As we get ready for the election day on Monday, I thought it is a timely idea to forecast what Federal government funding programs may be impacted by the election results. I split the programs by impact.

A big disclaimer: this is a non-partisan and non-solicitation newsletter, and it only reflects my opinion. Your vote is your choice.

Low Impact

It is unlikely that the R&D funding programs like SR&ED and IRAP will be significantly altered. They were around for a number of years. In addition, CanExport program, will likely stay as is or go through minor adjustments since all major parties committed to the Canadian export growth.

Medium Impact

The mandate of the regional development agencies (FedDev and FedNor in Ontario) may be revised depending on the election result. However, those agencies already survived the change in Federal government 4 years ago. They provide interest-free loans such as Business Scale Up & Productivity and funding for Yves Landry Foundation’s skills training fund (AIME Initiative).

Depending on the budget constrains, the Federal portion of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership may be slightly adjusted. But overall, the agri-food sector is on the list of the priorities of all political parties.

High Impact

All Federal programs that depend on the Federal carbon tax, such as Climate Action Incentive Fund, may be significantly impacted if the tax is reduced or scrapped. Other incentives for clean technology research, development and adoption and energy efficiency may also be impacted.

Anything New to Expect?

Two Canada’s leading political parties committed to the automotive industry growth. However, it is unclear how exactly this commitment will be delivered. It may be similar to the provincial Ontario Automotive Modernization Program.

Both parties also committed to skills training so we expect the launch of a replacement of Canada-Ontario Job Grant sometime in 2020.

What Do You Think?

Let me know what you think about the future of Federal government funding by replying to this email.

And remember, the government funding programs come and go. The only way for you to stay up-to-date is to check your eligibility regularly.

This week marks the 10th anniversary of my arrival to Canada. I am so grateful that, in celebration of this significant milestone, I am sharing with you complimentary show floor pass to the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS 2019)! You may also take advantage of 20% off conference rates as my guest.

This time we won’t be exhibiting, but I managed to get a small speaking engagement.

Show & Conference Dates: September 30 – October 3, 2019

Venue: The International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga, ON L4V 1E8

I look forward to seeing you at the show!

Oh, and if you want to give a gift to me, forward this email to your friends, clients, partners or suppliers. They can register at CMTS 2019 or check their eligibility for government funding.

I hope your long weekend went well! This week I wanted to share some updates about Canada-Ontario Job Grant. The updates were introduced mid-August but I thought it is best to bring them up now that you are likely back to work this week.

What is New in COJG Program?

• Past performance is now important. If you’ve applied before, make sure that your previous training funded by the program was completed successfully.
• Membership, subscription and annual fees as well as professional association costs are no longer eligible.
• Employer and Trainer Attestation Forms were introduced. This is extra paperwork that must be submitted in case if your trainer is a private company.
• Trainer Qualification Criteria were introduced. The trainer must meet these criteria.

Other than that the program remains the same. There were no changes in eligibility rules, application forms or assessment criteria. Businesses located in Ontario can take advantage of the COJG funding for skills training and get 50%-86% of eligible training cost up to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee (in certain cases up to $15,000).

Knowing how popular the training funding among our clients, we recommend you to check your eligibility and start the application process today.

I’m pleased to share two exciting news with you.

First of all, Federal government launched a new incentive program for businesses in Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, called Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) which provides 25% of the project cost up to a maximum of $250,000. The purpose of CAIF is to facilitate greenhouse emission reduction projects in the following categories:

• Retrofitting and upgrading of existing production equipment
• Fuel switching to lower emitting energy sources
• Process changes to reduce energy
• Waste-heat recovery
• Building retrofit including HVAC, lighting, building envelope upgrades and building automation
• Heavy-duty vehicle retrofits
• Changes to agricultural processes to improve energy efficiency
• Fuel switching to lower emitting energy sources in agricultural operations

The deadline is October 15, 2019 but don’t wait until the last moment.

CHECK ELIGIBILITY NOW

Secondly, this is an exciting limited time opportunity for the businesses to take advantage of stacking two government energy conservation incentives – Federal (CAIF) and Provincial.

With products and services from our partner Green Management Group this opportunity can enable your business to reduce the price of energy conservation upgrades for your buildings such as LED lighting.

We will apply on your behalf for both the Federal, Climate Action Incentive Fund, incentive (open till mid October 2019 or fund depletion) and the longstanding saveONenergy provincial incentive to reduce the cost of energy saving building retrofits by up to 50% or more.

