housing data, including municipal-level data on housing starts and completions.

Adding Additional Suites to Single Family Homes

Many homeowners have extra space they could convert into rental suites, such as an unused basement, or a garage that could be converted into a laneway home. Historically, the cost of renovating, combined with municipal red tape, has made this both difficult and costly.

Recent municipal zoning reforms in Canada's major cities, including reforms through Housing Accelerator Fund agreements, are creating new opportunities for homeowners to add additional suites to their properties in support of densification. New rental suites would provide more homes for Canadians and could provide an important source of income for seniors, who would be able to afford continuing to age at home. New suites can also be purpose-built to be barrier-free, to accommodate physical impairments of an aging family member or a child with a disability.

The government is taking action to make it easier for homeowners to increase Canada's supply of housing by adding additional suites to their home.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $409.6 million over four years, starting in 2025-26, to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to launch a new Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, enabling homeowners to access up to $40,000 in low-interest loans to add secondary suites to their homes. Details of this program will be announced in the coming months.
Budget 2024 announces the government's intention to make targeted changes to mortgage insurance rules to encourage densification and support the efficient functioning of the housing finance market, by enabling homeowners to add more units to their homes. The government will consult stakeholders on proposed changes to regulations, including for refinancing, maximum loan and home price, as well as other mortgage insurance rules where homeowners are adding additional units.

Low-cost loans to build more secondary suites

Amena and Kareem are young working professionals looking to purchase their first home in Burnaby, British Columbia. They find a single-family home with a separate garage out back. With a single car between them, they think about converting the garage into a laneway home to generate additional income to help pay down their mortgage.

In addition to new flexibilities in mortgage insurance rules to enable Amena and Kareem to access mortgage insurance, for a property value that exceeds the current limit of $1 million, the new secondary suite loan program will help them convert their garage into an adjacent laneway home after the home is purchased.

They apply to the Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program for a low-cost loan of $40,000, to help cover their renovation costs, and once they find a tenant, are able to use new rental income to cover the cost of the loan.

New mortgage flexibilities to add secondary suites

Yuval owns a single-family home in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Despite having accumulated significant equity in his home, Yuval is feeling the strain of mortgage payments, property taxes and other expenses from higher living costs.

Targeted changes to mortgage insurance rules could allow Yuval to refinance his insured mortgage to access his home equity to convert part of his home into a rental suite. This could allow Yuval to earn rental income to offset his mortgage expenses and property taxes, while also providing a much-needed rental accommodation in his neighbourhood.

Accelerating Investment to Build More Apartments

Building on the success of removing 100 per cent of GST from new rental housing projects and providing more low-cost financing to move more apartment building projects forward, the government is taking further action to make the math work for homebuilders.

Budget 2024 proposes to introduce a temporary accelerated capital cost allowance, at a rate of 10 per cent for eligible new purpose-built rental projects that begin construction on or after Budget Day, and are available for residents to move in before January 1, 2036.

Increasing the capital cost allowance rate from 4 per cent to 10 per cent will incentivize builders by moving projects from unfeasible to feasible, through increased after-tax returns on investment.

The measure does not change the total amount of depreciation expenses being deducted over time, it simply accelerates it. Allowing homebuilders to deduct certain depreciation expenses over a shorter period of time allows homebuilders to recover more of their costs faster, enabling further investment of their money back into new housing projects.

This measure would cost an estimated $1.1 billion over five years, starting in 2024-25.

Building More Student Housing

As universities and colleges expand and attract more students, the demand for student housing is going up. Not every campus is equipped, and that means some students are struggling to afford local rents. And, student demand puts pressure on locals. Building more student housing is good for young people, and makes sure there is a fair rental market for everyone.

To encourage the construction of a wide variety of much needed long-term rental housing that meets the needs of Canadians, the federal government removed 100 per cent of GST from new rental housing built specifically for long-term rental accommodation. However, student residences, given their typically shorter-term and transient nature, may not currently meet the conditions for this rebate.

Budget 2024 announces that the eligibility conditions for the removal of GST on new student residences will be relaxed for not-for-profit universities, public colleges, and school authorities. This will incentivize Canada's educational institutions to build more student housing by ensuring they benefit from the removal of GST on new student residences. This measure is expected to cost $19 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $5 million per year ongoing.

The relaxed eligibility will apply to new student residences that begin construction on or after September 14, 2023, and before 2031, and that complete construction before 2036. Private institutions will not be eligible for this support.

This measure builds on the government's new reform to allow on- and off-campus student housing projects to access the $55 billion Apartment Construction Loan Program.

More Skilled Trades Workers Building Homes

People in the skilled trades are proudly stepping up as part of this generational effort to build housing. But to meet this challenge, Canada needs even more workers and it needs apprenticeships to remain affordable for young people starting their new careers. According to BuildForce Canada, the construction sector faces a shortage of over 60,000 workers by 2032, due to many hard-working construction workers reaching retirement age, combined with demand from accelerating home construction.

To encourage more people to pursue a career in the skilled trades, the federal government is creating apprenticeship opportunities to train and recruit the next generation of skilled trades workers.

$90 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for the Apprenticeship Service to help create placements with small and medium-sized enterprises for apprentices. Of this amount, $10 million in 2025-26 would be sourced from existing departmental resources.
$10 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program to encourage Canadians to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades. This funding would be sourced from existing departmental resources.

To make it easier for young people who hope to start a career in the skilled trades, in addition to interest-free Canada Apprentice Loan and Employment Insurance Regular Benefits for apprentices on full-time technical training, the government will continue explore options to make apprenticeships more affordable.

Further investments to build Canada's residential construction workforce, such as the recently launched Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, will help young workers gain the specialized skills needed to retrofit homes to increase energy efficiency and lower the costs of homeownership.

