Funding Programs and Incentives

 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.

 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 Agricultural Partnership

Intake for the Partnership is up to May 6, 2019. 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.

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. 

 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.

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 ...

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. Prosperity Now SMART Program

 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.

 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 Tourism Development Fund webpage.