Funding Still Available!

The Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) offers grants of 25% up to $250,000 for businesses to reduce energy usage, costs and/or GHG emissions. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:

• Retrofitting, Upgrading and Improving Processes, Transportation and Buildings (e.g. energy efficient heating systems and process equipment, vehicle retrofits)
• Adopting New Electricity, Energy and Fuel Production Systems (e.g. solar photovoltaic, wind energy and micro-hydro systems)
• Waste Management (e.g. efficient use of inputs, reducing waste)

Funding is provided for expenditures such as:

• Capital Costs (e.g. equipment, materials, supplies)
• Salaries and Benefits
• Contracted Services (e.g. audits, engineering)
• Other Direct Project Costs (e.g. travel, licensing/permits, training)

Applicant companies must have less than 500 employees and be operating in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan or New Brunswick. Up to 5 applications may be submitted by one company, however total funding from CAIF will not exceed $250,000.  To be considered for funding, businesses must be requesting at least $20,000 for projects ending no later than March 31, 2021.

Intake Opens December 2!

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SODF) 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 incurred over a 3 to 4 year period. 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 (populations under 100,000) must have at least 5 employees and may receive up to $500,000 as a grant. Rural businesses are required to make investments of no less than $200,000.

Applicants based in communities with populations of 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 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/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. Next application intake opens December 2, 2019 with a deadline of January 22, 2020.

Intake Opens November 4

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership offers grants of up to 50% (25% to a maximum of $200,000 for equipment) towards increasing the sustainability, competitiveness and prosperity of Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector. Eligible companies include food, pet-food and beverage processors, equipment and technology manufacturers, ornamentals (flowers, shrubs), agricultural-based supplements and bio-products processors, as well as other entities involved in the transformation of agricultural commodities and products. Funding is offered for the following project categories*:

1. Productivity Improvements: 25% up to $200,000 to purchase technology to increase labour productivity
2. Business Assessments: 50% up to $15,000 for any start-up or scaling-up processing business that wants to identify or determine feasibility of growth and opportunities by analyzing trends, access to capital and business structure.
3. Business Plans: 35% up to $15,000 for established and new businesses for plans to increase or improve financial sustainability, address growth needs and opportunities, and define concrete next steps.
4. Marketing Plans: 35% up to $25,000 for established processors
5. New Process or Product Development: 35% up to $75,000 for consultants and equipment to satisfy a new demand
6. ERP System Implementation: 35% up to $100,000
7. Food Safety and Traceability Pre-Audit, Gap Assessment and Planning: 45% up to $3,000 for companies with 100 or less employees
8. Food Safety and Traceability System Improvements: 50% up to $75,000. For processors with 100 or less employees
9. Food Safety and Traceability Training: 45% up to $1,500 for companies with 100 or less employees.
10. Food Safety and Traceability Equipment: 35% up to $10,000 for companies with 100 or less employees
11. Ingredient Efficiency and Waste Reduction: 25% up to $75,000 for technology that has been adopted by less than 20% of the Ontario sector
12. Labour productivity Plans: 50% up to $25,000
13. Domestic Market Development: 35% up to $50,000 for increasing Canadian market
14. International Market Development: 35% up to $75,000
15. Technology to Reduce Plant Pest Contamination and Risk: 35% up to $100,000
16. Preventing Introduction and Spread of Pests through Isolation, Sanitation and Controlling Work Flow: 35% up to $50,000

Costs incurred before receiving approval are ineligible for reimbursement (note: it typically takes roughly 3 months for a decision to be made). Applicants must operate in Ontario and be able to demonstrate potential annual income of at least $30,000 within three years of applying. Funding may not be used to promote Ontario products over those of other provinces/territories. A maximum of two applications may be submitted per intake. Next intake deadline is November 26, 2019.

*Please note that the information included in this bulletin reflects past intakes. Project categories, funding amounts and other program details will be confirmed November 4. 

Funding to Secure International Partners

The CDMN Soft Landing program offers up to $4000 to meet with potential foreign business partners to develop export markets. Funding is provided for transportation and accommodation costs. Eligible applicants are technology companies that currently generate sales revenue from their products. Projects must lead to increased sales, job creation and/or securing foreign investment, and be completed no later than March 15, 2020. Companies may submit a second application once their first project is complete. Please note that funding will not be provided for attending tradeshows, events, conferences or trade-missions. The application intake deadline is October 20, 2019.

Intake Closes October 15, Apply Now!

The Science Horizons Internship Program offers government grants of 50% up to $15,000 for businesses to hire post-secondary graduates for positions related to environmental conservation. Eligible interns are 30 years old or younger, and currently unemployed or under-employed. Positions must be full-time and in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) related field, lasting 6-12 months. INAC urges any interested organizations to apply for funding as soon as possible.

Offset the Cost of a New Hire!

The Clean Tech Internship Program offers wage subsidies of up to 70% to a maximum of $15,000 to hire post-secondary students and graduates aged 30 years or younger for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) positions. Eligible employers are businesses with no more than 500 employees, government/not-for-profit organizations, and institutions. Positions must last a minimum of 6 months, be full-time (30+ hours/week) and related to “clean technologies” (e.g.  technologies that support sustainable development, green industrial or agricultural processes, alternative energy and efficiencies, etc).