Available Funding Opportunities from the Ontario Government
Ontario is part of the North American manufacturing heartland. Examples of Ontario’s key manufacturing industries include autos, information and communications technologies, biotech, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Indigenous Economic Development Fund
The Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF) provides grants and financing to Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, communities and organizations. The fund helps promote economic development and improve employment opportunities for Indigenous people.
The fund supports projects that:
- diversify Indigenous economies
- increase access to employment and training opportunities
- provide start-up and expansion financing for small and medium-sized businesses
- support financing, skills training and other economic development initiatives through collaboration between Indigenous communities and the private sector
The IEDF provides grants and financing through 3 funding streams:
- Economic Diversification Grant
- Business and Community Fund
- Regional Partnership Grant
Eastern Ontario Development Fund
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern Ontario make investments to:
- grow their businesses
- improve productivity
- invest in innovation and skills development
- pursue new markets
- generate broad positive regional economic impact
- create new good, sustainable jobs
A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.
The types of support available include:
- funding support
- complementary services and support
Rural Ontario Development Program
The Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program replaces the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program. This program supports the objectives of Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy.
The ROD Program provides cost-share funding for projects that help rural communities:
- address barriers and build capacity for economic development
- to attract, retain and expand businesses
- attract and retain investment and jobs
- strengthen regional partnerships and economic resilience
- address workforce development challenges
- transform community assets to drive economic development
