Funding for Cow, Ewes, Goat and Water Buffalo Milk Processors

The Dairy Processing Investment Fund is offering up to 50% grant funding to Canadian dairy processors (including processors whose products use a significant amount of milk) and up to 75% to not-for-profit organizations to a maximum of $10 million towards adapting to market changes resulting from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Eligible activities include construction or expansion of dairy processing establishments, improving manufacturing through purchasing and installing new equipment, hiring consultants related to plant improvements, and market development (e.g., planning strategies and investments, identifying best practices). Eligible costs are those which are directly related to the project, such as: the purchasing of assets, consulting fees, salaries/benefits for employees, etc.  To be eligible for funding, the applicant must prove that their project did not start before November 10, 2016. All projects must be completed by March 21, 2021.

Funding Available to All Sectors

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)  is advertising to provide up to 50% in funding towards innovative product development, business expansion and growth and investment attraction.  Eligible activities include but are not limited to:

• R&D that will accelerate technology transfer and commercialization of innovative products, processes and services;
• Business growth and expansion;
• Investment attraction and retention

Eligible costs include project-related direct labour, overhead, subcontracts, consultants, direct materials and equipment as well as land/building purchases.

Based on INAC’s interpretation/investigation of the fund, we believe that most of the awarded SIF funding will be long-term interest bearing (e.g. 3%) loans. Conditions may be applied to receiving loan payments, e.g. generate jobs, sales, etc. However, actual terms of financing will not be known until after the applicant has submitted a comprehensive proposal which has been approved for funding. Our experience with other major federal funding programs suggests that it will take approximately 8 weeks to complete an SIF proposal and 6 months for decision to be made by the funder.

Please note that securing SIF funding may reduce an applicant’s claim for Science Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits as well as other federal funding. Additionally, it is recommended that an applicant investigates any additional tax implications prior to accepting SIF funding. As well, unlike U.S. or European funding programs this Canadian fund does not allow applicants to pay a consultant on a contingency/performance fee basis to complete the application.

Less Training is Eligible for Program Support

Effective April 1^st, 2017, the Canada Ontario Job Grant (COJG) will no longer provide funding for vendor training.  Whereas vendor training was previously supported it is now part of the list of ineligible activities which includes professional certification such as executive training courses (MBA, CFA), preparatory training courses (LSAT, MCAT, GMAT), business consulting services, and attending conferences.

The Canada Ontario Job Grant will contribute 2/3rds of out-of-pocket costs towards employee training to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee per training course. Funding is available for training existing as well as new employees in:

• Career or Development Instruction: upgrade the knowledge, skills, and ability of employees to help them assume greater responsibility in higher positions e.g. technical skills development, enrollment in a university or college course.
• Maintenance and Refresher Skills: update and sustain the specialized subject-matter knowledge of trainees the beneficiaries. Maintenance or refresher training usually deals with new information and new methods, as well as review of older materials e.g. equipment, quality assurance, HACCP, GSFI training.
• Essential Skills: skills needed for work, learning and life e.g. ESL, reading, writing, ESL numeracy.

Eligible training costs include instruction/tuition fees, instructional materials and tools expenditures as well as certification and examination expenses. Training must be delivered by a for-profit training company, a public university, college or school, or a government recognized unionized or private training institution. For companies with 50 or fewer employees, 50% of the applicant 1/3rd contribution can be wages of employees while being trained. Expenses such as instruction provided by applicant employees or owners, as well as trainee wages and other internal costs are not eligible for funding. There is no limit on the amount of funding requested or the frequency and number of applications, which can be made. However, funding will only be awarded for instruction given by one trainer over a period of one year or less.

Funding Awared to Those in the Ontario Greenhouse Sector

The Greenhouse Renewable Energy Technologies (GRET) R&D Initiative awards funding of up to 75% for private sector and 100% for not-for-profits towards:

• Pilot-scale demonstration projects of a renewable energy technology with potential for future integration into greenhouse operations across Ontario and greenhouse gas reduction; and
• The undertaking of a study to assess the feasibility of using a renewable energy technology within a greenhouse production system (i.e. fulfills greenhouse energy needs), promoting innovation to develop more clean-technology processes and products

Eligible applicants include organization/ company/ research institution involved in a project benefiting the greenhouse sector in Ontario.  Applicants must be a legal entity located and operating in Ontario, with a minimum of $2,000,000 of general liability insurance. Funding requests between $250,000 to $400,000 for pilot-scale demonstration projects and $50,000 to $100,000 for feasibility studies are most desirable. The deadline for applications is July 13^th, 2017.

Fiancial Support Available to Food Leaders Across Ontario

The Local Food Investment Fund (LFIF) will provide funding of up to 50% of costs to $150,000 to provide financial support to local food leaders across Ontario, with the common goal of increasing the amount of local food consumed within the province.  The program will provide support under three distinct grant streams: Broader Public Sector, Market Access, and Local Food Literacy.  Eligible costs may include:

• Project Management costs, consultant fees, business planning development, professional fees;
• Capital costs such as equipment, structural modifications, technology upgrades and production expansion to increase food sales to local markets; and
• Training, marketing, promotion, studies and research, and incremental administrative

To qualify for funding, a grant applicant must be a community or NFP organization, farmers, producers, processors, distributors, foodservice, retail, etc. Except for municipal government, commodity association, or network, projects must be based upon a joint application from two or more legal entities.  Applicants must complete an eligibility quiz, and provide information such as project goals and rationale. The remaining 50% of costs must be covered by the recipient in cash only. In-kind contributions can be documented to demonstrate commitment on the part of the applicant to the project.  To apply for funding from the Local Food Investment Fund, applicants must submit an LOI by Thursday, August 3, 2017. If approved for funding, the project must be completed by May 15, 2018.

ECO Canada: Funding to Hire Environmental Graduate Interns 

The ECO Canada Internship Program offers 50% grant funding up to $15,000 towards hiring a college or university science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), or natural resources graduate.  Eligible employment positions include but are not limited to:

• Research assistant, environmental coordinator, or lab technician;
• Creating smart grid tech, or GIS analyst;
• Development of monitoring equipment for greenhouse gas;
• Improvements in high energy using equipment; and
• Conducting geological or oceanographic surveys

Employers are required to offer one year internships leading to future full-time employment. Canadian businesses as well as municipal and provincial government can apply. Interns must be under 30 years old, with Canadian citizenship, landed immigrant or refugee status plus eligible to work in Canada.  This program will run until all funding has been allocated, so it is recommended that applicants wishing to apply do so ASAP.