Funding Programs and Incentives

Celebrate Ontario

The annual Celebrate Ontario program helping festivals and events enhance their programs, activities and services is back with some new features.

Online information sessions are once again available in both English and French. The Celebrate Ontario 2019 page provides more information. 

Eastern Ontario Development Fund

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) is now a permanent fund following the passage of Bill 11 in September 2012. Applications are now being accepted for this fund.

Learn more about the fund by visiting the Ontario government's EODF page.

Eastern Ontario Development Program

Also called EODP, this Government of Canada initiative is intended to promote rural socioeconomic development in rural Eastern Ontario.  The fund will support business development, skills development, retention and attraction of youth, and access to capital. Through EODP, FedDev Ontario is collaborating with Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in eastern Ontario and Community Futures Ontario East to promote the growth of new and existing businesses in rural communities.

Local contacts for this program:

1000 Islands Community Futures Development Corporation (Brockville and South Leeds)

Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation (Grenville)

Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation (North Leeds and Lanark)

Learn more by visiting the the EODP FedDev Ontario page.

FedDev Ontario - Investing in Business Innovation Guidelines

Investing in Business programs, which provides funding to boost private sector investment in start-up businesses to accelerate the development of new products, processes and practises and bring them to the market, is found on this page. Read More ...

Bright Futures 

Through the Government of Canada's Sector Youth Career Focus Program, the Electricity Sector Council is providing wage subsidies to energy-related companies that offer employment to recent graduates. Applications are received between November 1-30 each year.

For one year, employers may receive funding that amounts to one-half of new workers' base salaries, to a maximum of $12,500. Host companies must be a business related to the energy sector. Participants must be between the ages of 15 and 30 and be a graduate in an electrical occupation. Career Focus Program

Prosperity Now SMART Program

SMART Prosperity Now funding is to provide financial support to Southern Ontario manufacturers who will invest in product and process improvements that develop and/or expand export opportunities and global competitiveness. Companies located in southern Ontario are eligible. Preference will be given to companies who have developed a business/export marketing plan that demonstrates the new or expanding export opportunities. Prosperity Now SMART Program

Growing Forward 2

Growing Forward 2 is a federal-provincial initiative that encourages innovation, competitiveness and market development in Canada's agri-food and agri products sector. The next intake is April 1, 2018.

In Ontario, GF2 offers resources, tools and cost-share funding assistance to eligible producers, processors, organizations and collaborations to grow their profits, expand markets and manage shared risks.

Twenty20 | The Eastern Ontario Youth STEM and Technical Skilled Trades Job Creation Pilot Program

 Qualifying rural Eastern Ontario manufacturers can be eligible for up to $20K to create funded positions for recent graduates of Canadian post-secondary educational Institutions, with particular emphasis on attracting female STEM and technical skilled trades graduates. View program flyer in English or French or go to visit www.thenma.ca for more information.

 Starter Company and Starter Company Plus

Starter Company is an entrepreneurship program for Ontario people aged 18 to 29. Applicants must not be attending school full time. The program provides guidance, mentoring, business expertise and funding to start, grow or buy a small business. To qualify for up to $5,000, you need to be able to contribute at least 25% (in cash or in kind) of the grant amount.

Starter Company Plus is open to a Canadian/Ontario/Leeds Grenville resident aged 18 and over who is working in their business full time (30-40 hours per week) and is in the first 5 years of business, proposing a new business, expanding or purchasing a new business. To qualify for funding of up to $5,000, you need to be able to contribute at least 25% (in cash or in kind) of the grant amount.

In this area, these programs are offered through the Leeds Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre in Brockville and the Small Business Enterprise Centre in Smiths Falls/Lanark County (serving North Leeds).  Applications for Starter Company Plus are accepted quarterly.

 Digital Main Street Grant Program

Province of Ontario partners with OBIAA to provide grants to help Ontario’s “main street” businesses go online.  Learn more about the grant program.  View press release.