Support for Website Optimization, Social Media Advertising and ERP Software

Ontario’s Digitalization Competence Centre provides funding to assist Ontario SMEs in better understanding, transforming, modernizing, optimizing and/or selecting digital technology. The Centre’s Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan program offers 50% grant funding up to $50,000 for hiring a Digital Adoption Consultant to assist in developing a strategy and Digital Technology Adoption Plan. Recommendations from this Plan can then be used to request funding of 50% up to $150,000 from the Centre’s DCC Technology Demonstration Program (DCC Demo) program. Eligible recommended Plan expenses include:

• website search optimization (cannot be the only eligible expense)
• social media advertising (cannot be the only eligible expense)
• installation of a technology platform (including subscription fees/costs)
• back-office solutions to support a technology strategy.
• creation of customer databases
• development of new technology
• upgrading existing technology site for added functionality (i.e., new plugins, or features); please note, re-design of an existing site is not eligible.
• Software (e.g., to track and manage product inventory and/or fulfill and ship orders • product databases • to track sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty program • to simplify marketing • cyber security software of certifications • hardware and accompanying software up to 20% of total grant amount).
• salaries of technical staff essential for the Plans implementation

Only expenses incurred after funding approval will be supported. Being approved for the Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan does guarantee DCC Technology Demonstration Program participation in funding. Additionally, requests for DCC Demo funding must include agreed participation by the Vendor supplying the technology in reporting outcomes .

To be eligible companies must be incorporated, operating in Ontario and have 1-499 employees. It is also desirable to have at least $500,000 in revenues plus 3 years of financials. Support is limited. Apply early.

Support to Purchase Equipment/Technology

The Technology Investment Program is advertising 50% funding up to $50,000 towards the purchase, installation and operation of technology to help Southern Ontario manufacturers automate production, reduce their environmental footprint and to become more globally competitive.

Applicants must be in Southern Ontario, have 15-500 employees, be incorporated for at least 2 years, and be a manufacturer (i.e., involved in operations to produce or support products/services related to manufacturing, processing, fabricating, or refining).

Program-supported investments include new equipment/technology purchases, installation, and training, as well as activity-related professional service fees, material costs and applicant labour expenses. Examples of eligible technologies are robotics, artificial intelligence, plus other machine learning applications, advanced networks, and the Internet of Things. ERP systems and general training are not eligible for funding or are expenses incurred prior to April 1, 2022. Additionally, eligible activities cannot also receive from another government-supported program, plus must be fully completed by December 31, 2023.

Applications will be evaluated on their:

• Investment in technology to improve and modernize manufacturing process, towards increasing productivity and competitiveness, as well as reducing the applicant’s environmental footprint,
• Commitment to develop export markets, or to be part of the value supply chain, or to potentially become a strong global player on a regional or global basis,
• Creation of long-term employment and high-value jobs

Funding is extremely limited. It is advised to apply as soon as possible!

Funding to Hire Summer Students Now Accepting Applications

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 50% for businesses and 100% for non-profits of the provincial minimum wage (e.g., $15.50/hr. in Ontario). Employment must be for 30 hrs./wk. to 40 hrs./wk. extending 6 to 16 weeks. Positions can begin April 24, 2023 -July 24, 2023, and end not later than September 2, 2023. 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, e.g., 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 protects and conserves 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 (please confirm before applying as the maximum contribution may change). Additional support is available for indigenous and disabled youth.

Deadline to apply is 11:59 a.m. (PST) January 12, 2023. However, program funding is usually committed sooner.  

Grant Supports the Purchase of Production Technology including Software 

Ontario’s Supply Chain Stability and Adaptability Program Agri-Food Supply Chain Infrastructure Investment Stream is offering up to 25% grant funding to a maximum of $150,000 towards the acquisition of equipment and assets necessary to increase production capacity as well as address market and supply chain challenges related to an augmented need/demand for Ontario grown and produced food products.

Eligible Ontario agri-food businesses include:

• Farms grossing $7,000+ annually that supply Ontario food processing businesses with their products and/or have production and on-site agri-food processing activities.
• Food processors including co-packers (human food only) that source a significant portion (e.g., 50% or more) of agricultural inputs from Ontario farms (e.g., vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meat/poultry/fish, milled and processed grains). Note, “processed foods” is defined as “an agricultural input that has undergone any changes to its natural state, including cleaning, sorting, cutting, packaging of food for human consumption or as an ingredient”.

Examples of eligible projects are:

• Capital improvements, including modifications to existing buildings and/or mobile facilities and construction of new buildings and/or mobile facilities.
• Upgrades to utilities (including water, electric, heat, refrigeration, freezing, and waste facilities).
• Growing, processing, packaging and handling equipment plus related retrofits/construction.
• Technology that allows increased capacity or business resilience (including software and hardware related to business functions, robotics, logistics, inventory management, plant production and monitoring controls, to enable extended or year-round production).
• Technical assistance, including engineering and construction planning, land use planning, facility design and configuration planning, and other services that directly support future implementation of infrastructure-related capacity-building projects.

