September 10th, 2015

 Equipment and Building Retrofits

1. The VQA Wine Support Program will provide a grant equal to 30% of a winery’s total 2014 fiscal year sales towards activities resulting in business growth and productivity. Eligible expenditures include purchasing new equipment, software plus ICT products or services, export and market development, as well as project-related salaries and wages

2. Growing Forward 2: (Food Processors and Producers) up to 50% to a maximum grants of $350,000 per company operation for innovative producer/processor activities that will increase profits, expand markets and/or manage risk. Eligible activities include but not limited to capital purchases, marketing, training, energy reduction, and food safety, traceability and quality improvements. The maximum amount that can be requested for equipment is $100,000 per submission. Next intake period is November 16^th– December 3^rd, 2015. For details on this program, click here.

3. The AgriInnovation Enabling Commercialization and Adoption program contributes 50% up to $10 million in interest-free loans towards the demonstration, market introduction, or adoption of new agri-food and agri-based products and solutions. Innovations must be within two years of market readiness, with testing and piloting already completed. Applications take up to 9 months to be processed.Click here for more information.

4. SMART Prosperity Now: 35% up to $100,000 for purchasing equipment and consulting services to become more globally competitive. Must be in business for 2 years, have global sales, and 15 to 1000 employees. Follow this link for more information.

5. The Investing in Business Growth and Productivity: program offers interest-free loans of up to 25% to a maximum of $20 million for activities in Ontario requiring the adoption of new technologies and/or processes. Applicants must be in business for 2 years.

6. Food and Beverage Growth Fund: up to 20% in grants for investments of $5 million or more over 5 years. Eligible project-related cost categories include facility modifications, equipment and machinery purchases, materials, one-time labour expenses, research and development, training and new market access.  Ineligible cost categories include ongoing production and labour costs, land and buildings, overhead, and business plan preparation. Click here to view INAC’s bulletin on this program.

7. Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SODF): 15% up to $5 million in grants and interest-free loans against investments by companies in Southwestern Ontario in equipment, plant expansions/retrofits, and consulting services. Must increase workforce by the lesser of 50% or 10 new jobs. Click here for more information.

8. Eastern Ontario Development Fund: 15% up to $5 million in grants and interest-free loans against investments by companies in Eastern Ontario in equipment, plant expansions/retrofits, and consulting services. Must increase workforce by the lesser of 50% or 10 new jobs. Click here for more information.

9. Eastern Ontario Development Program: will contribute up to 50% to a maximum of $100,000 towards developing business, marketing, export and strategic plans as well as feasibility studies, the training of new or existing full-time employees, the hiring of youth internships, and technological planning, productivity, infrastructure, networking and local economic development projects. Program is managed by Eastern Ontario Community Futures offices. Each office has its own criteria, deadlines and funding levels. Click here to view INAC’s bulletin on this program.

Research and Development          

1. Rapid Response to Research Needs: 50% up to $20,000 to cover immediate needed scientific research costs that will lead to increasing Ontario farmgate receipts.

2. Industrial Research and Development Program (IRAP): 80% up to $500,000 for research and development projects of up to three years in duration. Program out of money. Check in November 2015 for funding. Click here to view program details.

3. MITAC Accelerate: 50% up to $7,500 per maximum 6 month internship term. Business applicants can receive support for engaging Master level students up to 2 terms (i.e. $15,000 funding for 12 months) and/or PhD level students for up to 4 terms (i.e. $30,000 funding for 24 months).

4. NSERC Ideas to Innovation: Will contribute up to $475,000 towards Canadian private sector investment for early stage evaluation and commercialization of university or college generated technologies, processes or product innovations. Click here for more details.

5. NSERC Engage: 100% up to $25,000 for research carried out by a university. Support obtained for membrane filtration, baking product development and food traceability technologies. Request information.

