Capacity Building, Manufacturing, Technology
Up to $150,000 for Ontario Manufacturers
Support for ERP systems, software, advanced technologies and more!
The Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) offers 50% grant funding up to $150,000 to Ontario-based manufacturers who generate 30% or more in revenues from the automotive sector. Eligible activities are:
- technology adoption– implementing advanced manufacturing hardware, software and/or training to improve processes and competitiveness including ERP systems, production tracking systems and advanced hardware implementation.
- tools and technologies to support new product development– adoption of technologies to assist with the engineering and design of new products, such as Computer-Aided Design & Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, Design for Manufacturing (DFM) tools, rapid-prototyping tools or other tools to support the New Product Introduction (NPI) process
- lean manufacturing– improving operational efficiency and competitiveness by adopting lean manufacturing techniques and hiring the services of a mentor/consultant to help with lean implementation
Supported project-related costs include:
- Hardware/software installation and setup
- Salaries and benefits
- Sub-contractor and consultant fees
- Training and materials
- Travel
Eligible companies are Ontario-based automotive suppliers with up to 500 employees and annual revenues of $1 billion or less. Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years consecutive financial statements and attribute at least 30% of sales to the automotive sector.
Deadline for applications is April 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Advanced Technology, Software & IT, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Funding Programs, Hiring, Manufacturing, Wood Manufacturing
Wage Subsidy: Canada Summer Jobs
Funding to Hire New Employees
Canada Summer Jobs is advertising non-repayable (grant) funding for businesses with less than 50 employees, as well as not-for-profit and public sector organizations to hire new employees. The subsidy is 50% of the provincial minimum wage for businesses and 100% for non-profits. Employment must be for 30 hours per week to 40 hours per week, extending 6 to 16 weeks. Positions may begin 20 April 2026, ending no later than 29 August 2026. Eligible employees are Canadian citizens, permanent residents 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:
- 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 transferable skills such as client services, communication, teamwork, digital skills, leadership, etc.
- Response 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 offering positions that protect and conserves the environment.
- Support for 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 p.m. (PST), 11 December 2025.
Advanced Technology, Software & IT, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Funding Programs, Manufacturing
Up to $5 million for Ontario Manufacturers to Purchase and Install Funding Available ew Technology
Support for Manufacturers in Urban as well as Rural Areas of Ontario
Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream Program advertises 15% up to $5 million in interest-free loans and $1.5 million in grants (i.e. non-repayable/forgivable) towards investments that create jobs and lead to economic growth/expansion/global competitiveness. Eligible expenses include new equipment/technology, consulting services, facility retrofits and expansions, as well as employee training and other project-related costs. Eligible businesses must be or planning to operate in Ontario, have 10 or more employees, plus provide 3 years audited or reviewed financial statements. Projects need to be 3 to 4 years in duration, with $500,000 or more eligible expenses, create and/or upskill a minimum of 5 jobs, plus occur in the advanced manufacturing sector i.e., automotive, aerospace, life sciences (including cannabis and food processing), wood manufacturing, information and communications technology, steel and chemical manufacturing.
Businesses in a municipality with populations under 100,000 or per square kilometre population density of 100 or under can request 15% up to $500,000 in grant funding. Conversely, business in higher populated areas (e.g., Toronto and Hamilton), can apply for interest-free loans of 15% up to $5 million with 30% up to $500,000 of the loan being forgiven (i.e., a grant) if the applicant meets promised job 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.
Typically, more than 50% of the program’s contribution is paid near or at the end of the project (e.g., year 3 or 4). Applicants must begin to repay awarded loans once the project is completed, at which time the government charges approximately 5% annually (i.e., provincial cost of borrowing plus 3%) on unpaid balances. Successful applicants are not allowed to secure other provincial funding for their project while receiving program support.
Only costs incurred on or after the application is approved (April 30, 2026) are eligible for support. The applications open November 4, 2025. Application deadline: February 3, 2026.
