Funding Programs and Incentives

Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (Open July 20 to September 14, 2023)

• minimum of 10 employees
• three or more years of financial statements, and
• minimum of $500,000 in eligible project costs.

Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, the Business Development Bank of Canada and other financial institutions. It will provide loans up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.

The Government of Canada has announced that the Loan Fund is accepting loan applications from Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE).

Visit FACE to apply.

Business Scale-up and Productivity

Funding under this stream helps to accelerate the growth of firms and assist with the adoption of new, innovative technologies that support scale-up, productivity, and the development of and entry into new markets to help companies become globally competitive.

2023 intake priorities:

• Clean economic growth - projects that support the greening of the economy, that can contribute to emissions reductions, and that create sustainable and green jobs
• Growth companies - projects that accelerate innovation-led growth
• Technology - projects led by high-potential firms in cutting-edge sectors (e.g., artificial intelligence, life sciences and digital technologies)
• Industrial transition - projects that support change in traditional sectors, develop new sectors and ensure there are opportunities for years to come

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact FedDev Ontario prior to submitting an application for funding through the website.

For more information visit the program webpage.

Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)
- $2,400 Grow Your Business Online

As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada has partnered with four organizations to provide the ‘Grow Your Business Online’ grant to small businesses across the Ontario.

Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting e-commerce and supported by a network of e-commerce advisors.

Applications can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria:

• Is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
• Is a registered or incorporated business
• Is a consumer-facing business
• Can be accessed by consumers or provides in-person services to consumers
• Has at least one employee

Where to Apply?

• For businesses in Gananoque, Kingston and surrounding areas (Lennox and Addington, Frontenac County) - Kingston Economic Development Corporation
• For Aboriginal businesses - Canadian Council for Aboriginal Businesses
• All other businesses - Digital Main Street OR Ontario Chamber of Commerce

 For more information on the Canadian Digital Adoption Program visit the website. 

Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)
- $15,000 Boost Your Business Technology Grant

This grant offers support to Canadian-owned small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who want to adopt new digital technologies.

Eligible businesses will have access to a marketplace of digital adoption experts to help them develop a digital adoption plan tailored to their needs.

Eligible businesses can leverage the grant to pay for the services of a digital advisor. These advisors will work with companies to recommend digital pathways and strategies that will help them achieve their business goals and increase their competitiveness in the digital economy.

The grant covers up to 90% of the eligible cost of retaining the services of a digital advisor, up to a maximum grant value of $15,000 per SME, to develop a digital adoption plan.

Eligibility:

Before applying, your business must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

• Be incorporated federally or provincially, or be a Canadian resident sole proprietor
• Be a for-profit, privately owned business
• Have between 1 – 499 full time equivalent employees
• Have at least $500,000 of annual revenues in one of the previous three tax years

For more information, visit the program webpage. 

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

Employers can get up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs. The Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) provides opportunities for employers, individually or in groups, to invest in their workforce, with help from the government. This grant provides direct financial support to individual employers or employer consortia who wish to purchase training for their employees. It is available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees.

To learn about your eligibility, the application process, and more, contact a representative in your area.

• Employment + Education Centre, Brockville & Area
  Business Services Manager Teanne Larocque: teanne@eecentre.com or call 613-498-2111, ext. 365.
• ontrac, Smiths Falls
  Job Developer Joanne Watson: JWatson@getontrac.ca or call 613-283-6978.
• KEYS, Gananoque & Rideau Lakes, Westport, Leeds & the Thousand Islands
  Program Administrator Dana Betournay: danab@keys.ca or call 613-546-5559, ext. 218
• CSE Consulting: South & North Grenville
  Program Facilitator Rod Palmer (South Grenville)
  rod@cseconsulting.com or call 613-213-2898
  Tracy McDonald (North Grenville)
  tracy@cseconsulting.com or call 613-498-4410.

Canada Summer Jobs Wage Subsidy (Opens again December 2023)

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is an annual program that provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.

Applications can be submitted in December- January of each year.

For more information on the program visit click here.

DELIA Microloan for Women-Owned Business

DELIA offers $15,000 microloans to Women-owned businesses in Canada with an attractive term sheet, and prioritizes diverse, intersectional and under-served Women.

Successful DELIA applicants will be contacted by a member of the DELIA team who will organize an onboarding and orientation session.

Select DELIA loan recipients may benefit from additional 1:1 mentoring and support including business advisory, networking and referrals, group-based training and workshops and other supports.

Click here for more information. 

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario.

