Funding Programs and Incentives

Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (Open July 20 to August 31, 2023)

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

Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative (Open April 27 to June 5, 2023) 

Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative (Open April 27 - June 5, 2023.)   

This program will help agri-food processors lower their overall operational costs to be more competitive and sustainable. Funding from this initiative will be used to support projects that prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in new technology, equipment, as well as building or facility modifications to help achieve this goal.

Ontario food and beverage processors are eligible to apply for funding for up to 20 per cent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $300,000 per project

Applications will be accepted until June 5, 2023. 

For more information, visit the provincial website. 

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.

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. 

CanExport for Businesses (SMEs)

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) may access up to $50,000 in funding to assist with international market development activities. The program funds up to 50% of eligible costs for $10,000 to $50,000 in funding per project. The applicant is responsible for the remaining 50%.

CanExport SMEs is a competitive program with limited funding. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Once funds are fully allocated, the program no longer accepts applications for funding.

Timeline:

CanExport SMEs is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2023-24 for projects starting April 1, 2023.

Application Process: 

How to apply for CanExport SMEs

Applicant’s guide

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. 

Digital Transformation Grant - $2,500

• Open to small businesses registered in Ontario with a brick-and-mortar location and 1-50 employees.
• $2,500 grant to assist with technology adaptation, including training and advisory support
• Open until September 2023
• Visit the Digital Main Street Portal for more information and to apply
• Digital Service Consultations are available. For assistance see the  Digital Services webpage.

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.

RTO9 Tourism Partnership Funding (Opens July 3-21, 2023)

RTO 9 works hand-in-hand with tourism partners to enhance experiential tourism across the South Eastern Ontario region. RTO 9’s Partnership Fund is designed to forge strong and diverse partnerships that either build on existing tourism products or introduce new tourism products. These projects serve to enhance the region’s diversity of offerings to create a competitive advantage in tourism experiences throughout the South Eastern Ontario region.

Partnership Funding for 2023-2024 is intended solely for tourism businesses interested in undertaking tourism-related initiatives that increase visitation to the South Eastern Ontario region.

The next intake for applications will open from July 3rd - July 21st.

For more information on the program, visit the RTO9 website.  

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.

 Tourism SkillsNet Program - Wage Subsidies

In collaboration with other tourism partners, Regional Tourism Organization 9 (RTO9) has launched the Tourism SkillsNet program which will be able to identify specific workforce labour gaps in South Eastern Ontario, as well as identify and train 100 potential employees in the region. This will be done via wage subsidies provided to employers who qualify for the program.

RTO9 will work to connect employees hired after April 1st, 2023, and prospective employees with free training provided virtually by project partner OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation). Additionally, RTO9 will work with employment service providers in South Eastern Ontario to match prospective employees with available job opportunities within South Eastern Ontario’s tourism sector.

For employees hired after April 1st, 2023, while the training is free, qualified employers will be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy for up to 10 employees. This subsidy is capped at:

• Seasonal employer (new program job seeker/employee): $3,000
• Seasonal employer or year-round employer (returning Tourism SkillsNet North job seeker/employee): $2,500
• Year-round employer (new program participant/employee): $5,000

Registrations will be accepted from May 1, 2023, and the program will run until March 29, 2024, pending available funding. Registrations are being accepted from both employers and job seekers/employees with an emphasis on spreading out the funds over the RTO 9 region.

For more information, contact Project Manager Anne Awori via email or visit the RTO9 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.

EnAbling Change Program (Closes June 29, 2023)

The EnAbling Change Program provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, industry organizations and professional associations to:

• educate their stakeholders about the value and benefits of accessibility
• help support compliance with accessibility laws
• promote a culture of inclusion

Your organization must meet the following to be eligible:

• is a not-for-profit organization
• incorporated in Ontario for at least 1 year
• able to reach an industry, sector or municipality in Ontario
• compliant with Ontario’s accessibility laws
• has an accountability process to administer, manage and oversee funding received
• able to provide proof of commercial general liability insurance coverage that is at least $2 million

For more information, visit the program website

Ontario Trillium Fund - Capital Grant

Apply for a Capital grant of up to $150,000 to help your non-profit or charitable organization address a community need by improving the infrastructure Ontarians need to thrive. Whether it’s purchasing equipment, building a new space, or completing renovations, retrofits or repairs, Capital grants support projects that will have a positive impact in your community.

Organizations can apply for funding starting May 17, 2023, with deadline is June 14, 2023.

For more information visit the OTF website.