Important Updates: Business Scale Up & Productivity Program

We’d like to inform you about some recent changes to the Business Scale Up & Productivity Program. Last Thursday, FedDev announced key updates to the Program, effective immediately:

  • FedDev has moved from continuous intakes to three intakes a year. The deadline for the current intake is November 7, 2023.
  • The Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative is now officially closed.
  • The Program provides 50% of eligible project costs, up from 35%.

About the Program:

The FedDev Ontario Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program provides governmental support for businesses in southern Ontario to drive their scale-up and productivity.

It offers no-interest, repayable contributions.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be located in southern Ontario.
  • Canadian or provincially incorporated businesses.
  • Indigenous organizations such as Indigenous-owned businesses.
  • Co-operatives.
  • 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).
  • Financial capacity to complete the project and repay the contribution in full.
  • A viable project plan with achievable outcomes supported by verifiable cost estimates.

Deadline

FedDev moves from continuous intakes to opening several intakes a year. The deadline for the current intake is November 7, 2023 8:59 PM Eastern Time.

Read more about BSP Program eligible activities, costs and application process here.

Business Funding Highlights: Apply for available grants

As a new fall season is here, we’ve decided to remind you about some of the government grants available for your business. So, here are the highlights of some funding programs:

Equipment Purchasing and Expansion

Skills Training

Software and Hardware Adoption

Research & Development

Funding for Agriculture, Food and Beverage Businesses

Please note that the CanExport program is still on hold form most businesses until further notice. They opened a very short intake for participants of the government-led trade missions.

We hope you’ll find a relevant funding opportunity among these highlights but you can always explore more grants available here.

Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Value Chain Program (EVMP)

Amount: up to $35 million invested in innovative, business-led, collaborative projects that strengthen Canadian capability and content, for integration into Canada’s supply chain for ZEVs.     

Get Started

New Funding for food and beverage processors in Southern Ontario

We’d like to inform you that FoodShift Program‘s intake is open from September 5, 2023 to October 6, 2023.

The FoodShift program invites southern Ontario food and beverage processing organizations to apply for non-repayable funding up to $50K to lead projects focused on clean technology adoption, food waste reduction, or process optimization.

Eligibility Criteria for Applicant:

  • A for-profit private sector enterprise or not-for-profit corporation ready to adopt and integrate proven clean technologies into their operations;
  • Ready to adopt a proven clean technology and/or conduct assessment projects focused on food waste reduction and/or process optimizations;
  • Generating a minimum of $200K in annual revenues; and
  • Incorporated in Canada and located in Southern Ontario.

Eligibility Criteria for Clean Technology Provider:

  • A for-profit private sector enterprise or not-for-profit corporation; and
  • Able to provide a proven clean technology application (at or beyond Technology Readiness Level 8 (TRL-8+) stage of development) and/or consultation service that that meets the environmental and economic needs of an eligible applicant.

Deadline

The intakes will close on October 6, 2023 at 11:59 EDT.

Amount

Successful program recipients will be selected through an open call for applications and will be awarded up to $50K in project-based matching funding.

Growing business in Ontario? Time to apply

We’d like to inform you that Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) and Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)‘s current intake is open from August 17, 2023, to October 5, 2023.

Funds support projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern and eastern Ontario. The programs supports projects that create jobs, encourage innovation, collaboration and cluster development, and attract private sector investment.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be located in Southwestern or Eastern Ontario.
  • For Business Projects:
    • Employ at least 10 people (or 5 if you are in rural Ontario)
    • Commit to creating at least 5 new jobs (or 30% increase for companies with fewer than 15 employees)
    • Be able to provide 3 years of operations/financial statements
    • Be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in eastern Ontario
  • For Community Economic Development Projects:
    • Be led by municipalities, economic development organizations (including sector groups) or consortia
    • Focus on economic and business development and job creation in the community or region by investing in infrastructure or implementing strategies to advance regional economic development priorities
    • Lead to measurable outcomes including private sector investment, growth and job creation
    • Have private sector support
    • Be used for activities that are new to the organization

Amount

Any for-profit business that intends to expand in Southern Ontario outside Greater Toronto and Ottawa is eligible to receive 15% of the expansion budget from the government. The contribution may be in the form of a grant or an interest-free loan.

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Working in forest sector? Apply for renewed IFIT grant

We’d like to inform you that Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) Program has been renewed. The IFIT program helps improve the environmental performance of the forest sector by supporting demonstration and adoption projects that contribute to the decarbonization of industrial processes, as well as the efficient use of resources that generates more value from the same amount of wood.

Eligibility Criteria:

IFIT funding is open to the following applicants:

  1. Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including:
    • for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as companies, industry associations, and research associations
    • Indigenous organizations and groups
  2. Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their departments and agencies where applicable

Deadline

Applications can be submitted within our 4 application windows, detailed below:

  • Window 1: Apply by September 30, 2023 for a decision by February 29, 2024.
  • Window 2: Apply by December 31, 2023 for a decision by May 31, 2024.
  • Window 3: Apply by March 31, 2024 for a decision by August 31, 2024.
  • Window 4: Apply by June 30, 2024 for a decision by November 30, 2024.

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program

Amount: non-repayable contributions of up to $1.4 million of a project’s eligible costs.

