Food Processing, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Manufacturing, Wood Manufacturing
Up to $15,000 per Employee for Training
FUNDING SUPPORTS TRAINING PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATIONS
The Ontario Job Grant (OJG) offers up to 100% funding to a maximum of $15,000 for employee training. Eligible costs include trainer fees, training materials, clothing, tools, employee travel over 48 km, facility rentals as well as tuition and examination expenses. Instruction must be delivered by a third-party training provider that maintains a physical presence in Ontario throughout the training term and that has been in the business of providing the applicable training for at least two years. Only instruction offered by one of the following organizations is eligible:
- publicly assisted college, university or Indigenous Institute in Ontario
- District School Board
- career college and vocational program provider registered under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005(formerly known as the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005) and in compliance with the Act, or career college and vocational program provider that is exempt from registration in accordance with that Act
- union-based training centre
- sector council
- industry association
Training provided by organizations other than publicly assisted colleges, universities, Indigenous Institutes, or District School Boards must be delivered by instructors who have either:
- 48 months of experience, within the last 10 years, working in a profession or trade relevant to the training being provided, or teaching a program to prepare a student for the field (or a combination of the two)
- At least 24 months of experience, within the last 10 years, working or teaching in the profession/trade relevant to the training being provided, plus one of the following qualifications:
- a Canadian bachelor’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree)
- a certificate of qualification issued under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021
- status as a graduate of a publicly assisted college, university or Indigenous Institute or registered Ontario career college (or equivalent institution outside Ontario)
Training in the “basic operation” and use of a product or service is eligible, provided that the trainer is not the product vendor, is not listed in the product purchase agreement, and does not have an exclusive arrangement with the vendor for training delivery. Product vendors are eligible to deliver “advanced” training, e.g., showing operators how to use the product or service for something other than its intended purpose.
Ontario companies with more than 100 employees must contribute 50% towards eligible costs and can receive a maximum of $10,000/trainee. Businesses with less than 100 employees are eligible for $15,000/trainee and need to contribute 1/6th of related expenses for training existing employees and contribute zero towards training new personnel. Companies with more than 500 employees are not entitled to receive funding for senior management-related instruction. There is no limit on the amount of funding requested or the frequency and number of applications, which can be made.
Food Processing, Funding Programs, Manufacturing, Technology, Wood Manufacturing
Funding To Address U.S. Tariffs Now Available Across Canada
Federal Government Adds $500 million to Support Canadian Businesses Impacted By U.S. and/or Chinese Tariffs
Canada’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) offers 75% project funding up to $10 million in interest-free loans and 50% up to $1 million in grants to Canadian businesses and organizations impacted by U.S. and China.
Eligible businesses include but not limited to wood, steel, automotive manufacturers. Applicants must have 5 to 499 employees, been incorporated for no less than three years, plus demonstrate that at least 25% of their revenues are in tariff-affected markets or show direct negative impacts resulting from the tariffs, e.g. increased costs, reduced sales, or lost market access.
Eligible activities include adopting or adapting technologies, automating, or digitizing production, reshoring R&D or manufacturing, expanding into new markets, as well as strengthening domestic supply chains and compliance standards.
Eligible expenditures include incremental employee wages, consulting fees, equipment purchases and installation, facility retrofits, marketing and outreach, training, and direct project materials. Ineligible costs include land and building purchases, vehicle costs, debt refinancing, entertainment, and ongoing operating expenses. Projects must begin after March 2025 and be completed no later than 31 March 2028.
Food Processing, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Manufacturing, Wood Manufacturing
Eastern Ontario Manufacturers and Processors Have Until May 27, 2026 to Apply!
FUNDING IS UP TO $5 MILLION IN INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND GRANTS
Ontario’s Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) contributes 15% up to $5 million in grants and four-year interest-free loans towards investments that create jobs and lead to economic growth. Eligible expenditures include equipment, consulting services, facility retrofits and expansions, as well as employee training and other project-related costs. Projects must be between 3 and 4 years in length undertaken by businesses located or plan to be in one of the following Eastern Ontario counties: Frontenac, Halliburton, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Lennox, Addington, Muskoka, Northumberland, Ottawa, Peterborough, Prescott, Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas, or Glengarry. Additionally, applicants are required to have 3 years of financial statements and represent one of the following sectors: manufacturing, processing, information or communication technology, life sciences, tourism, or the cultural industry.
Applicants in rural communities with populations less than 100,000 can receive the first 15% funding up to $500,000 as a grant but are required to make an investment of no less than $200,000 and create 5 jobs. Applicants in rural communities with populations more than 100,000 are required to invest $500,000 and create 10 jobs to be eligible for the 15% interest-free loans of up to $5 million, of which, 30% up to $500,000 is forgivable if the applicant achieves its hiring and investment targets. Strategic new investments to Ontario (companies without a presence in Ontario), or companies whose investment plans (including new mandates, expansions or re-shoring or location/relocation) are subject to significant/substantive risk due to incentives offered from other jurisdictions are eligible to receive the first $1.5 million in funding as a grant. Next application deadline is May 27, 2026.