Advanced Technology, Software & IT, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Funding Programs, Manufacturing
Up tp $10 million to Canadian Manufacturers Affected by Tarriffs
Support Retroactive to March 2025 for Equipment Purchaszed by Wood, Steel and Automotive Manufacturers
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 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.
Note: Deadline for applications in Quebec is October 30, 2025. In all other province applications will be accept on an ongoing basis until provincial funding allocation has been committed.
Advanced Technology, Software & IT, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Funding Programs, Manufacturing
FedDev Ontario: Up to $10 Million Interest-Free Loans for Businesses
Funding to Adopt Innovative Technologies, Boost Competitiveness, and Enter New Markets
FedDev Ontario advertises up to 50% project funding to a maximum of $10 million in interest-free loans for Southern Ontario businesses to enhance productivity, expand into new markets, and adopt/adapt innovative technologies, processes or services.
Eligible activities include:
- Developing, commercializing, or producing new and innovative products, processes, or services
- Improving productivity, capacity, and competitiveness
- Scaling or expanding business lines to reach new customers and markets
Businesses must have 5 to 500 employees and be in operation for at least 2 years to apply. Eligible expenditures include equipment purchases and installation, facility retrofits, consulting fees, marketing and promotion, as well as project-related employee wages and other expenses. Funding is not provided for building, land or vehicle purchases, debt refinancing, basic R&D, or ongoing operating costs. Applicants must request at least $125,000 from the program (i.e., invest $250,000 or more). Repayment begins within one year of project completion; specific terms/periods are determined on a case-by-case basis. Projects generally last 1–3 years. Costs incurred before application submission are ineligible.
Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Funding Programs, Manufacturing, Wood Manufacturing
Application Intake Opening Soon: Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) Industrial Facility Track
Up to $10 Million to Improve Energy Efficiency
Canada’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) Industrial Facility Track program advertises 50%* grant funding up to $10 million for Canadian manufacturers and processors to implement energy efficiency and energy management solutions within their facilities up to 2027. Funding is offered for:
- Energy Management Training. Eligible instruction includes energy management planning, energy metering and monitoring systems, identifying low-cost and no-cost energy-savings opportunities, developing a business case for energy efficiency, and becoming a qualified energy practitioner. Maximum funding is $50,000.
- Energy Assessments and Audits. Support is provided for identifying energy and GHG emissions reduction opportunities. Studies must take a holistic approach to reviewing energy use, and can include process integration and computational fluid dynamics studies. Specific operating system or equipment assessments are not eligible. Maximum funding is $50,000.
- Hiring or Engaging Energy Managers. To identify energy saving opportunities, build an energy-savings culture, and implement energy management systems. Maximum funding is $100,000.
- Implementing Energy Management Systems. For developing a framework to systematically manage energy, set priorities and adopt energy efficient practices that are proven to continuously improve energy performance. Maximum funding is $50,000 for applicants with baseline consumption of less than 400,000 GJ and $250,000 for applicants with baseline consumption of 400,000 or more GJ.
- Investments Energy Efficiency-Focused Capital Retrofits in Existing Facilities. Support is offered for modifying or upgrading a facility’s energy-consuming systems and equipment (stationary and mobile), processes, or infrastructure. For example, boiler plant, compressed air, domestic and process hot water, fan and pump, HVAC, refrigeration, waste heat recovery, automation, lighting, and control (instrumentation and software) systems, plus steam and condensate systems, as well as process furnaces, dryers, kilns, and metering equipment. Applicants must have an energy management system in place, in the process of being established, or proposed for implementation as part of this application. Maximum funding is $10 million and is based on achieving a minimum 5% reduction in energy and GHG emissions compared to the Baseline Scenario. Maximum program support is $3/GJ saved and $62/tonne of GHG reduced by 2030.
All activities must be undertaken by personnel by a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Certified Energy Manager certification, or Certified Engineering Technologist certification with experience in management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001), energy audits, benchmarking, and retrofits. An optional asset is having the participation a 50001 Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems as part of activity personnel.
Please note that funding details and program parameters have been updated for Round 3. Complete details will be available when the call for proposals officially launches.
*Indigenous organizations are eligible to receive up to 100% project funding.
