Funding for small businesses: Central Canada

Employer eligibility include:

1. Have between 10-1000 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.

1. Northern Business Opportunity Program

2. Northern Innovation Program

3. Strategic Economic Infrastructure Program

4. Northern Community Capacity Building Program

5. Northern Event Partnership Program

6. Northern Ontario Internship Program

• For-profit, incorporated for no more than four years as of application submission date
• Based in an eligible Southern Ontario Census Division
• Has less than $250,000 in revenue and/or investment combined
• Endorsed by a Regional Innovation Centre (RIC), OCE-supported Campus-Linked Accelerator (CLA) or OCE-supported On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities (OCEA) program recipient. 
• Actively engaged (for a minimum of four months within the past 12 months) and/or recently accepted into a program involving a selection process (such as an accelerator, a bootcamp/pitch competition winner, recipient of an embedded executive, etc.) with the endorsing RIC, CLA or OCEA

Applicant:

• Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old
• Holds equity and key position in the company

• 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 here.

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.

• 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 here.

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.

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.  

• Ontario municipalities that have identified hosting major events as part of their tourism strategy 

• for-profit or non-profit organizations (or groups of organizations) with event management/hosting mandates 

Blockbuster-supported events must have cash operating expenses of at least $1 million.

• 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. 

Review a full list of eligibility requirements here  

Stage I: Submissions will be accepted continually, but only those received by the current Stage I deadline 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 deadline.  

• Are operating a public library in accordance with the Public Libraries Act 

• Currently receiving a Public Library Operating Grant 

• Have met all grant program terms and conditions. 

• 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 

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. 

• 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