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.

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

• Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (Deadline: October 5, 2023)
• Eastern Ontario Development Fund (Deadline: October 5, 2023)
• Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
• CME Technology Investment Program (Temporarily On Hold but accepts requests for interest)

Skills Training

• Canada-Ontario Job Grant
• Yves Landry Foundation

Software and Hardware Adoption

• Canada Digital Adoption Program
• Digital Competence Centre Program

Research & Development

• Scientific Research & Experimental Development Tax Credit
• Industrial Research Assistance Program
  

Funding for Agriculture, Food and Beverage Businesses

• Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative
• Grow Ontario Market Initiative
• Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative

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.

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

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

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