Get Started

Update: AMIC Grant for manufacturers extended deadline

We’d like to inform you that Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness program has extended its deadline to September 14, 2023.

About AMIC grant for expanding manufacturers:

The program aims to provide financial support to Ontario-based advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. It will facilitate investments in capital equipment, technology adoption and skills development.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Have at least three years of operations/financial statements.
  • Employ at least 10 people.
  • Commit to creating at least five new jobs and/or upskilled current jobs.
  • Be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in Ontario.

Amount

Types of support available:

1) Loans

Up to 15% of funding, interest-free during the project period (up to four years). If you achieve your investment and job or upskilling targets, up to 30% of the loan may be forgiven.

2) Grants

Grants are available only for specific circumstances, up to 15% to a maximum of $500K.

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Funding for Meat Processing Equipment will soon be available

We’d like to inform you that the Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative will accept applications starting August 31, 2023. The program provides funding towards upgrades of meat processing equipment to improve the productivity of the operations.

Eligibility Criteria

Full program eligibility criteria will be provided when the application intake launches on August 31, 2023. Applications that meet eligibility criteria will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis to receive cost-share funding.

Amount

Each successful applicant is eligible to receive up to $150K in cost-share funding to help implement measures that will result in increased meat processing capacity within their meat plants or abattoirs.

Deadline

Applications open on August 31, 2023, and will remain open until January 31, 2024 or until the initiative is fully subscribed, whichever comes first. Eligible project costs can be incurred as of July 26, 2023 and eligible projects must be completed with equipment delivered by March 1, 2024. Recipients will have until June 28, 2024 to have equipment installed.

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program in STEM-related fields

$25,000

Get Started

Business Scale-up and Productivity Program is open in British Columbia

We’d like to remind you that Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program is open for applications.

  • In British Columbia. The program will be accepting applications from July 14 until September 22, 2023.
  • In Ontario, Quebec, Prairies and Atlantic Canada this program accepts applications year-round.

BSP program provides no-interest, repayable funding to high-growth firms to:

  • scale up and expand;
  • demonstrate and commercialize new technologies;
  • improve productivity; and,
  • enter or grow in international markets.

Amount

Up to 50% of eligible project costs may be requested from the government. The rest of the total project funding is required from confirmed non-government sources. All non-government sources must be confirmed at the time of application and after project approval.

Eligible Costs

Incremental costs that are essential to the project. For example:

  • capital costs (equipment, machinery)
  • labour (wages, benefits)
  • marketing
  • costs related to intellectual property
  • technology development and commercial demonstrations
  • professional, advisory, technical services

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Costs for DCC Grant Updated

We’d like to inform you that eligible costs for the Digitalization Competence Centre (DCC) grant have been updated. Following the recent update, projects focused on helping clients select a suitable system for their business are now eligible DMAP projects.

Consultant-led activities, eligible for the DCC grant, now can include for instance, developing functional requirements, identifying vendors, and where applicable, helping clients prepare an RFP and evaluate vendor bids.

Note about DMAP stream of DCC program:

The Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP) program supports Ontario SMEs to better understand their organization’s technology needs, guide their digital transformation decision-making, and optimize their technology investments. Through this program, SMEs work with a Digital Adoption Consultant to generate a Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan tailored specifically to their organization’s digital needs.

Amount

50% (maximum) of total eligible project costs, up to $15K. Once the project is completed you will be eligible to apply for funding up to $150K to implement the selected system.

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Update: CanExport Grant Temporarily Paused

We’d like to inform you that CanExport SME Grant Program has been put on pause as of June 19, 2023. We’ll be covering all the updates on the program and its reopening to keep you timely informed and prepared.

About CanExport Grant:
CanExport Grant Funding Program provides government funding to small to medium-sized Canadian businesses for exporting their business marketing (digital including) and reimburses 50% of selected export marketing cost to a maximum of $50K.

CanExport Grant covers such export marketing costs as trade show and trade mission cost, digital and online advertising to the foreign customers, translation cost, cost of shipping samples, export market research and business planning and more. The main goal of the Program is to support those who export business in Canada.

When to plan your next international marketing activities?

While CanExport Grant Funding Program has been regularly put on hold, it’s expected to reopen in the fall or early winter. So, you should still plan your international market expansion activities, but for later this year.

Need help with this or other government funding programs but don’t know where to start or how to prepare an application?

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

The Health, Safety and Mental Health Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Protection and Risk Resilience: Plant Health Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Protection and Risk Resilience: Plant Health Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Protection and Risk Resilience: One Health, Food Safety and Animal Health Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Indigenous Agriculture and Food Development and Growth Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Business Assessment Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Productivity Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

Get Started

The Labour: Attracting and Growing the Agri-Food Workforce Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Supply Chain Resiliency Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Facilitating Interprovincial Trade of Regulated Product Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Markets Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Interprovincial Research Collaboration Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Science, Research, Innovation and Commercialization Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Environmental Stewardship Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Greenhouse Gas Emissions-Reducing and Carbon Sequestration for Primary Producers Designated Program

Deadline: the Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Designated Program

Deadline: the designated Program will end on March 31, 2028.

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Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program: Industrial Facility track

Amount: up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $10 million per proposal

Get Started