Bulletins
UP TO $2 MILLION FOR COLLABORATIVE FOOD INNOVATION R&D
Program looking to fund innovative digital solutions that can create safer and more agile food supply chain
Canada’s Food Innovation Challenge is offering 50% grant funding up to $2 million for collaborative, industry-led, development and innovation projects related to:
- Smart Product and Process Development including novel health, nutrition & wellness benefits; new robotics applications to increase productivity, food safety and/or worker safety; AI, sensors, machine learning and big data to improve efficiencies; and emerging science such as cultured protein.
- Food Ecosystem Sustainability including novel food waste reduction; higher value recovery; circularity and upcycling; green and smart packaging; and more efficient use of inputs e.g., energy, water, and carbon.
- Agile and Safe Supply Chains including logistics and supply chain; consumer and customer analytics; food safety and security; IoT and digital application to food chains; and blockchain and traceability software/applications.
Funding is to support a broad range of R&D activities at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 7. Projects are expected to result in the discovery of new knowledge that aims to support the development of new technology-driven products, processes, or services at early-stage TRLs (e.g., 1-4); and/or large-scale technology demonstration, including the advancement and development of new technologies into product-specific applications at TRLs 5-7. Projects undertaking higher TRLs (i.e., 8 and 9) may also be supported if part of the overall project.
Eligible expenses include but are not limited to project-related equipment purchases, subcontractor and consultant fees, materials costs, direct labour, property leasing, plus building expansion and/or upgrades.
Project partners must include one business with less the 500 employees and sales under $50 million, plus a minimum of two additional independent companies. All partners must provide financial and/or other resources to the project. Funding preference will be given to collaborations with numerous small to large business partners. Additionally, collaboration with not-for-profit groups, research centers and learning institutions is encouraged if these organizations are facilitating and undertaking private sector funded R&D.
Note that successful applicants must pay the organization administering the fund an upfront contingency fee of 5% against the entire project budget.
Letters of Intent will be accepted until Thursday, July 7, 2022. Those subsequently invited to submit a full proposal will have until Friday September 16, 2022, to do so.
Bulletins
Up to $190,000 to Fund Ag-Tech Development
Program looking to fund innovative solutions to advance agriculture-based technologies.
Canada’s Innovation Booster program is offering 50% grant funding up to $100,000 for business development and innovation projects related to:
- Smart Product and Process Development including novel health, nutrition & wellness benefits; new robotics applications to increase productivity, food safety and/or worker safety; AI, sensors, machine learning and big data to improve efficiencies; and emerging science such as cultured protein.
- Food Ecosystem Sustainability including novel food waste reduction; higher value recovery; circularity and upcycling; green and smart packaging; and more efficient use of inputs e.g., energy, water and carbon.
- Agile and Safe Supply Chains including logistics and supply chain; consumer and customer analytics; food safety and security; IoT and digital application to food chains; and blockchain and traceability software/applications.
Funding is provided to support a broad range of R&D activities at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 7. Projects are expected to result in the discovery of new knowledge that aims to support the development of new technology-driven products, processes or services at early-stage TRLs (e.g., 1-4); and/or large-scale technology demonstration, including the advancement and development of new technologies into product-specific applications at TRLs 5-7. Projects undertaking higher TRLs (i.e., 8 and 9) may also be supported if part of the overall project.
Eligible expenses include but not limited to project-related equipment purchases, subcontractor and consultant fees, materials costs, direct labour, plus building and land leasing, expansion or upgrades.
Applicants must be a Canadian business with less than 500 employees and sales under $50 million.
Note that successful applicants must pay the organization administering the fund an upfront contingency fee of 5% against the entire project budget (so basically the funding is 40%). Next Intake deadline July 7, 2022
Bulletins
Up to $5 million for Purchasing New Equipment and Technology
Only 64 Sleeps Until You Can Apply
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 and have 10 or more employees as well as 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), 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 after the application deadline are eligible for support. The application deadline is September 22, 2022.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Bulletins, Career Focus, Food Processing, Hiring, Hiring Incentive, Manufacturing
Funding to Hire Youth
Funding is Running Out Apply Now
Canada’s Career Starter program provides “bio-economy” employers with 50% funding of a youth’s salary to a maximum of $20,000 in wage subsidies for a three to nine-month job placement. The program goal is to help the employer adopt a diverse and inclusive work culture while satisfying their need for skilled labour.
Eligible youth must be 15-30 years, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or immigrants plus can legally and able to work fulltime in Canada. Additionally, the youth must be facing one or more barriers to employment including but not limited to:
- not in education, employment or training for at least six months
- Disability
- Indigenous
- A recent immigrant and/or refugee
- A visible minority
- LGBTQ2 +
- Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Living in a low-income household
- Residing in a rural or remote location
- Living with family care responsibilities
- Affected by substance use
- Currently in, coming out of, or who have been involved in the justice system
- In or aging out of care
- Living with low levels of literacy and numeracy
The definition of bio-economy employees includes farmers, processors, pulp and paper manufacturers, the forest sector, bio-based health products, cannabis, bio-energy producers, pet food makers, IT/health software developers, etc. In addition, to a 6-to-9-month placement, employers must provide hired youth with a minimum of 2.5 hours/month of job coaching.
The program also offers internal job coaching such as skills training and onboarding tools for employers, including a diversity and inclusion HR policy template; and on-going monitoring to ensure program success.
Funding is extremely limited so apply quickly.
Bulletins
Up To $500,000 Grant For Eastern Ontario Processors
Eligibility Check Lists Due by April 7, 2022
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) advertises 15% funding up to $5 million in four-year interest-free loans, of which, 30% to a maximum of $500,000 is forgivable (i.e., becomes a grant) if the applicant achieves job creation and investment targets, 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 to be 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. 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, are required to make an investment of no less than $200,000 and create 5 jobs. Applicants in communities with populations more than 100,000 are required to invest $500,000 and create 10 jobs.
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.
Next application deadline is April 21, 2022 (eligibility checklist to be submitted by April 7, 2022)
Bulletins, Food Processing, Manufacturing
Up to $500,000 Grant for Rural Southwestern Ontario Processors
Applicants Should Submit Eligibility Checklist By April 7, 2022
The 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. Up to 30% of the loan is forgivable (i.e., becomes a grant) to a maximum of $500,000 if the applicant achieves its job creation and investment targets.
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.
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%. Only costs incurred after approval are eligible for funding. There is also 50% grants funding up to $1.5 million for community economic development. Next application deadline is April 21, 2022 (eligibility checklist to be submitted by April 7, 2022)