6. The AgriInnovation Industry-Led Research and Development program offers 50% up to $10 million in grants for early-stage investigations of new agriculture products, practices, and solutions. Less than 10% success ratio for applicants! Click here for more information

Marketing

1. The VQA Wine Support Program will provide a grant equal to 30% of a winery’s total 2014 fiscal year sales towards activities resulting in business growth and productivity. Eligible expenditures include purchasing new equipment, software plus ICT products or services, export and market development, as well as project-related salaries and wages

2. Growing Forward 2: (Food Processors and Producers): up to 50% to a maximum in grants of $350,000 per company operation for innovative producer/processor activities that will increase profits, expand markets and/or manage risk. Eligible activities include but not limited to capital purchases, marketing, training, energy reduction, and food safety, traceability and quality improvements. The maximum amount that can be requested is $100,000 per submission. Next intake period November 16^th– December 3^rd, 2015. For more information, click here.

3. Rapid Response: Up to $10,000 against international travelling expenses to finalize a sales agreement that will benefit Ontario farmers. This program has a two-day turn around.

4. Ontario Export Market Access program offers 50% funding up to $30,000 towards export development activities, e.g. trade show participation. Average award is $12,000.

5. Eastern Ontario Development Program: will contribute up to 50% to a maximum of $100,000 towards developing business, marketing, export and strategic plans as well as feasibility studies, the training of new or existing full-time employees, the hiring of youth internships, and technological planning, productivity, infrastructure, networking and local economic development projects. Program is managed by Eastern Ontario Community Futures offices. Each office has its own criteria, deadlines and funding levels. To view INAC’s bulletin on this program click here.

Sustainability

1. Growing Forward 2:(Food Processors and Producers) up to 50% to a maximum grants of $350,000 per company operation for innovative producer/processor activities that will increase profits, expand markets and/or manage risk. Eligible activities include but not limited to capital purchases, marketing, training, energy reduction, and food safety, traceability and quality improvements. Next intake period is November 16^th– December 3^rd, 2015. For more information, click here.

2. Energy Audit Funding: 50% up to $25,000 for energy audits assessing the potential for energy savings achieved through equipment replacement, operational practices, or participation in other energy incentives programs.

3. Retrofit: 50% of capital costs for building retrofits that improve energy efficiency. Click here for more information.

4. Process & Systems: will fund the lesser amount of $200/MWh or 70% of projects that reduce the amount of energy used in business systems and processes. For details on this program, click here.

5. The High Performance New Construction program offers incentives for the design, retrofitting and/or new construction that exceed energy efficiency code standards for industrial, agricultural, commercial, residential, or institutional buildings. Funding is used for certain purchases that reduce energy use and is based upon different. Typically support does not exceed $150,000.

6. Demand Response: Up to $4,000 per MW of power saved during peak periods. For more information, click here.

7. Eco-Energy Efficiency for Industry: 50% up to $40,000 for companies to implement new energy-management practices towards obtaining CSA ISO 50001.

8. Feed-In Tariffs: Higher prices paid per kwh. by the Ontario Power Authority for green energy generation e.g. solar 34.7- 54.9 cents, wind 11.5 cents, water 12.2 -13.1 cents, bio-energy 10.5 – 19.5 cents. Funding to be available soon.

Training

1. Canada-Ontario Jobs Fund: 66% up to $10,000 per trainee per instructional course for training. Companies with fewer than 50 employees can claim 50% of trainee wages as their contribution. To view INAC’s bulletin on this program, click here.

2. AIME FPP: 50% up to $50,000 in grants towards employee training costs. To be eligible, applicants must be an Ontario food processor or producer, with 3 years of financials and with 10 to 1,000 employees. Eligible training includes instruction in new technologies, processes (e.g. GFSI), and systems that will allow the applicant to be more competitive in new domestic or international markets. Click here for details.

3. Growing Forward 2:(Food Processors and Producers) up to 50% to a maximum grants of $350,000 per company operation for innovative producer/processor activities that will increase profits, expand markets and/or manage risk. Eligible activities include but not limited to training, capital purchases, marketing, energy reduction, and food safety, traceability and quality improvements. Next intake period is November 16^th– December 3^rd, 2015. For details, click here.

4. Eastern Ontario Development Program will contribute up to 50% to a maximum of $100,000 towards developing business, marketing, export and strategic plans as well as feasibility studies, the training of new or existing full-time employees, the hiring of youth internships, and technological planning, productivity, infrastructure, networking and local economic development projects. For more information, click here.