Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Guelph is launching a new multi-unit accelerator grant aimed at speeding up housing construction, with funding designed to help projects move through permitting and into construction more quickly ahead of a 2026 deadline.
Beginning June 1, the program will offer financial support to eligible developments as part of a $2 million initiative funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, to help bring new housing units to market faster by reducing delays in the development process.
“Today’s housing market is putting pressure on projects, and we want to make it easier for builders to access funding and get homes built faster,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie. “With the unanimous support of Council, and thanks to the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund, we’re launching this grant to help projects move ahead.
“Faster timelines mean new homes built, more people housed, and continued progress on our housing commitments.”
Grants of up to $10,000 per unit will be available for up to 20 per cent of eligible units in a project. To qualify, developments must include at least five new self-contained housing units and must receive a building permit no later than Oct. 16, 2026.
Applications will be accepted between June 1 and July 5, 2026, with funding awarded on a first-come, first-served basis based on submission time.
Officials hope the program will accelerate the delivery of approximately 1,000 housing units, with up to 20 per cent of those units eligible for funding support.
To apply or check eligibility, applicants are directed to the City of Guelph’s Multi-Unit Accelerator Grant page at guelph.ca/housing.
More than 22,000 potential housing units have been approved over the past two years. In 2024 and 2025, Guelph approved 3,269 housing units through development applications, while 1,256 units have received building permits since 2024.
The new program is intended to build on that momentum by supporting faster approvals and construction timelines amid continued housing demand pressures.
