In today’s economy, small and medium-sized businesses are seeking resources and programs to assist with productivity and efficiency improvement, innovation and product development, skills training, and global competitiveness.
This section provides information on current funding and training programs supported by the Ontario Government and its partners.
For a list of selected Government programs and incentives for businesses, visit Invest in Ontario 
.
Funding and Training Programs
Additional Links
Canadian Business - Sources of Financing
Canada Business is a government information service for businesses and start-up entrepreneurs in Canada. Here you will find an extensive directory of Canadian financial providers, information on different types of financing, and tips to help you secure financing.
Canada Business Ontario - Grants, Subsidies and Contributions Info-Guide
This Info-Guide provides an overview of grants, subsidies and contributions potentially available for businesses in Ontario, including programs offered or supported by the governments of Canada and Ontario.
Export Market Access Program (EMA)
The Export Market Access Program is a $5 million cost-sharing program funded by the Ontario Government to assist small and medium-sized business expand into new export markets. The Program is administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Program details:
- Awarded grants will cover up to 50% of eligible costs
- Average awards are between $5,000 - $35,000
- Assistance is available in four areas:
- Direct contacts, i.e. trade shows, exhibitions, trade missions
- Marketing tools, i.e. promotional materials, branding materials, development of electronic media
- Market research
- Foreign bidding projects
- Program eligibility:
- Established businesses for a minimum of two years whose goods and services are produced in Ontario
- Between 5 - 500 employees
- New or emerging exporters
- Annual sales of $500,000 or more
For more information and to apply, visit Export Market Access .
The Ontario Power High Performance New Construction Program (HPNC) provides design assistance and significant financial incentives for new construction or additions, and major renovation projects that exceed Code. The greater the electricity savings, the greater the incentives.
Program details:
- Applications will be accepted for approval through October 2010
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Project must be located in Ontario, conform to Part 3 of the Ontario Building Code (OBC), and be intended for commercial, institutional, industrial or multi-unit residential occupancy.
- Projects must be completed, evaluated, and delivering energy savings by December 2012
- Buildings that obtained a building permit between August 2007 and March 2008 will also be eligible
- Eligible new building projects include: office buildings, industrial buildings, retail spaces, multi-unit residential buildings, affordable housing complexes, colleges, universities, schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, hotels, and motels. Single-family dwellings are not eligible
- Funding:
- Financial Incentives for Prescriptive Projects: Building owners will receive $250 for every verified kilowatt saved. A prescriptive project must be eligible for a minimum of $1,000 in incentives (excluding motors)
- Financial Incentives for Custom Projects: Building owners: Financial Incentives
- for up to 25% above Code: $250 for every verified kilowatt saved
- for 25.5% - 50% above Code: $300 for every verified kilowatt saved
- for greater than 50% above Code: $400 for every verified kilowatt saved; a custom project must be eligible for a minimum of $10,000 in incentives
- The HPNC Program will also support 100% of the cost of modelling a building (up to $10,000) for the building owner
- Architects: Financial Incentives:
- for 25.5% - 50% above Code: $50 for every verified kilowatt saved
- for greater than 50% above Code: $100 for every verified kilowatt saved
For more information and to apply, visit High Performance New Construction .
Next Generation of Jobs Fund
The Next Generation of Jobs Fund is a Government of Ontario five-year $1.15 billion strategy to help innovative companies grow and create well-paying sustainable jobs for today's workforce and for the next generation of Ontario's highly skilled workers.
Program details:
- Program objectives:
- Secure new knowledge-based jobs and investment in Ontario
- Build Ontario's strengths in sectors where the province is, or has the potential to be, a global leader
- Support the growth and success of value-added businesses through the development and expansion of their global markets and export
- Support private-public partnerships that will build Ontario's expertise for innovation and commercialization
- Support Ontario's Go Green Plan by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions
- Improve Ontario's reputation as a globally competitive jurisdiction that can compete and win international investment
- Funding criteria:
15% or more is available to support companies making new investments that:
- Help establish Ontario as a global leader in an emerging market
- Projects over $25 million or that secure at least 100 good jobs for Ontarians
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in certain sectors
- Build on existing expertise in areas in which Ontario has a strong research and commercialization base or create new expertise
- Create synergies among researchers, industry and entrepreneurs
- Program streams:
The Next Generation of Jobs Fund has three component programs, each with a different focus and application process. Applicants should review each category to select the one that best fits with their project:
- Biopharmaceutical Investment Program (BIP) is targeted to support the expansion of research and advanced manufacturing by pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms by providing grants, loans, forgivable-interest loans and funds for building infrastructure, research and training
- Jobs and Investment Program (JIP) helps companies in a wide range of sectors to expand in Ontario and develop innovative products for global markets. Projects must either create or retain at least 100 jobs, or invest $25 million over five years
- Strategic Opportunities Program (SOP ) supports industry-led, public-private collaborations focused on increasing Ontario's innovative expertise in three key sectors:
- the bio-economy and clean technologies
- advanced health technologies
- creative industries such as digital media and information and communications technologies (ICT)
For more information and to apply, visit Next Generation of Jobs .
Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
The Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program is a $11.2 million investment designed to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to encourage the growth of the biogas sector in the agri-food and rural sectors of Ontario.
Program details:
- Available funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis for projects meeting the terms and conditions of the Program and the eligibility criteria
- Phase one has been fully allocated
- September 30, 2009: Last day to submit a Phase 2 application to the Program
- March 31, 2010: Program ends
- Eligibility Criteria:
The program funding is focused on agriculture and agri-food operations to develop anaerobic digesters that meet certain requirements:
- The digester must use at least 75% agricultural products, agricultural by-products, food-based products or food-based by-products
- The digester must produce biogas for use in the production of electricity or heat or for fossil fuel replacement
- The by-product or digestate must not be disposed of in a sanitary landfill or through sewage disposal; it must be land-applied as a crop nutrient or soil enhancement, or must create a value-added nutrient
- Funding:
- There are two phases to the program. Phase 1 funding will cover up to 70% of the eligible costs of carrying out a feasibility study, to a maximum of $35,000 -- Phase one has been fully allocated
- Phase 2 funding will cover up to 40% of eligible construction and implementation costs. The maximum total feasibility and construction cost funding is $400,000 for each anaerobic digester system
For more information and to apply, visit the Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program .
Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive (OSTHI) - Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
The Ontario government has allocated $14.4 million in funding to OSTHI to encourage industrial, commercial and institutional (CI) entities in Ontario to install qualifying solar thermal heating equipment.
Program details:
- The program is administered by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and is similar to the federal government's ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) except the Ontario program has the additional criteria that the applicant must:
- Be an ICI entity situated in Ontario
- Have submitted to NRCan, an application to ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program postmarked on or after June 20, 2007, the date that the OSTHI Program was announced by the Government of Ontario
- Funding available until March 31, 2011
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Qualifying solar water and air heating systems installed in Ontario
- Eligible buildings used in part for residential occupancy, the building must have a common entrance and must either exceed 600 m2 in building area or have at least four (above ground) storeys of building height
- Eligible systems must use collectors accepted by the program
- Proposed systems that exceed a specified cost per square metre will undergo a technical review before a Contribution Agreement is entered into and may not be eligible
- Funding:
- Funding is based on a rate per square metre of collector area multiplied by a collector-specific performance factor
- OSTHI provides a maximum incentive of $80,000 towards the installation of a quality solar water or solar air heating system
- The corporate maximum incentive for multiple installations is $2 million
- In the case of for-profit applicants, the total project funding from all levels of government is limited to 50% of eligible project costs
- In the case of municipalities and not-for-profit applicants, the total project funding from all levels of government is limited to 100% of eligible project costs
For more information and to apply, visit Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive (OSTHI) .
SD Tech Fund - Sustainable Development Technology Canada
The SD Tech Fund is a $550 million fund from the federal government in support of the late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technology solutions: products and processes that contribute to clean air, clean water and clean land, that addresses climate change and improve the productivity and the global competitiveness of the Canadian industry. The SD Tech Fund bridges the funding gap in the innovation chain, therefore de-risking clean technologies and preparing them for downstream financing.
