Funding

View the AgriInnovate Program Website.

Offering:
This program provides repayable contributions for up to 50 percent of total eligible costs, to a maximum of $10 million. Contributions will be repaid over a period of up to 10 years following project completion with a one         year grace period.

Dates:
Applications will be taken on a continuous basis from the launch of the program until March 31, 2023, or until funding has been fully committed or otherwise announced by the program.

Projects must be completed by March 31, 2023.

Requirements:
Applicants must be a for-profit organization.

Projects must aim to accelerate the demonstration, commercialization and/or adoption of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase Canada’s agri-sector competitiveness and sustainability.

In order to be eligible for funding, applicants must clearly demonstrate how proposed projects will demonstrate/commercialize an innovation new to the sector or country.

Objectives:
Project must advance the government’s agenda through the following priorities:

• Adoption of new or world leading clean technology (including precision agriculture);
• Increase productivity through advanced manufacturing, automation or robotics;
• Strengthen Canada’s value-added agri-sectors;
• Secure or expand new export markets.

Projects that incorporate more than one program priority area will be given greater consideration.

View the Business Scale-up and Productivity Website to find links to program guidelines, FAQs, an application guide and the application.

Offering:
The fund provides successful applicants with a no-interest, repayable contribution from $500,000 up to a maximum of $10 million or up to 35 percent of eligible and supported project costs.per project.

Dates:
This is a continuous intake program but all eligible expenses must be incurred by December 31, 2023.

Requirements:
To be considered eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate:

• A minimum of 65 percent funding is available for the project.
• A sustainable business model.
• Financial capacity to complete the project and repay the contribution in full.
• Managerial, technical, and operational capacity to achieve the project’s stated objectives in a timely manner.
• Normally a minimum of five (5) full time employees.
• Market/industry demand (e.g., how the project addresses a significant gap in the market; global opportunity to be seized within Canada; and evidence that southern Ontario is uniquely positioned to capture market share).
• Potential for market growth, diversification of export markets and/or participation in global value chains.
• A viable project plan with achievable outcomes, supported by verifiable cost estimates

Objectives:
Business Scale-up and Productivity aims to accelerate the growth of firms and assist with the adoption and adaptation of new, innovative technologies that support scale-up, productivity, development of and entry into new markets to help companies become globally competitive.

The funding will:

• Assist high-growth firms to scale up and expand
• Support technology demonstration and the commercialization of new technologies
• Encourage the early adoption or adaptation of leading-edge technologies and processes to improve productivity
• Increase businesses’ capacity to grow through market diversification and entry into global markets
• Foster innovation, technology adoption and digital connectivity in rural areas.Increase the number of high-growth firms

View the Processor section of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership website to see what programs are currently open as these are intake based as opposed to continuous intake.

Offering:
The amount of funding and the company contribution requirements vary between programs options. Please consult the Processor section of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership website to see the open programs and the maximum funds available in these categories (number of programs):

• Audits, Assessments, and Training (8)
• Enhancing Animal Health (9)
• Enhancing Plant Health (2)
• Expanding Your Markets (4)
• Food Safety for Your Business (5)
• Growing Your Business (10)
• Improving Productivity (4)

Dates:
The CAP programs are intake based. The latest processor intake runs from March 22, 2019 to May 06, 2019.

Requirements:Please check each individual program as requirements vary by program.

Objectives:
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that will support Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors through a number of cost-share funding support projects.

Following are the key priority areas that are of interest to local processors:

• Economic development in the agri-food and agri-products sectors.
• Environmental stewardship to enhance water quality and soil health.
• Protection and assurance to reinforce the foundation for public trust in the sector through improved assurance systems in food safety and plant and animal health.

View the Eastern Ontario Development Fund Website and the Grants Ontario Website for EODF application documents.

Offering:
The fund may provide up to 15% of eligible project costs to a maximum grant of $1.5 million. For project investments of $10+ million that create 50+ jobs, funding may be available in the form of a secured repayable loan, to a maximum of $5 million in provincial support. Applicants can receive EODF funding for one project per year.