Training the next generation of construction workers

Emily is a high school student thinking of pursuing a career as a construction electrician. Through the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program, Emily can get access to career fairs, mentorship, and job shadowing to explore and prepare for a career in the construction industry.

Jai is a plumbing apprentice seeking to obtain Red Seal Certification. Jai can receive innovative, hands-on training designed to remove accessibility barriers at a small and medium-sized enterprise receiving support through the Apprenticeship Service to offer apprenticeship training opportunities.

Recognizing Foreign Construction Credentials and Improving Labour Mobility

Newcomers with the skills and experience needed to build new homes should be able to join the Canadian labour market without delays.

To enable skilled newcomers to maximize their potential as they build a new life in Canada, the Foreign Credential Recognition Program helps provide training, work placements, wage subsidies, and mentoring to newcomers. For six years, the program has helped over 9,000 skilled newcomers receive work placements and wage subsidies, and another 20,000 workers received low-cost loans and support services to minimize the costs and requirements associated with practicing their trade in Canada.

Building on Budget 2022's five-year $115 million investment in the Foreign Credential Recognition Program:

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $50 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to Employment and Social Development Canada for the Foreign Credential Recognition Program. At least half of this amount will be to streamline foreign credential recognition in the construction sector to help skilled trades workers build more homes, and the remaining funding will support foreign credential recognition in the health sector. Similar to a recent agreement between federal, provincial and territorial health ministers to recognize foreign credentials for health care professionals, the federal government is calling on provinces and territories to expedite removal of their barriers to foreign credential recognition.

To reduce internal barriers for skilled workers in Canada, the federal government is also calling for provinces and territories to urgently streamline their trades certification standards for interprovincial consistency. This includes streamlining requirements in trades, or sub-trades, that have no or limited equivalents in other jurisdictions. The federal government will continue to collaborate with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities to improve labour mobility for workers in these trades.

Ensuring newcomer construction workers can help build more homes

Emmanuel is a newcomer to Canada, with significant experience in the construction sector abroad. Through investments made by the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, Emmanuel can access construction-related training and work opportunities to help him get his education and experience recognized, integrate into the residential construction sector in his province, and contribute to alleviating the housing crisis.

Homeownership is a big part of the middle class dream. If you work hard, and save your money, you should be able to buy a home. That was the deal for generations. But young adults feel like the possibility of owning a home like the one they grew up in is less and less likely, as increases in home prices continue to outpace their salaries and wages. The prospect of owning a home in Canada needs to be as real for young people today, as it was for any other generation.

And for the millions of Canadians who rent, including many who prefer the flexibility that comes with renting, drastic rent increases have pushed what was once an affordable option out of reach.

Canadians need help now, and Canada will work to make homeownership a reality for young Canadians and to protect renters, many of whom are Millennial and Gen Z, and are paying a much higher portion of their earnings towards rents than previous generations.

Budget 2024 takes action to unlock new pathways for young renters to become homeowners, and to protect middle class homeowners from rising mortgage payments.

Figure 1.5: Making it Easier to Buy a First Home

The Canadian Mortgage Charter, which details the tailored mortgage relief that the government expects banks to provide borrowers who are facing financial difficulty with the mortgage on their principal residence.
The new Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, which is a registered savings account that allows Canadians to contribute up to $8,000 per year (up to a lifetime limit of $40,000) for their first down payment.
The recently doubled First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit, which provides up to $1,500 in direct support to home buyers to offset expensive closing costs involved in buying a first home.
Ensuring the profits from flipping residential real estate are subject to taxation, to unlock more homes for Canadians to live in—because homes are not a speculative financial asset class for investors.
Making assignment sales fully taxable to ensure homes remain available for Canadians to buy.
Over $750 million for the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program, which has to date provided support for over 1,500 low- to median-income households to help them transition from expensive oil heating to more energy efficient, cost-saving electric heat pumps.
Over $6.7 billion, on a cash basis, for the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan programs, which to date have provided over 172,000 grants of up to $5,000 and 58,000 interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to help Canadians save money by making their homes more energy efficient.

Aligning Immigration With Housing Capacity

Immigration enriches Canada's society, our culture, and our economy, but the combination of temporary and permanent immigration experienced last year put strains on Canada's ability to properly welcome and integrate newcomers into Canadian society. The government has taken steps to better manage temporary migration pressures while moderating the pace of its levels plan.

Under the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, the government has carefully moderated the intake of new permanent residents, moving towards a long-term approach that seeks to strike a balance between meeting the economic imperatives and enhancing the ability of communities to effectively welcome and integrate immigrants.

The government has also recently announced that it will reduce the share of temporary residents to 5 per cent of the overall population over the next three years. This will lead to approximately 600,000 fewer temporary residents in Canada compared to current levels.

Normalizing permanent and temporary immigration levels is critical to ensuring that newcomers have the opportunities and social supports they need to succeed when coming to Canada.

Further, these changes will ensure that newcomers, and all Canadians, have an affordable place to call home. The scale of this reduction is significant in the context of housing demand: in recent years, Canada has built about 220,000 housing units annually.

The government has also taken steps to reduce the volume of asylum claims. In March 2023, Canada and the United States announced the expansion of the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires asylum claimants to request protection in the first safe country they arrive in, unless they qualify for an exception to the Agreement. This has resulted in significantly fewer individuals claiming asylum at irregular crossings in between Canada's land ports of entry.

Also, on February 29, 2024, the government adjusted the travel requirements for Mexican citizens, who represented 17 per cent of all asylum claims in 2023. While the majority will continue to be able to travel visa-free to Canada, some Mexican nationals will now need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa. This responds to an increase in asylum claims made by Mexican citizens that are refused, withdrawn, or abandoned. In recent years, Mexican nationals represented the top source of asylum claims in Canada.