Program details:
- Eligibility Criteria:
Eligible projects must focus on the development and demonstration of new technologies that address issues of climate change, clean air, water and soil quality. The projects must be undertaken primarily in Canada. Applicants should demonstrate that:
- The proposed project is technically sound and undertaken by an applicant with the necessary technical, financial and management capacity
- The proposed project will be undertaken in a collaborative and innovative manner
- The new technology and related intellectual property will be diffused in a timely manner to ensure broad benefits to Canadians nationally or regionally
- Funding Criteria:
Eligible costs for funding may include:
- All goods and services and professional and technical personnel costs required to plan and conduct the scientific, technical, environmental, management and/or reporting activities directly related to the project
- The cost of capital items that have no residual value beyond the period of funding of the Eligible Project and are specifically required for the delivery of the project, including but not limited to the lease of land or license to use land, data collection equipment, prototypes, pilot plants or Demonstration plans including facilities that are themselves necessary for the project
- The depreciation expense for the period of funding, of capital items that have an enduring commercial value accrued to an individual organization beyond the funding period, as determined by GAAP
- Feasibility studies pertaining to the Eligible Project
- Funding:
- Typically there are 4-6 milestone dates throughout the life of an Eligible Project. These are defined by the Eligible Recipient in their work plan. Normally SDTC will pay one milestone in advance. Once a milestone is achieved, SDTC will normally pay the next milestone in advance. SDTC does not require any repayments of the financial contributions it provides to funded projects through the SD Tech Fund
For more information and to apply, visit Sustainable Development Technology Canada .
Technology Development Fund - Ontario Power Authority
The Technology Development Fund is a grant fund established to promote the development and commercialization of technologies that have the potential to improve electricity supply, conservation or demand management. The Fund's objective is to help these technologies and processes evolve to more commercially viable stages so they can benefit Ontario's electricity consumers. The Ontario Power Authority provides funding for selected projects either directly to the applicant or to one of the Fund's two managing institutions, the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) and CEATI International.
Program details:
For more information and to apply, visit Ontario Power Authority .
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The Workplace Skills Initiative - Human Resources and Social Development Canada
The Workplace Skills Initiative (WSI) will fund demonstration projects which respond to a range of skills-related challenges in Canadian workplaces, in order to improve productivity and position Canadian businesses and organizations to effectively compete in the global knowledge-based economy.
Program details:
- Current expiry for this round of the call for proposals is scheduled for April 23, 2009 . Early submissions are highly encouraged
- Program priorities:
- To identify, test and demonstrate innovation in employee skills development in Canadian workplaces with a view to addressing skills shortages
- To identify, test and demonstrate innovative approaches to organizational changes to workplace environments that contribute to the improved productivity of Canadian firms
- Eligibility Criteria:
Eligible Project Types:
- Eligible employee skills development projects may include innovative management and leadership practices; vertical mobility and lateral experiences/opportunities; and/or working with employees to identify and upgrade skills, interest and knowledge.
- Eligible projects for innovative approaches to organizational changes include employee engagement and decision making; teaming and/or other collaborative work design processes; management/leadership practices; and/or scheduling or organization or work
Eligible Recipients:
- Businesses and private sector organizations; unions; not-for-profit organizations, public health and educational institutions; band tribal councils, municipal governments, their corporations or agencies; and provincial and territorial boards, commissions and agencies
Eligible Costs:
- Eligible funding categories include qualified costs directly related to the success of the project such as wages and benefits, rental of office space, telephones; internships, mentoring, coop, articling, laddering, upskilling; materials and supplies; printing, promotional material and activities; professional fees; purchase of computers, office equipment, furniture and tools necessary to the project
- Funding:
- 3rd Call for Proposals (CFP) package invites eligible organizations and their partners to develop projects which identified program priorities for funding up to a maximum of $3 million per year
- Recipients and/or project partners must contribute at least 25% to eligible project costs
For more information and to apply, visit Workplace Skills Initiative .
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Yves Landry Foundation
The Yves Landry Foundation is funded by the Ontario Government to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers in Ontario to foster training that will lead to advancements in innovation within the manufacturing sector.
Program details:
- Awards will cover 100% of direct training project costs including: Trainer fees; content and curriculum costs
- Awards will cover 50% of indirect training costs including: Trainee wages and salary during training; trainee travel, accommodations and meals; facilities (ex. room rentals); materials for training
- Funding will be provided for two major objectives:
- Training that will support the adaptation of new technology, new processes or procedures or any change within the company to support innovation
- Training that will support and develop highly skilled personnel in any area that leads to innovation. This can include: development of new engineering skills; training in the use of new software, hardware or other tools necessary to support innovation; retraining to embrace new technologies; new manufacturing methods
- Program eligibility:
- Company having between 15 - 1,500 employees
- In business in Ontario for at least three years
- Manufactures a specific product for sale in Ontario or elsewhere
For more information and to apply, visit Yves Landry Foundation .
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Our experienced team members are able to assist you with all your business needs. E-mail Halton Region Business Development Centre for more information on these funding programs.