Food Processing, Manufacturing, Wood Manufacturing
Southwestern Ontario Manufacturers and Processors Have 15 Days Left to Apply
DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR UP TO $5 MILLION IS MAY 27, 2026
Ontario’s Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) advertises 15% up to $5 million in grants and four-year interest-free loans towards investments that create jobs and lead to economic growth. Eligible expenditures include equipment, consulting services, facility retrofits and expansions, as well as employee training and other project-related costs incurred over 3 to 4 years. Only expenses incurred after receiving approval will be eligible for reimbursement.
Businesses are required to have 3 years of financial statements and be (or plan to be) located in one of the following Southwestern Ontario counties: (Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Dufferin, Elgin, Essex, Grey, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth, Simcoe, Waterloo, and Wellington). Applicants in rural communities with populations under 100,000 or density less than 100 people/square mile, must have at least 5 employees yet can receive up to $500,000 of the funding as a grant. Rural businesses are required to make investments of no less than $200,000. Applicants in communities with populations over 100,000 may receive 15% up to $5 million as an interest-free loan. These businesses must have 10 or more employees and plan to invest at least $500,000. Up to 30% of the loan is forgivable to a maximum of $500,000 (i.e., becomes a grant) if the applicant achieves its job creation and investment targets.
Strategic new investments to Ontario (companies without a presence in Ontario), or companies whose investment plans (including new mandates, expansion, or re-shoring/relocation) are subject to significant risk due to incentives offered from other jurisdictions, are eligible to receive 15% up to $1.5 million as a grant.
Businesses with 15 or more employees must create 5 jobs by project completion. Companies with fewer employees are required to increase their workforce by 30%. There is also 50% grants funding up to $1.5 million for community economic development. Only costs incurred after approval of funding will be supported. Deadline for applications is May 27, 2026
Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Manufacturing
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES HIT BY TARIFFS
APPLICANTS CAN APPLY FOR UP TO $1 MILLION IN GRANTS
Canada’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) offers 75% project funding up to $10 million in interest-free loans and 50% up to $1 million in grants to businesses and organizations impacted by U.S. and China. Eligible businesses include but not limited to wood, steel, automotive manufacturers. Applicants must have 5 to 499 employees, been incorporated for no less than three years, plus demonstrate that in the year leading up to March 2025, or as an average of the past three years leading up to March 21, 2025, at least 25% of their revenues are in tariff-affected markets or show direct negative impacts resulting from the tariffs, e.g. increased costs, reduced sales, or lost market access. Eligible activities include adopting or adapting technologies, automating, or digitizing production, reshoring R&D or manufacturing, expanding into new markets, as well as strengthening domestic supply chains and compliance standards. Eligible expenditures include incremental employee wages, consulting fees, equipment purchases and installation, facility retrofits, marketing and outreach, training, and direct project materials. Ineligible costs include land and building purchases, vehicle costs, debt refinancing, entertainment, and ongoing operating expenses. Projects must begin after March 2025 (meaning you can apply for purchases made up to March of last year) and be completed no later than 31 March 2028. Funding is limited apply early!
Advanced Technology, Software & IT, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Manufacturing
UP TO $5 MILLION AVAILABLE TO B.C. MANUFACTURERS
FUNDING FOR HIGH GROWTH COMPANIES
Canada’s Pacific Economic Development Business Scale-up and Productivity program offers 50% up to $ 5 million in interest free loan funding for eligible projects undertaken by B.C. Canadian businesses operating for at least 2 years, with 500 employees or less, and who have experienced high growth typically 20% year to year. Eligible projects include accelerating or supporting:
- Productivity Improvement:includes acquiring, adapting, and adopting new technologies and processes; process re-engineering; improving manufacturing capacity.
- Business Scale-up:includes market development or expansion, adopting best management practices, processes and systems; business opportunity development.
- Technology Commercialization:includes late-stage product development to grow and diversify markets, as well as technology showcasing and technology demonstration. (Technology Readiness Levels 7-9 as defined by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)
Priority will be given to projects involving advanced manufacturing (such as mass timber construction) , clean resources, or technology (e.g., zero-emissions heavy equipment vehicles), digital information or communication technologies, health/biosciences (e.g., health analytics and diagnostics), and value-added natural resource and agriculture (e.g., plant-based foods and ingredients) processing. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2030. Repayment begins one year after for up to 6 years interest-free (i.e. repayment is up to 11 years interest-free). Deadline for applications is May 27, 2026, at 12:00 pm.