Stabilizing International Student Intake to Alleviate Housing Pressures

To ensure every Canadian student can find an affordable place to live while pursuing their education, the federal government is taking action to stabilize international student intake across the country. By better aligning temporary immigration pressures to a moderate pace, Canada can ensure a better capacity to welcome newcomers.

In January 2024, the government announced a new cap on the number of study permit applications, which is expected to decrease approved study permits by up to 28 per cent in 2024 for the groups included under the cap. The government also announced new eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit. This will help ease housing demand growth, while also protecting international students from fraudulent institutions and unsafe living conditions.

This builds on the government's announcement last fall to reform the International Student Program. As committed in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, by fall 2024, the government will launch a new Recognized Institutions Framework to reward post-secondary institutions with high standards around selecting, supporting—including by providing access to housing—and retaining international students.

Taken together, the measures aim to ensure post-secondary students receive the support they need for success, and balance the pressures on student housing by aligning the number of students arriving in Canada with the number of available homes. By alleviating student housing pressures, generations of Canadians and international students today, and tomorrow, will have a more affordable pathway to getting a good education.

Credit for Paying Rent

Every month, millions of Canadian renters pay their rent in full and on-time. The government thinks that should count towards their credit worthiness when applying for their first mortgage, seeking to refinance a mortgage and in many other situations that require credit evaluations. For young Canadians and newcomers to Canada, this is even more important as they have a more difficult time establishing credit history.

More Gen Z and Millennials are renting today than the generations that came before them, with over 54 per cent of people between 25 and 34 years old being renters—and that number jumps to 81 per cent for people under 24 years old. In comparison, 25 per cent of Canadians between 55 and 64 years old are renters today. By making renters' payments count, we can help younger Canadians get ahead.

In Budget 2024, the government is setting a firm expectation with lenders, through its strengthened Canadian Mortgage Charter, to take a renter's on-time payment history into account when performing credit evaluations for mortgage applications.

Budget 2024 announces that the government is calling on banks, fintechs, and credit bureaus to prioritize launching tools to allow renters to opt-in to reporting their rent payment history to credit bureaus, to strengthen their credit scores and unlock pathways for more renters to become homeowners.

Together, this ability to strengthen one's credit score with on-time rental payment history—and make it easier to qualify for a mortgage, or even a lower rate—works in parallel to the government's efforts to advance consumer-driven banking. Further details on Canada's Framework for Consumer-Driven Banking are in Chapter 3.

Protecting Renters' Rights

Renters face unique challenges to ensuring their homes are properly maintained and that their landlords follow provincial laws. Renters can have a hard time navigating different provincial laws and lack resources to fight disputes with landlords—whether it concerns faulty heating, an illegal rent increase, or an illegal eviction. Tenant organizing and legal services can help renters.

When renters' rights are upheld, it gives people stability and housing security. They can stay in their homes and in their community—taking their kids to the same schools, being close to the same parks, and staying in the same job. It also gives them bargaining power, helping them keep their rent affordable.

The federal government is committed to protecting tenant rights and ensuring that renting a home is fair, open, and transparent.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $15 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for a new Tenant Protection Fund, which will provide funding to organizations that provide legal and informational services to tenants, as well as for tenants' rights advocacy organizations to raise awareness of renters' rights.
Budget 2024 also proposes a new Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights, to be developed and implemented in partnership with provinces and territories, to protect renters from unfair practices, make leases simpler, and increase price transparency. The government intends to crack down on renovictions, introduce a nationwide standard lease agreement, and require landlords to disclose historical rent prices of apartments.

Free legal support and advocacy for renters

The heating system in Patrick's apartment breaks down during the winter, threatening his health and safety, but his landlord refuses to arrange urgent repairs because they are on extended vacation. Patrick pays for emergency repairs, but his landlord refuses to fully reimburse his expenses after returning from vacation.

Patrick accesses free, federally funded legal information and advice to navigate his province's tenant dispute resolution process and succeeds in being fully reimbursed for his expenses.

30-Year Amortizations for First-Time Buyers Purchasing New Builds

The high cost of mortgage payments is a barrier for many younger Canadians hoping to buy that first time. Extending mortgage amortizations for first-time buyers purchasing new builds brings that monthly cost down, making it more affordable for first-time buyers, many of whom are young people still working their way up the salary ladder.

To restore generational fairness in the housing market for younger Canadians, the government is strengthening the Canadian Mortgage Charter with new measures to unlock pathways for Millennials and Gen Z to get the keys to their first home.

Budget 2024 announces the government is strengthening the Canadian Mortgage Charter to allow 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time home buyers purchasing newly constructed homes. Extending the amortization limits by five years for first-time buyers purchasing new builds will enable more younger Canadians to afford a mortgage and will encourage new supply. This new insured mortgage product will be available to first-time buyers starting August 1, 2024. The government will bring forward regulatory amendments to implement this proposal. Further details will be released in the coming months.

The government will monitor whether housing inflation and supply conditions permit expanding access to 30-year insured mortgage amortizations more broadly.

Combined with the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account to save for a down payment faster and helping renters build their credit score with their on-time rental payment history, new access to 30-year mortgage amortizations will help first-time buyers purchasing new builds to access mortgages with lower monthly payments, making it easier to unlock the door to their first home.

Enhancing the Home Buyers' Plan

As home prices go up and the cost of living rises, saving for a down payment is more and more difficult. The federal government is enhancing the tax savings plans that help young Canadians save for their first home.

Across the country, and particularly in Canada's major cities, home prices have gone up—steeply. Support to help first-time buyers save must keep pace with market prices. That is why the government launched the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, and why in Budget 2024, it is enhancing the Home Buyers' Plan. While home prices have risen—and building more new homes will help to lower prices—the government is unlocking pathways to a down payment so more Canadians can buy a home and build a good middle class life.

