Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing
Up To $2 million in Grant Funding for Commercializing Clean Processing Technologies
Funding to Pilot Energy Efficient Equipment
Canada’s Agricultural Clean Technology Program: Research and Innovation Stream will contribute 50% up to $2 million towards the research, development, demonstration and commercialization of transformative clean technologies or enabling expansion of current technologies in 3 priority areas:
- Green energy and energy efficiency including better management of energy intensive processes and technologies.
- Precision agriculture including management strategies that gather, process, and analyze data; and decision support tools and technologies that improve real time input use and nutrient management.
- Bioeconomy including technologies using agricultural waste and by-products for energy and bio-product generation.
Eligible activities are:
- Applied research and development of clean technologies*
- Piloting and evaluating clean technologies*
- Demonstration and knowledge and technology transfer activities*
- Commercializing and scaling up clean technologies **
- Other activities that support the Research and Innovation Stream as determined by the program
*Program funding for applied research, development, piloting and demonstration activities is non-repayable (i.e., a grant).
** Funding for commercialization and scale-up is a loan repayable over 10 years, 1 year after project completion.
Whereas the maximum program contribution is 50%, businesses that are 50% + owned by women, youth 35 years old or under, indigenous groups, visible minorities or persons with disabilities may receive up to 60% in support.
Eligible costs include equipment purchases, consulting, project administration (to a maximum of 10% of total project costs) and project-related salaries and wages.
Minimum applicant investment is $50,000 over 5 years (i.e., to 2026). This program is available to Canadian food processors as well as farmers. Total program budget is $100 million over 5 years.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Career Connect, Career Focus, Digital Media, Energy, Food Processing, Hiring, Hiring Incentive, Natural Resources
FUNDING TO HIRE RECENT GRADUATES NOW AVAILABLE
Employment Subsidy for Food Processing, Forestry and Other Bio-Economic Sectors
The Science Horizon Internship Program is advertising 80% up to $25,000 in grant funding to hire post-secondary graduates for internships in clean technology related jobs.
“Clean technology” includes any process, good, or service that reduces environmental impacts through:
- Activities which prevent, reduce or eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment
- Resource management activities resulting in more efficient use of natural resources, thus safeguarding against their depletion; or
- The use of goods that have been adapted to be significantly less energy or resource intensive than the industry standard
The program also offers up to $5,000 towards skills development, training costs, and/or other employment needs.
Subsidized interns must 30 years old or younger, have graduated from a recognized post-secondary program and currently unemployed or under employed. Interns must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have been granted refugee status. Internships are to be full-time positions (i.e., 35 hours per week) and 6-12 months in duration.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Apparel, Food Processing, Hiring, Hiring Incentive
Grant to Hire Summer Students in Rural Ontario
BUSINESS FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
The Rural Summer Jobs Service program will contribute $2.00 per hour for a maximum of 560 hours to hire students ages 15-30 during the period of April 1 and September 30, 2015. Applicants must be an Ontario business or community group located in an area with a population of 100,000 or less. The maximum number of students that can be subsidized under this program varies with the quantity of applicants, and employer location. Please note that applicants cannot receive additional funding from other government programs to subsidize the same student.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing
Ontario Grant For Rural Business Expansion
The Rural Economic Development (RED) program will contribute 50% towards the planning and implementation of initiatives that will retain or create employment/economic growth in communities with populations of 100,000 or less. Funding is available for creating/undertaking: strategies, research, studies, plans or analysis related to but not limited to economic development, business retention and development, marketing, downtown revitalization, employment creation and training, as well as global competitiveness. Support can also be requested for implementation of initiatives related to yet not exclusive of:
- Business/sector development and diversification. Business fairs, mentoring, training, diversification, supply chains and best practices sharing, rehabilitation of cultural, heritage or tourist attractions, etc.
- Regional marketing, promotional and/or branding activities. Website development, branding strategies, marketing, etc.
- Human capital and skills development, attraction and retention. Youth, newcomer and labour attraction/retention, programs for leadership development, entrepreneurship, mentorship, as well as industry and sector training, etc.
Eligible costs include consulting and professional fees (e.g. legal, architectural, engineering) as well as minor capital purchases (e.g. renovations, retrofitting, software), administration, and travel expenses. RED does not support capital items such as land, buildings, major infrastructure and equipment. Although there is no limit to the support that can be requested, awarded funding will be determined by the amount of stakeholder financial investment, identified/resulting economic and employment benefits to rural Ontario, as well as, the demand for the program’s $12.5 million three-year budget. For a limited number of exemplary initiatives, RED may contribute up to 90%. The program is currently under review and is not accepting applications, however, they are expected to be accepting applications soon.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Bulletins, Food Processing, Marketing
Ontario Grant to Market Local Foods and Beverages
Clients Awarded $250,000 to Market Local Foods
Ontario’s Local Food Fund awards 50% grant funding to support projects that increase provincial market “awareness, demand, and access to local (Ontario) foods”. Funding may be provided for researching, creating, piloting, developing or expanding the distribution, supply chains, networks, production, capacity, provincial markets and sales, education and awareness of local foods. Eligible third-party costs include engineering and consulting fees, minor equipment, subcontractor, renovations and retrofit expenditures, as well as promotional, training, and administrative costs. The Fund will also contribute to wages of employees specifically hired to work 100 per cent on project-related activities. Export related projects, expenses incurred prior to funding approval, in-kind contributions, salaries, major capital purchases (e.g. land, building, vehicle), leasing, demolition and exterior costs are not eligible for funding. Submissions will be rated on project innovation, application financial contribution and capability, plus resulting benefits to Ontario’s farmers, economy, employment and agri-food sector. Multi-applicant submissions are preferred and encouraged. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 16, 2015.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Career Focus, Energy, Food Processing, Hiring, Hiring Incentive, Natural Resources, R&D, Research
GRANT TO HIRE INTERN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED!
The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program will pay up to 70% to a maximum of $30,000 towards the cost of hiring a post secondary school graduate to undertake an environment related project. The selected graduate will be 30 years of age or under, hired for six to twelve months, and mentored by applicant senior scientists and program managers. To be eligible, projects should be involved in researching or addressing atmospheric, aquatic, wildlife or landscape issues, influences, solutions or strategies related to the government’s strategic outcomes – ” to maintain a clean, safe and sustainable environment”. Approximately one hundred interns are supported annually. Program internships have been previously awarded for environmental projects related to climate and ecosystem research, wildlife research and management, ecological monitoring and assessment, and the development of scientific tools such as standards and guidelines of environmental quality. Deadline for applications is 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time, December 12, 2014