• funding support
• complementary services and support

• create jobs and build talent
• attract and encourage private sector investment
• lead to business growth and broad positive economic impacts
• encourage innovation, collaboration and cluster development

EDC Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium Sized Businesses

• EDC guarantees a new one-year term or operating line of credit for 80% of its value, up to $6.25M allowing businesses to deal with payroll and operating cost issues and enabling their financial institution to take on less risk. Available for all Canadian companies, including non-exporting businesses that sell domestically.
• Apply now.

Futurpreneur Canada

• Financing and mentoring to aspiring business owners aged 18-39 to launch successful businesses across Canada.
• Up to $60,000 in financing (in partnership with the BDC), an expert business mentor for up to two years, and resources to help you plan, manage and grow your business.
• Collateral-free loans at better interest rates than most banks.
• For more information on eligibility or to apply, visit the Futurpreneur Canada website.

Grassroots Growth Initiative

The objectives of the GGI are to:

• increase public engagement and support for agriculture, local food and rural development
• build youth leadership capacity and increase youth involvement in the agri-food sector
• enhance safety and risk management practices in the agri-food sector
• strengthen public trust and public knowledge about Ontario’s agri-food systems
• encourage agri-food and rural development outcomes

For full details about the program and application process, visit the Grassroots Growth Initiative website.

Grow Ontario Market Initiative 

This Initiative will support Primary Producers, Processors and Industry Organizations to grow their business through marketing analysis and planning, new product development and marketing activities to find, develop and capture new or expand domestic or export market opportunities.

Eligible activities will include:

• analysis and planning for new export and domestic market opportunities
• implementation of new export and domestic marketing activities
• development of new products that meet market opportunities 

Under the Grow Ontario Market Initiative applicants can receive up to 50 per cent cost share for eligible costs, to a maximum of $60,000 for producers and processors, and up to $125,000 for industry organizations. 

Learn how to apply for funding to grow your agri-food business through marketing analysis and planning, new product development and marketing activities at this link Grow Ontario Market Initiative Guidelines | ontario.ca

Honey Bee Health Initiative (Opens Sept 15, 2023)

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Honey Bee Health Initiative helps to support beekeepers in maintaining healthy honey bee colonies as well as grow their number of colonies to increase the sustainability of the beekeeping industry in Ontario. Projects will focus on:

• Operational improvements that reduce biosecurity risks, overwintering loss, and to manage or prevent the introduction and spread of honey bee pests and disease
• Purchase of or modification to equipment or facilities necessary to improve hive health management practices
• Adoption or implementation of best management practices to prevent the introduction and spread of honey bee pests and diseases within a beekeeping operation
• Sampling and analysis for pests and diseases
• Purchase of new honey bee stock or queens to ensure healthy honey bees with genetic diversity and selection are integrated into Ontario’s honey bee population

thriveFORWARD

thriveFORWARD is a new initiative, aimed at accelerating sustainable industrial investment in innovation capital across southern Ontario. thriveFORWARD will assist participants in future-proofing their business, building resiliency, and preparing for long-term growth by transitioning to a green economy.

Eligible projects include the commercialization of innovation or the adoption of an innovation by start-ups and SMEs that are investing in sustainable and inclusive growth. This new program is coordinated through the Northumberland CFDC and is available to eligible SME across Southern Ontario.

For more information about the program, please visit the website.

Wage Incentive and Training Subsidies for
Trucking and Logistics Businesses

Trucking HR Canada's Career Expressway Program offers three support streams for employers looking to hire and train people into the trucking and logistics sector:

• Up to $7,000 for eligible student hires in any department of the business
• Up to $10,000 towards AZ License tuition, and an additional $10,000 in the form of a 75% wage reimbursement once a driver starts working
• Up to $10,000 towards in-demand non-driver roles, in the form of a 75% wage reimbursement.

The program is open to all Canadian trucking and logistics employers who are looking to hire for driving and non-driving positions. Qualified candidates must be either a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Granted Refugee Status.

For more information visit the Trucking HR Canada's website or email  info@truckinghr.com

Work Share Program

The Work-Sharing Program helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in the normal level of business activity that is out of control of the employer.

Employees on a Work-Sharing agreement must agree to a reduced schedule of work, and share the available work equally over the term of the agreement.

To be eligible for a Work-Sharing agreement, your business or organization must:

• be a year-round business in Canada for at least 2 years
• have experienced a minimum 10% reduction in their business activities within the last six months
• have at least 2 eligible employees in the Work-Sharing unit that must share the available work equally

For full eligibility and program details, visit the website.