Budget 2024 announces the government's intention to amend the Income Tax Act to increase the Home Buyers' Plan withdrawal limit from $35,000 to $60,000, enabling first-time home buyers to use the tax benefits of an RRSP to save up to $25,000 more for their down payment, faster. The newly increased limit would be available to first-time buyers after April 16, 2024.
Budget 2024 also announces the government's intention to amend the Income Tax Act to temporarily extend the grace period during which homeowners are not required to repay their Home Buyers' Plan withdrawals to their RRSP by an additional three years. This grace period extension would apply to Home Buyers' Plan participants who made a first withdrawal between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025, who will now only have to begin repaying their Home Buyers' Plan withdrawals in the fifth year after the year in which they withdraw. For a couple who withdrew the maximum in 2023, extending the grace period could allow them to defer annual repayments as large as $4,667 by an additional three years.

This measure would reduce federal revenues by an estimated $90 million over six years, starting in 2023-24, and $5 million per year ongoing.

The new Tax-Free First Home Savings Account is a registered savings account that allows Canadians to contribute up to $8,000 per year, and up to a lifetime limit of $40,000, towards their first down payment. To help Canadians reach their savings goals faster, Tax-Free First Home Savings Account contributions are tax deductible on annual income tax returns, like a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). And, like a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), withdrawals to purchase a first home—including any investment income on contributions—are non-taxable. Tax-free in; tax-free out.

As of April 16, more than 750,000 Canadians have already opened a Tax-Free First Home Savings Account to save for their first down payment—putting homeownership back within reach across the country and helping them reach their savings goals sooner.

Tax-Free First Home Savings Account

Darya is planning to buy a first home in 2029 in Saint John, NB. Starting in 2024, she began contributing $667 per month in her Tax-Free First Home Savings Account. These contributions can be deducted from her income at tax time, providing an annual federal tax refund of $1,640. After five years, Darya has saved $44,000 in her Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, including tax-free investment income, which she uses to make a 10-per-cent down payment on a $350,000 home and pay associated expenses. She can withdraw the full $44,000 tax-free, saving thousands of dollars that can be put towards her new home. In addition, she will claim the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit for $1,500 in tax relief.

Tax-Free First Home Savings Account and Home Buyers' Plan

Mark and Mathieu want to buy a condo in Vancouver this year. They both make between $70,000 and $100,000 annually and contributed the maximum amount in their Tax-Free First Home Savings Account in 2023 and 2024 ($667 per month each), for a total of $32,000 between the two of them. These contributions were deducted from their income at tax time, providing total federal tax refunds of $6,560. Mark and Mathieu also both have $60,000 in their individual RRSPs.

Mark and Mathieu would like to make a 20 per cent down payment on a $760,000 condo to save on mortgage loan insurance premiums and interest payments. The couple is planning to use their Tax-Free First Home Savings Accounts and RRSPs for their $152,000 down payment. With the increased Home Buyers' Plan withdrawal limit, Mark and Mathieu can now withdraw $120,000 from their RRSPs without having to pay $15,000 in taxes, which they would have paid on the amount in excess of the previous Home Buyers' Plan withdrawal limit of $35,000 ($70,000 per couple). They will now have until 2029 to start repaying the $120,000 back to their RRSPs, instead of 2026 as per current rules. They will also claim the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit for an additional $1,500 in tax relief.

The combined value of federal-provincial tax relief offered by the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, compared to a taxable account for a couple living in Ontario, earning about $80,000 and each contributing $8,000 annually is detailed in Chart 1.4. Also shown is the maximum down payment a couple could make when combining the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, Home Buyers' Plan, and the Home Buyers' Tax Credit.

Chart 1.4: A Pathway to a First Down Payment (for a couple)

Enhancing the Canadian Mortgage Charter

The government launched the Canadian Mortgage Charter to help ensure Canadians know about the fair, reasonable, and timely mortgage relief they can seek and receive from their financial institutions.

Mortgage lenders have a range of tools available for providing tailored relief. Lenders will communicate with borrowers facing mortgage hardship to discuss possible approaches based on the borrower's individual circumstances and criteria set by lenders and mortgage insurers.

The federal government and its financial sector agencies, particularly the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, are closely monitoring the mortgage relief being offered by financial institutions. While Canadians are continuing to manage the impacts of higher mortgage rates, it is essential that borrowers and lenders remain proactive in identifying and addressing mortgage hardship.

Using rent payment history for mortgage applications, to help more renters become homeowners by improving their credit score;
Up to 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time home buyers purchasing new builds, to make it easier to afford a first mortgage; and,
More detailed expectations for lenders to proactively contact borrowers, including making permanent mortgage relief measures available, where appropriate; and providing information to help borrowers make informed decisions, such as before renewal.

The Canadian Mortgage Charter sets out the following expectations:

Proactively contacting homeowners well in advance of their mortgage renewal to inform them of their renewal and refinancing options (e.g., in some circumstances, lenders should contact borrowers at least 24 months in advance to begin discussing options).
Allowing temporary extensions of the amortization period for mortgage holders at risk and, where appropriate, permanent amortization extensions for those that meet additional criteria set by mortgage insurers and lenders.
Providing information about additional interest that mortgage holders will pay, over the total length of the mortgage, as a result of amortization extensions.
Waiving fees and costs that would have otherwise been charged for relief measures, or when mortgage holders take action (e.g., increasing payments) to reduce an extended amortization as their financial situation improves.
Not requiring insured mortgage holders to requalify under the insured minimum qualifying rate when switching lenders at mortgage renewal.
Giving borrowers at risk the ability to make lump sum payments to avoid negative amortization or sell their principal residence without any prepayment penalties.
Not charging interest on interest in the event that mortgage relief measures result in a temporary period of negative amortization.
Calling on landlords, banks, credit bureaus, and fintech companies to make sure that rental history is taken into account in your credit score.
Permitting up to 30-year mortgage amortization for first-time buyers purchasing new builds.