Dates:
Ontario endeavours to assess and make a decision regarding your application within 60 business days of confirming receipt of a fully complete application package.

Requirements:
In order to be eligible for the business stream, businesses must:

• Employ at least 10 people and meet minimum job creation thresholds as outlined in the Business Application Guide (will open as a ZIP file)
• Be able to provide 3 years of financial statements
• Be part of an eligible sector (see guide for a list of eligible sectors)
• Be located in, or plan to locate in Eastern Ontario
• Have a multi year project that involves a minimum investment of $500,000 in eligible project costs.

Businesses with 5-10 employees with a $200,000+ project may be eligible under the Small Community Pilot. See the Business Application Guide (will open as a ZIP file) for more information.

Note that because of community density/size restrictions businesses with 5-10 employees in Belleville are not eligible for the Small Community Pilot.

Objectives:
Create and retain jobs,
Encourage the introduction of new, innovative approaches, including use of new technologies,
Assist in improving competitive position or pursue growth,
Diversify the economy of Eastern Ontario.

View the Export Market Access website

Offering:
Grant up to 50% of eligible project costs (up to $30,000 per approved project/ $35,000 per approved capital bidding project). Limited to 2 approved projects per year.

Requirements:
You must have 3 to 500 employees and annual sales of $300,000 or more.

Objectives:
A Global Expansion Program (EMA) designed to assist small to medium size organizations (SMEs) to access and expand their growth in new foreign markets (now includes the U.S.). Eligible activities are:

• establishing/developing direct contacts
• developing promotional materials
• conducting market research for more precise international market targeting
• assistance with foreign bidding projects (for providers of professional services)

Apply Now:
Visit the Export Market Access How to Apply webpage for application instructions and documents.

View the Steel and Aluminum Initiative Website to find links to program guidelines, an application guide and the application.

Offering:
The fund provides successful applicants with a non-repayable contribution from $150,000 up to $1 million, to support up to a maximum of 45 percent of eligible project costs.

Dates:
This is a continuous intake program that runs from March 11, 2019 until all available funds are allocated. Priority will be given to projects submitted before April 8, 2019.

Requirements:
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Businesses such as: partnerships, social enterprises, incorporated companies, corporations or co-operatives, or an Indigenous organization such as Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses, and all other types of enterprises;
• Employ between 10 to 499 individuals on a full-time basis in Canada;
• Intensive users of steel or aluminum (i.e., steel and/or aluminum expenditures are equal to or greater than 20 percent of total cost of goods sold); and
• Capable of demonstrating plans for projects pursuing productivity enhancements, and/or innovations to augment firm competitiveness.

Objectives:
Funding under this initiative helps small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that use significant amounts of steel and aluminum in their production processes and are looking to adopt innovative technologies to enhance productivity or to increase competitiveness.

The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Steel and Aluminum Initiative will:

• Assist firms with high-growth potential to scale up and expand;
• Support technology demonstration and the commercialization of new technologies;
• Encourage the early adoption or adaptation of leading-edge technologies and processes to improve productivity; and/or
• Increase businesses’ capacity to grow.

View the Government of Canada’s SR&ED Website

Offering:
Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPC) earn an investment tax credit (ITC) of 35% for the first $3 million of qualified expenditures and 15% on any excess.
Other Canadian corporations, proprietorships, partnerships, and trusts can earn an ITC of 15% of qualified expenditures.

Dates:
Annual claim, submit a claim with the T2 corporation or T1 individual income tax return, or within 12 months of the income tax return’s filing due date for the year in which the SR&ED expenditure was incurred.

Requirements:
Only SR&ED carried out in Canada qualifies for this program.
Must be a CCPC to qualify for the 35% ITC for the first $3 million of qualified expenditures.

Objectives:
The SR&ED program is a federal tax incentive program, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada.