LIMITED SUPPORT FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES

The Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program (CASPP) advertises up to 75% non-repayable funding (grant) to a maximum of $1 million towards collaborative projects that sustain the competitiveness of Canada’s agricultural sector. Eligible projects include:

1. Adaptation to new technology: including investigation, development, piloting, commercialization or use of; robotics, temperature and/or moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology.
2. Environmental sustainability: including processes, procedures, tests, plans and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, carbon capturing and technology transfer while sustaining/increasing productivity.
3. Strategic planning and capacity building: including planning, developing and implementing strategies to introduce and accommodate new processes, policies, challenges, procedures and technologies (e.g., robotics, trade agreements)
4. Emerging issues: including responding to urgent unforeseen circumstances that require an immediate response (e.g., public concerns, international market crisis, etc.)

Projects must involve or be supported by groups or individuals representing the agricultural sector (national or sector-wide), plus ultimately benefit private and public sector participants.

In most cases funding will be 50% of eligible costs. Eligible costs are:

• Capital Assets (e.g., new technologies) up to 25% of project costs.
• Consulting expenses
• Salaries and Benefits
• Administration fees up to 10% of project costs
• Travel

Land and building purchases as well as in-kind contributions are not eligible for funding.

The program budget is $10 million. Projects will be evaluated on a first come, first serve basis and must end before March 31, 2024.

Support to Encourage GHG and Energy Reduction

Alberta’s Energy Savings for Business Program advertises up to 50% grant funding to a maximum of $500,000 towards the planning, purchase, and installation of well-proven energy efficient technologies. These technologies include but not limited to:

• HVAC systems: efficient boilers, hot water tanks, furnaces, pipe insulation
• Fan and pump motor upgrades, including the installation of variable frequency drive units
• Electronic building automation systems to control temperature, airflow, and even lighting across the facility.
• Lighting projects: replacement of outdated lighting systems, addition of automation, etc.
• Installation of alternate on-site power sources such as solar photovoltaic and combined heat and power systems
• Specific measure to industry/facility needs (e.g., restaurant, manufacturing)
• Insulation/building envelope/air sealing

Eligible Alberta businesses include: farms, food processors, forestry/paper, manufacturers, energy generators, warehouse/wholesale trade, restaurants and not-for-profits. Applicants can submit up to 2 applications requesting a maximum of $250,000 per application for purchases made beginning November 2, 2020 and completed within the next 6 to 12 months. Funding is limited and will be awarded on a first come first serve basis.

Less than 20 Business Days to Apply

The Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund (FSSMF) is advertising maximum grant funding of $75,000 towards Covid-19 related costs incurred between April 1, 2020 and February 12, 2021. Eligible costs include:

• building renovations to enable physical distancing
• personal protective equipment
• installation of plexiglass
• handwashing stations
• additional cleaning and sanitation costs
• worker training on COVID-19 safety protocols
• signage
• extra vehicles and accommodations in work camps
• facilities for self-isolation in work camps

Eligible applicants are Ontario businesses as defined under North American Industry Classifications 321, 3221131, 1133 and 1153 (excluding Reforestation Services), which includes, but not limited to, manufacturers of wood windows, doors, cupboards, stairs, pallet, homes, etc., plus sawmills, loggers, and pulp and paper operations. Applicants must have fewer than 500 FTE employees (i.e., total part-time and full-time employees working a combined 2000 hrs. per year), on average, during the past 12 months.

Funding (to a maximum of $75,000) is for one of the following, whichever is less:

• actual costs incurred
• $500 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee

Note: If the total eligible claims submitted by all applicants amount to more than the available program funding, applicant award will be pro-rated. For example, if your claim represented 1% of the total value of all eligible claims submitted, you would receive 1% of the available funding (subject to the maximum of $75,000 per applicant).

Applications deadline is 4 p.m. EST Friday February 12, 2021.

SUPPORT FOR INTERACTIVE COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING, GAME, SIMULATOR DEVELOPERS

HERE IS A PDF LIST OF FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR DIGITAL MEDIA COMPANIES IN ONTARIO. THE LIST WAS UPDATE JANUARY 7, 2021: Click Here Ontario Digital Media

Automation of Packaging and Production Lines Eligible For Support

The Farm Worker Safety Improvement Program offers 60% grant funding up to $100,0000 towards ensuring worker safety. Funding is offered to Ontario farm-registered businesses that produces agricultural commodities in Ontario. The farm business must involve intensive use of labour, where workers may operate within close proximity of each other, or are provided with on-site or off-site accommodations. Eligible program-related expenses:

Operation modifications

• Adjustments to current processes and processing stations to accommodate physical distancing
• HVAC modifications or upgrades
• Added sanitation (cleaning and disinfection) and security requirements
• Adjustment to transportation to ensure physical distancing during movement within the operation or between accommodations and the operation.
• Equipment such as safety barriers (e.g., Plexiglass dividers)
• Purchase/rental/lease of additional on- or off-site housing and ancillary buildings (e.g., washrooms, kitchens, laundry facilities) for workers, portable or relocatable buildings, and/or installations/site modifications related to COVID-19 measures. (Note: house could be part of a larger land purchase)
• Site modifications and/or transportation for wellness checks
• Disinfection and cleaning in the event of an outbreak

Non-disposable personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Body temperature screening/fever detection systems, including thermal scanners
• Washing stations
• Workstation dividers
• Full and half facepiece respirators
• Impact goggles and face shields
• Face masks and coverings
• Safety glasses

Worker training and safety protocols

• Interpretation services
• Training on COVID-19 protocols

All eligible project costs must be incurred on or after March 15, 2020 with a total value of $15,000 or more. Applications are to include a written plan that documents steps in place to limit the spread of disease throughout the operation. The written plan must be supported by the relevant union or health and safety committee, if applicable. Please note that although having a  February 26, 2021 deadline we expect the fund to be exhausted shortly. 

This Year “Summer” Lasts Until February 2022!

 Canada Summer Jobs is advertising non-repayable (grant) funding for businesses with less than 50 employees, as well as not-for-profit (including religion-operates daycare) and public sector organizations to hire new employees 15-30 years of age. The subsidy is 75% for businesses and 100% for non-profits of the provincial minimum wage (e.g., $14.25/hr. in Ontario). Employment must be for 12 to 40 hrs./wk. extending 6 to 23 weeks. Positions can begin April 26, 2022 or end not later than February 26, 2022. Eligible employees (i.e., Youth) are Canadian citizens or protected refugees (as defined under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), between the ages of 15 and 30. Requests for funding will be evaluated on the position(s):

• Provision of quality work experience including a commitment of planned supervision and a strong possibility of continued employment.
• Opportunity for skills development. For example, having a trainee mentoring plan plus a training plan covering transferrable skills such as client services, communication, teamwork, digital skills, leadership, etc.
• Respond to national priorities: hiring visible minorities, LGBTQ2 youth, Indigenous persons, new immigrant/refugees or a person with a disability, women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, youth who have not completed high school or are applying for their first job, members of, and supporting the vitality of, an official-language minority community and those in rural and remote communities. Another national priority is for offering positions that protest and conserve the environment.
• Support local priorities and constituencies.

Businesses can receive incentives for more than one employee so long as they do not exceed the maximum funding amount of $300,000. Deadline to apply is January 29, 2021: however, program funding is usually committed sooner.