Agri-Food Open for E-Business – Targeted Intake

Amount: Up to $5,000

This targeted application intake features two funding streams:

  1. Bring Your Business Online: Provides a grant of up to $5,000 to eligible organizations/businesses to help establish an online presence.
  2. Develop Online Business Opportunities: Provides cost-share funding for up to 90 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $75,000 to develop e-business opportunities on a larger scale.

Eligibility Criteria (for both streams)

  • Be involved in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors;
  • Be in compliance with all Requirements of Law and agree to remain in compliance with all requirements of Law for the duration of the project;
  • Be a legal entity capable of entering into an agreement with the Province of Ontario;
  • Provide a Canada Revenue Agency Business Number as part of the application process; and
  • Be engaged in the project and be contributing cash towards the project.

Stream 1: Bring Your Business Online

Stream 1 Priorities

  • Agri-food and agri-products businesses develop market channels to retain and/or expand sales with primary objective of bringing products to customers.

 

Eligible Cost

Costs Incurred on or after April 24, 2020 for the following:

  • Development, enhancement and expansion of an online marketing/sales platform (e.g. e-business capability, website, online ordering, overall online presence)
  • Initial or start-up licensing or subscription fees up to six months
  • Domain acquisition
  • Website design and graphic development
  • Marketing (e.g. Search Engine Optimization, web ads, building social media presence)
  • Distribution system/model development
  • Training key personnel on processes
  • Initial development and validation of new operational processes, including creating processes for logistics of delivery through new marketing channels, shipping, delivery, fulfillment, warehousing and related transactions
  • Piloting sales practices and systems
  • Minor facility modifications to address social distancing requirements that are directly related to the project (e.g. curb side pickup for online orders)

Amount

Up to $5,000

Deadline

Projects under Stream 1 must be implemented and completed no later than November 30, 2020

 

Stream 2: Develop Online Business Opportunities

Stream 2 Priorities

  • Projects that create new, expand or enhance e-business capabilities, which includes marketing and sales platforms with the primary objective of bringing products to customers.
  • Projects that create and/or expand new markets and revenue streams.
  • Projects with results that meet broader business needs that are impactful across the sector (i.e. an online e-business platform for multiple sector businesses).
  • Projects that involve partnerships and/or broader industry support are preferred.

Eligible Cost

Costs Incurred on or after April 24, 2020 for the following:

  • Development, enhancement and expansion of an online marketing/sales platform (e.g. e-commerce capability, website, online ordering, overall web presence)
  • Initial or start-up licensing or subscription fees up to six months
  • Domain acquisition
  • Website design and graphic development
  • Marketing (e.g. search engine optimization, web ads, building social media presence)
  • Distribution system/model development
  • Training key personnel on processes
  • Initial development and validation of new operational processes, including creating processes for logistics of delivery through new marketing channels, shipping, delivery, fulfillment, warehousing and related transactions
  • Minor facility modifications to address social distancing requirements that are directly related to the project (e.g. curb side pickup for online orders)
  • Piloting sales practices and systems

Amount

Funding is available for up to 90 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $75,000 per project. Suggested minimum project size under this stream is at least $15,000.

Deadline

Projects under Stream 2 must be implemented and completed no later than September 30, 2022.