Funding for small businesses: Central Canada

Southern Ontario manufacturers undertaking training or skills-upgrading activities which will support innovation at the manufacturing facilities. All initiatives must support innovation which will lead to new global export opportunities or create new global markets.

Employer eligibility include:

1. Have between 10 to 1,000 employees in southern Ontario;
2. Have been continuously in business for at least three years (3 years);
3. Must be able to demonstrate a solid financial footing over the three year period;
4. Manufacturing facility or facilities in Southern Ontario (see map);
5. Manufacture a specific product for sale in Ontario or elsewhere.

50 - 75% of eligible expenses. There are two funding programs:

1. Indigenous Workforce Development Stream

2. Workforce Development Stream

Two streams of funding are offered:

• Business projects
  • up to 15% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of $1.5 million.
  • Investments of more than $10 million that also create more than 50 new jobs may be eligible for a loan of up to $5 million.
• Community and regional development projects
  • up to 50% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of up to $1.5 million.

Businesses that support economic development in Eastern Ontario. This includes job creation, innovation, and the ability to attract private sector investment.

Review a full list of eligibility requirements.

Visit the Government of Ontario: Eastern Ontario Development Fund webpage to contact a regional staff member who will determine eligibility and guide you through the application process.

Steps:

1. Connect with a MEDJCT Senior Business Advisor or Ministry regional staff person for help with your application.
2. Submit an eligibility checklist and staff will confirm that your project is eligible (mandatory)
3. Once you know you are eligible, complete the application forms.

2 streams of funding are offered:

• Business projects
  • up to 15% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of $1.5 million.
  • Investments of more than $10 million that also create more than 50 new jobs may be eligible for a loan of up to $5 million.
• Community and regional development projects
  • up to 50% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of up to $1.5 million.

Review a full list of eligibility requirements.

Steps:

1. Connect with a MEDJCT Senior Business Advisor or Ministry regional staff person for help with your application.
2. Submit an eligibility checklist and staff will confirm that your project is eligible (mandatory)
3. Once you know you are eligible, complete the application forms.

There are five streams available:

1. Advanced exploration and development support

2. Early exploration support

3. Education and relationship building

4. Mineral development advisor stream

5. Values mapping and related projects

Two streams of funding are offered:

• Business Projects
  • Performance Based Loans – up to a maximum of 30% of eligible project costs.

  • Grants – up to a maximum of 15% of eligible project costs may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

• Collaboration Projects 
  • Grants – up to a maximum of 30% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $3 million.

Support is available for Ontario-based projects with at least $3 million in eligible costs undertaken by for-profit manufacturers and processors of wood and forest biomass across Ontario.

Review a full list of eligibility requirements.

The program will run four competitive rounds per year. In each quarter, project applications will be evaluated using the following two-step process:

Stage I: Submissions will be accepted continually, but only those received by the current Stage I due date will be considered to move on to the upcoming round of evaluations.

Stage II: Applicants who have successfully passed Stage I should submit a fully completed Stage II Business Plan and all required supplemental documents by the Stage II due date.

Applications will be considered in two streams:

• Local initiatives – focused on grassroots initiatives at a local community level  
  • Up to 100% of the total eligible project costs (up to a maximum amount of $25,000) 

• Scalable initiatives – focused on projects that can be replicated in other Ontario communities  

  • Up to 100% of the total eligible project costs (up to a maximum amount of $100,000) 

• Be not-for-profit

• Have been in operation for at least one year at the time of application

• Represent seniors’ groups and/or offer programs or services that do or can directly benefit older adults living in Ontario

Organizations interested in undertaking tourism-related initiatives that support tourism product or industry development and increased visitation.

To be eligible, the project must:

• Take place in the Province of Ontario.

• Have an applicant organization in existence for one year or longer as of the date of submission.

Eligible applicants must:

• Derive at least 30% of revenues from the automotive manufacturing sector - specifically machine, tool, die, mould and automation companies

• Operate in Ontario

• Identify a candidate, and provide their job title/description