Ineligible activities include the production and/or processing of the following:

• Hemp, cannabis, and CBD products
• Nursery and floriculture
• Equine
• Fiber and non-food items from animals
• Beauty and cosmetic products
• Nutraceuticals

Standalone aggregators, distributers, or retailers of Ontario agri-food products (i.e., restaurants, retail store fronts) are not eligible for funding.

Project costs cannot be incurred before April 1, 2023, and all activities must be completed by March 31, 2024

Only one Supply Chain Stability and Adaptability Program application per business will be accepted.

Deadline for applications is 4:30 p.m. (EST), Thursday, February 9, 2023.

Funding to Purchase Small Capital Items to Reduce Line Worker Congestion 

Ontario’s Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program (Stream #1: Prevention and Protection) is offering up to 60% in grant funding to a maximum of $50,000 towards prevention and mitigation measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among agri-food workers/employees. Ontario primary food processors (i.e., cutting, cleaning, packaging, storage and refrigeration of fruit and vegetables), farmers including fish and aquaculture), on-farm service providers, (e.g., truckers, barn cleaners, auction houses, etc.), agri-food organizations, as well as food and beverage processors are eligible for support. Regrettably, pet food and animal feed processors, as well as retailer and restaurants are not eligible.

Funding is available for:

Physical Distancing Measures

• Workplace minor modifications to allow for proper health and safety measures and physical distancing (for example, barriers, touchless systems, washrooms/wash stations). (This does not include housing modifications).
• Purchase of agriculture/agri-food equipment / machinery that would enable physical distancing.
• Purchases for communal workplace eating areas that would enable physical distancing as follows:
  • one dining set with table and chairs in good condition for every 10 workers
  • one microwave for every 10 workers
  • one oven and stove (with minimum of 4 functional burners) available for every 6 workers
  • one refrigerator (able to keep foods at 4?C or lower), with sufficient space for food storage, must be provided for every 6 workers

Preventing Disease Spread

• Medical equipment (for example, body temperature remote sensors, thermometers, and COVID-related testing equipment)
• Vaccination costs not covered by the Government of Canada or the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)

Enhanced sanitization and disinfection

• Third-party providing specialized sanitization, disinfection, and sterilizing services to prevent the further spread of COVID?19.

Translation services for training, testing and vaccinations

• Arm’s length translation services required for COVID-related training, testing and COVID?19 vaccinations.

Air circulation and filtration in enclosed work environments

• New/upgraded COVID?19 related air circulation and air filtration required for enclosed work environments. Not for congregate housing.

Transportation

• COVID-related worksite mobility and transportation expenses to enable workers/employees to access the work site or vaccine clinics and transportation to/from airport to meet quarantine requirements (for example, car rental/bus rental/taxi services)

Ineligible expenses include but not limited to ongoing costs of business, major equipment and wearable technology purchases and the buying, construction and/or modification of congregate housing. Eligible expenses must be dated between February 16, 2022, and February 28, 2023, inclusive. Deadline for applications is 17:00 hr. Tuesday, January 31, 2023, however, the program may close earlier if all funding has been allocated.

Support to Make Companies Greener and More Competitive 

The AIME Green program is offering 50% grant (non-repayable) funding up to $100,000 to Southern Ontario manufacturers towards costs related to workforce upskilling and retraining in adopting and adapting green manufacturing principles at the shop floor level.

To be eligible applicants must:

• Operate a manufacturing facility or facilities in Southern Ontario with 10 to 1000 employees.
• Have been continuously in business for at least three years (3 years); and demonstrate financial stability.
• Manufacture a specific product for sale in Ontario or elsewhere.
• Demonstrate adoption/adaption of greening technologies in products or manufacturing processes

The program will support training that leads to:

1. the adaptation of new technology, processes, procedures, or policies supporting green innovation, increased competitiveness, and domestic and international market access.
2. the development and advancement of highly skilled personnel in any subject matter leading to innovation or productivity improvements. This can include the development of new engineering skills; training in the use of new software, hardware or other tools necessary to support innovation; as well as adopting and adapting new technologies, manufacturing methods or other business activities leading to greater sustainability and competitiveness.

Eligible expenditures include contracted trainers, content and curriculum, trainee wages, travel, facility rentals, and materials/supplies. The program does not support capital purchases, including software and hardware (e.g.. computers)

First time applicants can receive 50% funding up to $100,000. Applicants, who have not received “AIME” (i.e., Yves Landry Foundation) support during the last 2 years can request 25% funding up to $100,000. Apply early as funding will be quickly allocated.