Funding Programs and Incentives
The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office will be continually updating this site with the funding programs that are available. Also see the Leeds Grenville COVID-19 webpage for news and financial support updates.
AgriMarketing Program |
The Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Component provides targeted support to companies for international initiatives. Under this component, funding will be available to help implement international export plans, which include promotional and market development activities. Note: There is currently a high demand for funding under this program. Please call the program administration at 1-877-246-4682 prior to submitting an application to the program. Applications are being accepted until September 30, 2022 or until funding has been fully committed or until otherwise announced by the program. Visit the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website. |
Bioenterprise SmartGrowth Program |
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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 |
CanExport |
Launched in 2016, CanExport is a multi-year funding program that helps Canadian SMEs (Small and Medium-sized enterprises) diversify their exports into new markets, especially high-growth emerging markets and those that benefit from free trade agreements like CETA and CPTPP. It provides matching funds of $10,000 to $50,000 per project (up to $99,999 per fiscal year) to eligible SMEs for a wide range of export development activities. Learn more on the Government of Canada Canadian Trade Commissioner Services website. |
Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF) |
The Canadian Experience Fund (CEF) is a two-year, $58.5-million national program to help Canada's tourism sector create, improve or enhance tourism products, facilities and experiences. FedDev Ontario has been allocated more than $11-million to deliver this funding in Southern Ontario. The priority areas for funding are:
Open to:
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Canadian Agricultural Partnership |
This is designed for producers, processors and ag-related businesses. Farmers and Businesses can again apply for support under the Partnership for projects to boost innovation, economic development, environmental stewardship and food safety. Learn more on the Canadian Agricultural Partnership webpage. |
Reconnect Festival and Event Program |
The 2021 Reconnect Festival and Event Program for eligible festivals and events taking place between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 was launched in March 2021. Information about how to apply to the program is available at Ontario.ca. |
Climate Action Incentive Program |
The Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises Project stream provides funding for retrofit projects in sectors such as building, transportation, industry, waste, agriculture and more. It is available in Ontario and three other provinces. The application period began on July 17th and applications can be made until the funding is exhausted.
Eligibility:
Eligible project categories:
Eligible rebate amount:
Preview the Application Guide or Apply Now.
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Digital Main Street Grant Program |
Province of Ontario partners with OBIAA to provide grants to help Ontario’s “main street” businesses go online. |
Eastern Ontario Development Fund -relaunched |
Attention eligible small- and medium-sized businesses facing challenges to growth, including access to capital, skills and talent. The Regional Development Program will invest more than $100-million over the next four years.
Business funding stream:
Community Economic Development funding stream:
There are four application intake periods per year. The first application period opened December 2, 2019, with an application deadline of January 20, 2020. The second intake period is from March 5 to April 20, 2020, followed by the third intake period from June 5 to July 20, 2020 and the fourth intake from September 3 to October 19, 2020.
Learn more on the Eastern Ontario Development Fund webpage.
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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 practices and bring them to the market, is found on this page. |
Ontario Automotive Modernization Program
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The Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) is a partnership with small- and medium-sized automotive parts suppliers in Ontario. The goal is to help modernize Ontario’s automotive supply chain and make it more competitive. Your business could get up to $100,000 to help cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. As a successful applicant, you are required to contribute at least 50% of remaining project costs through:
To be eligible, you must be a small- or medium-sized Ontario-based business in the automotive supply chain. Specifically, you must meet these requirements:
Learn more about the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program. See the Eligible Project Costs Guidelines and the Applicant Guide. |
Prosperity Now SMART Program |
SMART Prosperity Now funding is currently unavailable but funding requests are pending. The program 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. Learn more about the Prosperity Now SMART Program
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Rural Economic Development (RED) Funding Program |
The program provides cost-share funding to support activities that create strong rural communities in Ontario, and opens doors to rural economic development through:
Learn more about eligibility, funding amounts and the two funding streams - Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream and Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream - by visiting the Ontario government RED website |
Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario (3 CFDCs catchment areas) |
The Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario (RIIEO) supports the transition of rural businesses into the new rural economy by driving direct investments to improve productivity, sales and employment opportunities and to transform the rural economy. Eligible projects will foster: Innovation, Technology Adoption and Digital Connectivity. For details and to apply, visit the Community Futures Development Corporation website for your business area:
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Starter Company Plus |
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 Centre in Brockville (see Starter Company Plus) and the Small Business Enterprise Centre serving Smiths Falls / Lanark County / northern northern Leeds Grenville (see Starter Company Plus). Applications for Starter Company Plus are accepted quarterly. |
Tourism Development Fund |
This fund provides non-capital, project-based funding to support investment attraction, product and experience development on a pan-provincial or multi-regional basis. The fund supports projects that encourage three key streams: tourism investment, tourism product development and industry capacity building. The deadline is four months prior to the start of the project. Learn more about it and eligibility requirements on the Ontario Government Funding Programs page. |
Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program |
The Government of Canada is steadfast in its belief that electrification is key to decarbonizing our transportation sector and transitioning to a low-carbon future. That is why, the Government of Canada has set ambitious federal targets for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) reaching 10% of light-duty vehicles (LDV) sales per year by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. According to experts, access to localized and visible charging infrastructure is key to alleviate consumer concerns about where to charge their vehicle. To that end, the Government of Canada announced, through Budget 2019, $130 million over five years (2019-2024) to deploy a network of zero-emission vehicle charging (level 2 and higher) and refuelling stations in more localized areas where Canadians live, work and play. Support is also available for strategic projects for electric vehicle and/or hydrogen infrastructure for corporate fleets, last-mile delivery fleets, and mass transit. This funding will be delivered through cost-sharing contribution agreements for eligible projects that will help meet the growing charging and refuelling demand. This Request for Proposals (RFP) targets projects in multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces and for light-duty vehicle fleets only. The deadline for submissions was June 11, 2020.
Natural Resources Canada will target having funding decisions by August 2020. Visit the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program webpage for more information or to learn about the multiple targeted infrastructure streams. |
This page last updated on March 12, 2021.