Deadline for Growing Forward 2 Funding: October 13th

Ontario’s Growing Forward 2 Organizations and Collaborations Capacity Building program will contribute up to 75% in grant funding to a maximum of $3 million (typically less than $100,000) towards initiatives focused on:

• Environment and Climate Change Adaptation (training, implementation of energy efficient systems and processes)
• Animal and Plant Health
• Assurance Systems (traceability, animal welfare, food safety)
• Market Development (planning, assessments and audits, training and skills development)
• Labour Productivity Enhancement (streamlining processes, increasing labour efficiency, increasing use of automated processes)
• Business and Leadership Development (business assessment, strategic feasibility, succession and expansion)

Eligible organizations include Ontario-based associations, marketing boards, municipalities, economic development offices, aboriginal groups, and any other legally recognized, not-for-profit organizations related to the agri-food sector. Eligible collaborations are combinations of two or more legally recognized businesses and/or non-profit associations/organizations, and/or academic/research institutions in the agriculture, agri-food, agri-products sector.

Funding is awarded for third-party costs, supplies, communication expenses, administration fees and other project-related expenditures. Next deadline for applications is Thursday, October 13th, 2016.