Switching mortgage lenders without requalifying for the stress test

Jessica, a new homeowner in Charlottetown, PEI, is nearing the completion of her first five-year term on a $350,000 mortgage for her townhouse. The Mortgage Charter sets an expectation for her bank to send an early notice informing her of her renewal options, which gives her plenty of time to shop around for a better rate. Jessica works with a mortgage broker to evaluate her options and finds a more competitive mortgage rate at a different lender. As a borrower with mortgage insurance, Jessica is able to switch lenders at renewal without needing to requalify under the minimum qualifying rate (the stress test).

Because the Mortgage Charter helped inform Jessica that she could switch lenders without another stress test, Jessica is able to reduce her mortgage rate from 6 per cent to 5.5 per cent and save around $1,000 per year.

Extending amortization and not paying interest on interest

Éric and Maya are new parents in Québec City, Quebec who purchased their first home two years ago. The fixed monthly payment of around $2,300 that they make on their $550,000 variable rate mortgage is no longer covering their mortgage interest costs at the current interest rate, creating a situation where their mortgage balance is growing and interest is being charged on interest.

Éric and Maya receive a letter from their bank informing them of the situation. After discussing options with their bank, Éric and Maya take into account their budget constraints and decide to temporarily extend their amortization by an additional five years to help make their payments more manageable. Because the Mortgage Charter sets expectations for lenders to proactively contact borrowers facing mortgage hardship, Éric and Maya are able to get back to paying down their mortgage balance and avoid about $400 in interest on interest.

When interest rates fall, the bank will work with Éric and Maya to help them return to their original amortization schedule.

Halal Mortgages

Canada is home to a vibrant and growing market of alternative financing products, including halal mortgages, that enable Muslim Canadians, and other diverse communities, to further participate in the housing market.

Budget 2024 announces that the government is exploring new measures to expand access to alternative financing products, like halal mortgages. This could include changes in the tax treatment of these products or a new regulatory sandbox for financial service providers, while ensuring adequate consumer protections are in place.

In March 2024, the government began consulting financial services providers and diverse communities to understand how federal policies can better support the needs of all Canadians seeking to become homeowners. The government will provide an update in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement .

Strengthening Mortgage Income Verification

Financial institutions maintain rigorous policies to verify borrower income when determining someone's ability to repay their mortgage. Independently verifying borrower income helps financial institutions detect and deter the types of fraud or misrepresentation that can increase the costs of mortgages for all borrowers. However, fraud risks are always evolving—and so too are the tools to combat these risks.

Budget 2024 announces the government's intention to consult with the mortgage industry on making available a tool through the Canada Revenue Agency to complement the existing strategies of financial institutions to verify borrower income for mortgages.

Banning Foreign Buyers of Canadian Homes

For years, foreign money has been coming into Canada to buy up residential real estate, increasing housing affordability concerns in cities across the country, and particularly major centres. To address this, the government introduced a two-year ban on the purchase of residential property by foreign investors, effective January 1, 2023.

To help ensure that homes are used for Canadians to live in, not as a speculative asset class for foreign investors, on February 4, 2024, the government announced it intends to extend the ban on foreign buying of Canadian homes by an additional two years, to January 1, 2027.

Foreign commercial enterprises and people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents will continue to be prohibited from purchasing residential property in Canada.

Cracking Down on Short-Term Rentals

Homes are for Canadians to live in, not speculative assets for investors. The short-term rentals listed on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO are keeping 18,900 homes off the market in Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver alone, based on estimates from 2020, meaning families, students, workers, and seniors are having to compete for fewer homes.

To unlock Canada's housing supply for Canadians to live in, in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the federal government proposed tax changes to incentivize the return of non-compliant short-term rentals to the long-term market and to support the work of provinces and territories that have restricted short-term rentals.

These changes would apply as of January 1, 2024, to deny income tax deductions on income earned from short-term rentals that do not comply with the relevant provincial or municipal laws. By denying income tax deductions, the government is removing the profit incentive for short-term rental operators.

Some provinces, including Quebec and British Columbia, and municipalities such as Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver, have already taken action to return short-term rentals to the long-term market for Canadians to live in. To support the work of municipalities to unlock homes for Canadians, the federal government is committed to launching a $50 million short-term rental enforcement fund. The government is currently engaging with stakeholders to design a program that will be responsive to municipal needs, and will announce further details later this year.

Cracking Down on Real Estate Fraud

Cracking down on real estate tax fraud protects home buyers and levels the playing field for those who play by the rules. The government is committed to reinforcing the fairness of the tax system and combatting tax non-compliance across the housing sector.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $73.1 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $14.7 million per year ongoing to the Canada Revenue Agency to continue addressing tax non-compliance in real estate transactions. By ensuring that everyone pays their fair share, the government is protecting home buyers from artificial market distortions that increase home prices.

Advancing National Flood Insurance

Unlike previous generations, homeownership now comes with the burdens of paying for the costs of climate change, due to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters. Put simply, Millennial homeowners have to worry if they can afford flood insurance, or if they can access it at all. This wasn't a common concern for their parents and grandparents.

As announced in Budget 2023, the government intends to deliver a flood reinsurance program and a separate insurance subsidy for households at high risk of flooding.

Budget 2024 announces the government's intention to establish a subsidiary of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to deliver flood reinsurance.
To advance this commitment, Budget 2024 proposes to provide $15 million to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in 2025-26 to advance implementation of a national flood insurance program by 2025.