Energy conservation retrofits significantly reduce fixed overheads and free up cash and electrical capacity for other equipment. Attached please find further information regarding this limited-time funding opportunity.

Other renewable energy projects such as roof-top solar PV, Solar heating etc. from Green Management Group are eligible for CAIF funding that will cover up to 25% of the installed project cost.

CONTACT GREEN MANAGEMENT

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

I hope you are staying productive this summer and remembering to enjoy the gorgeous weather over the weekend. Meanwhile, our team is working hard to keep you up to date with the government funding programs that are coming out. This week we want to share with you the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario (RIIEO) – Regional StreamProgram.

The purpose of the program is to support projects that accelerate the growth of SMEs on the innovation track, with benefits to multiple communities within Eastern Ontario.

Projects will demonstrate sustainability, drive prosperity and job creation, sustainability through innovation, research and development, commercialization, and business practices that work to position the region for global competitiveness, export markets, and economic diversification.

Selected projects will be eligible for a non-repayable performance-based contribution and require a minimum 50 percent cash contribution by the recipient on eligible expenses net of HST. The minimum project size for an Eastern Ontario Innovation Initiative regional stream project is $200,000 resulting in a minimum contribution of $100,000 by the recipient.

The combined Stream total support to for-profit recipients will not exceed $100,000.

The program is already accepting applications with all projects through 15 Eastern Ontario counties being targeted for completion by December 31st, 2020.

Check eligibility of your company and your project for the government funding by submitting eligibility check form.

CHECK ELIGIBILITY NOW

I’m happy to share some good news about CanExport Program.

As of August 22, 2019, the CanExport will increase project funding limit up to $75,000 to cover up to 75% of eligible expenses. The program will also be expanded to include agriculture, agri-food and agri-products industry, including fish and seafood. Eligible expenses are related to marketing the business or product in a new export market including but not limited to the following:

• Business travel;
• Participation at trade fairs, trade shows, conferences, trade missions;
• Shipping and handling costs related to the participation;
• Translation & interpretation costs;
• Market research;
• Adaptation of marketing tools for a new market; and
• Legal fees associated with a distribution/representation agreement.

In order to make the changes to our systems, the CanExport for SMEs application system will be closed from August 9 to 21 and will re-open on August 22. Any current projects and those submitted before August 9 will continue to have access to a maximum of $50,000 in funding to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses.

Check eligibility of your company and your project for the government funding by submitting eligibility check form.

Check eligibility of your company and your project idea by submitting eligibility check form.

I am happy to share the good news that Yves Landry Foundation’s AIME program that helps manufacturers recover 50% of the cost of skills training in advanced technology, equipment, software or process (e.g. Lean), is back for a short time. The applications are accepted for training with completion dates between Feb.29, 2020 to May 31, 2020.

Don’t procrastinate! Last time the funding ran out within 2-3 months. Check your eligibility now or reply to this email to get started.

CHECK ELIGIBILITY NOW

On a sad note, as of May 31st, Southwestern and Eastern Ontario Development Funds no longer accept applications until further notice. The provincial government is working on some modifications to the programs, and we will keep you posted.

The funding programs constantly change, as you can see. To get you up-to-date, we invite you to attend the following events where we will go through the funding programs available for Ontario businesses.

June 20th, 10 a.m. Webinar: Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things and Government Funding. Register here.

June 26th, 10 a.m. Seminar: Enterprise Resource Planning and Government Funding. Register here.

I am heading to Windsor to attend Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association’s Annual Conference tomorrow, on June 12th. If you are attending too, please, reply to this email and I will be happy to meet you.

We would like to notify you, that we have recently updated our catalogs of the Canadian Government Funding for businesses:

• Atlantic Canada Businesses (click here)
• Ontario-Based Businesses (click here)

Alternatively, you can check eligibility of your business for the government funding by clicking the red button below.

Last week the new provincial government published its first budget. Here are the most important initiatives for the business.

1. Introduction of Ontario Job Creation Investment Incentive. This is not a direct government funding program but an immediate write-off for eligible manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment and clean energy equipment. It is coupled with the Accelerated Investment Incentive for most other assets.

The purpose of these incentives is to facilitate capital investments. The immediate or accelerated write-off will help Ontario businesses reduce provincial tax. Talk to your accountant about these initiatives.

2. Launch of the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (OAMP) to assist automotive parts suppliers adopt technology and become more productive, innovative and export-focused

3. Enhancing Ontario’s Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN) and launch of a “wintertech” stream to test mobility products and services in severe winter weather conditions.