The government is advancing work with provinces and territories, in partnership with the insurance industry, to stand-up a low-cost flood insurance program for high-risk properties within the next twelve months.

Flood insurance to protect Canadians' homes

Joaquin and Kariné own a home in an area with a high flood risk. Because there are limited private insurance options available to cover homes in high flood risk areas, they face challenges insuring their home.

Like many Canadian homeowners, their home is a large part of their life savings. Joaquin and Kariné still have a mortgage, which adds to their worries about potential disasters, such as a flood, damaging their property. This situation leaves them with limited financial flexibility and poses a risk to their financial security, should their home suffer damage.

Canada's flood insurance program will help Joaquin and Kariné access insurance coverage and protect their home in a way that is affordable.

Confronting the Financialization of Housing

Housing should be treated as homes for people, instead of a speculative asset class. When purchasing a home, Canadians might expect to be bidding against other potential buyers, not a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund. The role of large, corporate investors in our single-family housing market needs to be addressed.

Budget 2024 announces that the government intends to restrict the purchase and acquisition of existing single-family homes by very large, corporate investors. The government will consult in the coming months and provide further details in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement .

When you have a home, you have stability, security, and an increased sense of well-being. Everyone deserves this. One of the most heart wrenching realities of the housing crisis is the increase in people struggling to find housing, especially since the pandemic. Making sure everyone has a place to live is the right thing to do, and it's the Canadian thing to do.

A strong and growing community housing sector supports vulnerable people, including those making low incomes, those fleeing violence, and those experiencing homelessness. It also keeps affordable housing affordable, builds new affordable options that meet everyone's needs, and supports strong, diverse communities. Everyone has a right to decent housing, regardless of income.

Budget 2024 will invest to increase the amount of affordable housing in Canada so we can restore what was lost over the past few decades, and help bring chronic homelessness in Canadian communities to an end.

Over $4 billion towards preventing and reducing homelessness, through Reaching Home, Canada's Homelessness Strategy—including $100 million to support communities in responding to unsheltered homelessness this winter.
$4 billion through the Rapid Housing Initiative, which is building more than 15,500 affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness or in severe housing need by 2026.
Nearly $960 million provided since 2017 via the Interim Housing Assistance Program to support provinces and municipalities offering transitional housing support to asylum claimants.
Over $458 million for the new Greener Affordable Housing stream of the Canada Greener Homes Loan program to provide low-interest loans and grants for energy efficient retrofits of affordable housing, which reduces operational costs for non-profit housing providers.
Over $4 billion over seven years, starting in 2024-25, to implement an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy and to establish a National Indigenous Housing Centre.

Enhancing the Affordable Housing Fund

Canada's affordable housing stock is too small to meet growing demand, resulting in too many people living in unaffordable and inadequate housing. More affordable housing is particularly needed to ensure persons with disabilities and low-income families can find an affordable place to call home.

This is why the government is investing billions of dollars to support affordable housing providers, to repair existing affordable homes, and to build new ones, through programs such as the $14 billion Affordable Housing Fund.

The 2023 Fall Economic Statement provided an additional $1 billion for the Affordable Housing Fund to support non-profit, co-op, and public housing providers in building more than 7,000 affordable homes.

To build and maintain more affordable housing, Budget 2024 proposes to provide $976 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $24 million in future years, to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to launch a new Rapid Housing stream under the Affordable Housing Fund to build deeply affordable housing, supportive housing, and shelters for our most vulnerable.

Protecting and Expanding Affordable Housing

In the last decade, hundreds of thousands of affordable homes have been lost in Canada—by being destroyed after a lack of maintenance and upkeep, turned into more expensive rental units, or converted into luxury condos. Today, our community housing sector accounts for only 4 per cent of Canada's housing market, while 10 per cent of Canadians are low-income and in need of affordable housing. More must be done. We must protect our affordable housing supply for low- and modest-income families.

The government is committed to expanding and transforming this sector by 2030 and beyond to further support Canadian households, including young Canadians.

This new Fund will be co-led and co-funded by the federal government and other partners.
This program will help mobilize investments and financing from the charitable sector, private sector, and other orders of government.

Keeping Non-Profit and Co-op Homes Affordable

In recognition of the financial challenges facing community and social housing providers, such as co-ops, the federal government provides support to affordable housing providers to ensure existing affordable housing can be maintained. To date, the Federal Community Housing Initiative has already delivered nearly $150 million to ensure 47,000 homes can remain affordable for vulnerable Canadians, including persons with disabilities, single-parent families, seniors, and newcomers.

Budget 2024 announces the government's intention to introduce flexibilities to the Federal Community Housing Initiative to ensure that eligible housing providers can access funding to maintain housing affordability for low-income tenants and co-op members.

Lower Energy Bills for Renters and Homeowners

To address the twin challenges of energy affordability and climate change, the government will launch a Canada Green Buildings Strategy. The strategy will help lower home energy bills and reduce building emissions by supporting energy efficient retrofits. This represents an important next step in meeting Canada's climate targets and helping Canadians save money on their energy bills.

$800 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, to launch a new Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program that will support the direct installation of energy efficiency retrofits for Canadian households with low- to median-incomes. This program represents the next phase of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative and will be co-delivered with provincial and territorial partners. It will also be complemented by CMHC's Greener Homes Loan program, which provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 for energy efficiency home retrofits.
$73.5 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, to renew and modernize existing energy efficiency programs that offer tools to building owners like the ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Standard and the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. This funding will also spur the development of better, more ambitious building codes to further reduce emissions and lower energy bills. The federal government will encourage provinces and territories to adopt these top-tier building codes.
$30 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, to continue developing a national approach to home energy labelling, which will empower prospective home buyers with information about the energy efficiency of their new home, with the support of energy auditors.