4. Northern Ontario funding program will remove the requirement that applicants must be looking for recent university or college graduates. Program candidates will now include new entrants into the workforce, those transitioning to a new career, the unemployed and underemployed.

5. The budget confirmed the commitment to the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

6. The Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit. Companies under the Digital Games stream can apply for tax credit certification annually, rather than having to apply separately for each product they complete.

This spring, the Province will also be launching a micro-credentials pilot, which will create new, responsive training programs to help people develop the kind of in-demand skills that employers are seeking.

All other provincial funding programs will be reviewed during this fiscal year, and we expect more information later in 2019.

Interested in applying for Provincial or Federal funding? Fill out eligibility check form on our website – http://www.fgwinc.ca/eligibility.

CHECK ELIGIBILITY NOW

Join Us for Canadian Government Grants & Loans for Ontario-based Businesses Seminar on April 10, 2019 in Richmond Hill, ON! Brought to you by Royal Bank of Canada.

Sign up now to RSVP for our special event where you’ll learn:

• What government funding programs are available for your business
• What government-backed loans your business may qualify for
• How to leverage government grants and SR&ED more effectively
• How to select the right project for government funding application
• What’s coming in the Federal and Provincial budgets

Seminar Speakers:

• Samuel Lai, Royal Bank of Canada
• Igor Chigrin, Fair Grant Writing

Date and Time: April 10, 2019 at 6 p.m.

Venue: RBC High Tech and Bayview Branch, 365 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill, ON

2. Canadian Government Grants & Loans for Ontario-based Businesses Seminar on April 10, 2019 in Richmond Hill, ON! Brought to you by Royal Bank of Canada.

Date and Time: April 10, 2019 at 6 p.m.

Venue: RBC High Tech and Bayview Branch, 365 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill, ON

Learn More & Reserve My Spot!

I must admit I am surprised. Neither the Federal nor the provincial budgets have been announced yet, but there is a new government funding program to share with you. The FedDev Ontario launched Steel and Aluminum Initiative, a new non-repayable funding program to support steel & aluminum manufacturers hit by the tariff war. But hurry, this is the limited-time opportunity with April 8, 2019 deadline.

Eligibility requirements:

• For-profit firm located in southern Ontario
• Must employ between 10 to 499 full-time employees
• Steel and/or aluminum expenditures must equal to or be greater than 20% of the total cost of goods sold (input cost)
• Must demonstrate plans for projects to enhance productivity or to increase competitiveness by adopting new innovative technologies.

Eligible projects:

• Acquiring, adapting, adopting new technologies (e.g. Equipment & Software)
• Adopting best management practices (e.g. Lean)
• Market development/expansion
• Process re-engineering
• Improving manufacturing capacity
• Technology showcasing and technology demonstration

Reimbursement:

45% of eligible cost up to a maximum of $1 million (minimum request must be $150,000) in non-repayable funding.

Interested in Steel and Aluminum Initiative funding? Here are 3 easy steps to follow.

1. Check the breakdown of the cost of goods sold as per your most recent financial statement or income statement reported to CRA (T2 Schedule 125).

2. Calculate % of steel and/or aluminum cost of the cost of goods sold. Is it over 20%?

3. If so, Check eligibility of your company and your project by submitting eligibility check form at http://www.fgwinc.ca/eligibility.

I just got off the webinar held by Jason Mayers, a CEO of Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster (NGen). He announced that the supercluster will start accepting applications for funding from the industry applicants in the end of March, 2019. The supercluster is finalizing funding conditions with the Federal government but this is what is already known.

1. NGen will reimburse up to 44.4% of a project’s eligible costs.
2. The projects should have a total cost between $1 million and $20 million.
3. Applications for Supercluster projects must have at least three private sector companies. Partnerships with educational institutions is encouraged but is not mandatory.
4. Full requirements and application procedure will be published in a few weeks.
5. Eligible projects must focus on:

• Developing advanced technology solutions that give Canadian manufacturers global competitive advantage
• Adoption of game-changing technology transforming existing manufacturing processes
• Developing new manufacturing capabilities based on the application of advanced technology
• Developing new training programs and tools that support advanced manufacturing

Interested in Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster funding? Here are three easy steps to follow.

1. Check eligibility of your company and your project idea by submitting eligibility check form.

2. Become a member of Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster. There is no membership fee.

3. Stay tuned for the updates from us or the Supercluster on the terms and conditions of funding and the start date of the intake.