Natural Resources Canada will announce further details on the Canada Green Buildings Strategy in the coming weeks.

Lowering energy bills for homeowners

Maya and Sophie are homeowners with low incomes and are struggling to afford their energy bills. They want to make their home more cost efficient. Through the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP), an assessment determines that the most effective energy efficiency upgrades for their home are attic insulation and air sealing. At no cost to Maya and Sophie, CGHAP arranges the direct installation of these upgrades, which will prevent heat from leaking out, improve the comfort of their home, save them money on their energy bills, and reduce their home heating emissions.

Lowering energy bills for renters

Sierra rents an apartment where she faces high heating bills from her baseboard heaters and does not have air conditioning. With the agreement of her landlord, an assessment through CGHAP determines her apartment would be a good candidate for a heat pump. At no cost to Sierra, CGHAP arranges the direct installation of a heat pump that reduces her heating costs and provides air conditioning, leaving her more money at the end of the month, and with a more comfortable home, too.

Addressing Homelessness and Encampments

Homelessness and encampments impact every community in Canada, affecting some of the most vulnerable Canadians, including 2SLGBTQI+ youth, Black and racialized people, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous people. To help ensure everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home, the government has committed over $4 billion through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, for communities to provide services, transitional housing, and shelter to those who need it most. This is double the funding originally provided for Reaching Home in Budget 2017.

To respond to the urgent needs that communities are facing, the government provided an additional $100 million in 2023-24 to Infrastructure Canada for Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy to support emergency funding over the winter for those experiencing or at risk of unsheltered homelessness—including those living in encampments.

$1.0 billion over four years, starting in 2024-25, to stabilize funding under the program. Recognizing the enduring nature of this challenge, this investment reflects the government's commitment to support organizations that do vitally important work across the country to prevent and reduce homelessness. Of this investment, $50 million will focus on accelerating community-level reductions in homelessness. This investment will support communities across Canada as they adopt best practices and lessons learned from other jurisdictions to reduce the time it takes to move individuals and families into more stable housing.
$250 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness. This funding will require provinces and territories to cost-match federal investments, leveraging a total of $500 million. This will help communities scale-up their efforts to train homelessness support workers, respond to the unique experiences of those affected by unsheltered homelessness, including those living in encampments, and renovate and build more shelters and transitional homes for those who need them.

Since Reaching Home was launched, it has supported projects across the country. Existing support to advance innovative construction includes:

Under the Indigenous Homelessness stream, the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society received $904,000 in 2021 to build the Diamond Bailey House in Halifax, with 34 shelter beds, 11 dorm-style rooms and 7 bachelor apartments.
Under the program's Rural and Remote Homelessness stream, Community Living Huntsville received $125,000 through United Way Simcoe Muskoka to support a transitional housing project that supports adults with developmental disabilities, who have experienced chronic or periodic homelessness, to reach independent living within four years.

Building Homes in Indigenous Communities

Access to safe and affordable housing is critical to improving socio-economic outcomes and ensuring a better future for Indigenous communities. Since 2015 the federal government has committed more than $6.7 billion to support housing in Indigenous communities and a further $4.3 billion to advance an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing strategy set to launch in 2024-25. As of December 31, 2023, Indigenous Services Canada, in collaboration with the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, has supported over 22,000 homes in 611 First Nations communities.

As outlined in Chapter 6, Budget 2024 also proposes additional investments to support housing and enabling infrastructure needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Indigenous households in urban, rural, and northern communities across Canada face challenges accessing adequate and affordable housing. To address this, Budget 2022 and Budget 2023 committed a total of $4.3 billion over seven years, starting in 2024-25, to implement a co-developed Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. The Strategy will be designed and implemented to complement the federal government's previous $6.7 billion in investments to support existing distinctions-based housing strategies for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Informed by Indigenous-led engagements with Indigenous governments, organizations and housing providers, the funding will be delivered directly by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, Modern Treaty holders and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments, and through a new Indigenous-led National Indigenous Housing Centre to ensure support will be provided to all Indigenous people.

Sheltering Asylum Claimants

While providing asylum claimants with a safe place to live falls under provincial and municipal jurisdiction, the federal government recognizes the need for all orders of government to work together to address pressures on the shelter system.

Since 2017, the federal government has provided almost $960 million through the Interim Housing Assistance Program, which helps provincial and municipal governments prevent homelessness for asylum claimants on a cost-sharing basis.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $1.1 billion over three years, starting in 2024-25, to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to extend the Interim Housing Assistance Program. Funding in 2026-27 will be conditional on provincial and municipal investments in permanent transitional housing solutions for asylum claimants.

The federal government is working with all orders of government to find long-term solutions to prevent asylum seekers from experiencing homelessness.

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New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund in New Orleans, LA
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COMMENTS

NOTCF
The mission of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund is to support cultural industries and culture bearers of the City of New Orleans through partnerships, grants, and programs to advance sustainable tourism. Our non-profit economic development corporation is dedicated to strengthening New Orleans culture-bearers with resources that uplift ...
Grants
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) requires adherence to certain terms and conditions in order for an application to be considered for funding. ... Positive economic impact for the City of New Orleans has the potential to drive the Hotel Occupancy taxes and therefore, allow NOTCF to support events at higher levels each year. ...
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
The mission of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund is to support cultural industries and culture bearers of the City of New Orleans through partnerships, grants, and programs to advance sustainable tourism. NOTCF Grant Opportunities Funding Levels. Level 1: $1- $2500 Minigrant
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund Non-profit Organizations New Orleans, Louisiana 74 followers NOTCF supports cultural industries & culture bearers in New Orleans through partnerships, grants ...
PDF Who Are We
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) is a non-profit economic development corporation that will (1) provide services and financial support to the culture-bearers and cultural economy of New Orleans, including, without limitation, the people, enterprises, and communities that transform cultural skills,
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund. There are presently no open calls for submissions. New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) Grant Application Information. Thank You for your interest in NOTCF's Grant Program! In 2024, there will be three (3) application cycles. The intake days are January 2, 2024, May 1, 2024, and September 3, 2024.
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund - NOTCF, New Orleans, Louisiana. 287 likes · 7 talking about this · 2 were here. New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund supports cultural industries and culture...
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund Hosts Inaugural 'Honors Gala
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund is the resource to elevate cultural artists and programs for sustainable economic growth and impact. For more information, visit www.notcf.com or call 504-381-5740.
NOTCF Announces $600,000 in Grants for Culture Bearers
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) today (Thursday, May 13) to announced the launch of their initial grants program for culture bearers. For its initial grant program, NOTCF will distribute $600,000 for a period that begins May 17 and ends June 30, or until funds have been exhausted. Culture bearers and programs can be funded at ...
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund Launches Grants Program
Getty ImagesNEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund has launched a $600,000 grants program for New Orleans musicians, artists and other culture bearers to help them recover from the impact of COVID-19. NOTCF is also offering relief for music venues. The NOTCF was formed to "support culture bearers through partnerships, grants and programs to advance sustainable tourism...
Tourism promotion agency to be remade into cultural funding
The plan to remake the NOTMC into the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, which was unveiled to the organization's board on Friday, would move the agency more squarely under city control and ...
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund Hosts Second Annual 'Honors Gala
NEW ORLEANS (press release) - The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), a non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to supporting the local cultural economy and tourism offerings, will host its second annual NOTCF HONORS GALA on Saturday, Jan. 13, at The Sugar Mill from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.. This gala, affectionately deemed the cultural Emmys, is a unique and immersive ...
New Orleans 'culture bearers' fund makes first grant: $1.2 million to
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund has awarded its first official grant since it was founded last year to help support the city's "culture bearers": $1.2 million to the Greater New Orleans ...
NOTCF Grant
New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund Grant Information. The New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund (NOTCF), a City fund, announced on May 14th that they were opening a program of grants to support cultural practitioners in creating art, hosting events, and educating the community. We want to pass along and amplify this opportunity, and clarify ...
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund Announces Honorees for its Second
On Saturday, January 13, 2024, New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) will host its seccond annual NOTCF Honors Gala at the Sugar Mill. This event will channel revelry, promote inclusiveness, and create an immersive cultural experience celebrating New Orleanians and their contributions and dedication to tailoring the colorful fabric of New Orleans! NOTCF is […]
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (@NOTCFund) / Twitter
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund supports all New Orleans cultural entities through partnerships and programs to advance sustainable tourism. Non-Governmental & Nonprofit Organization New Orleans, LA notcf.com Joined April 2022. 0 Following. 3 Followers. Tweets. Tweets & replies. Media.
NOTCF Celebrates Cultural Community with Awards Gala
By Anitra D. BrownThe New Orleans Tribune It was a warm spring day back in May 2021 when New Orleans Cultural and Tourism Fund's board members and staff excitedly gathered inside Studio Be on Royal Street at a sparsely-attended press conference to announce the organization's launch and its initial round of $600,000 in grants. New […]
PDF New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund President/CEO To submit your funding proposal: • E-mail [email protected] with "Funding Proposal" and your project name in the subject line OR • Postal mail to: Attn: Grants Review Committee NOTCF 2020 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130
First grant issued by new 'culture bearer' fund is $1.2 million to
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund last week awarded its first official grant since it was founded in 2020 — $1.2 million to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, spread out over the next five years. ... The NOTCF was created in 2020 after the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, a city-controlled agency, merged the majority ...
Mayor Cantrell Highlights Notcf Culture Bearer Grant Recipients
NEW ORLEANS — Today, Mayor LaToya Cantrell hosted an event honoring the recent New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) grant recipients, who are culture bearers in the city. The event was hosted at the JOB1 Center, who is a partner that offers business center space to NOTCF staff and technical grant assistance to cultural applicants and ...
Mayors Office
NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), in partnership with New Orleans & Company, 3090 x 3090 LLC and a proactive coalition of New Orleans entertainment focused nightclubs and music venues, will kick off "NOLA x NOLA" starting Sept. 23, with special performances scheduled ...
NOTCF Honors Gala
NOTCF Honors Gala. On Saturday, January 13, 2024, New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) will host its 2nd Annual NOTCF Honors Gala. This event will channel revelry, promote inclusiveness, and create an immersive cultural experience celebrating our people, their contributions and dedication to tailoring the colorful fabric of New Orleans!
For the Culture: As New Orleans' Cultural Economy Rebounds, Culture
In 2018 and 2019, the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corp., ... More recently, the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) recently announced the launch of its initial grants program for culture bearers. At the press conference held to announce the program, NOTCF board member, contemporary artist, and local culture bearer Big Chief ...
Experience Louisiana's rich culture, irresistible charm with ...
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST TO FEATURE VIBRANT CULTURAL SHOWCASE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS. Chicot State Park is the largest in Louisiana at 6,400 acres. The park is popular among canoeing, kayaking and ...
Chapter 1: More Affordable Homes
Budget 2024 proposes to provide $409.6 million over four years, starting in 2025-26, to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to launch a new Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, enabling homeowners to access up to $40,000 in low-interest loans to add secondary suites to their homes.
Cultural Economy
The City of New Orleans today announced the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), in partnership with New Orleans & Company, 3090 x 3090 LLC and a proactive coalition of New Orleans entertainment focused nightclubs and music venues, will kick off "NOLA x NOLA" starting Sept. 23, with special performances scheduled through Oct. 9, 2022.