We’re happy to inform that intake is now open for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) and Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF). The programs support projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern and eastern Ontario.
Eligible Expenses
The objective of the programs is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in southwestern and eastern Ontario make investments to:
- Construction and project facility modifications or upgrades, subject to Ontario’s approval
- Site servicing, power service upgrades, etc. required to execute the project
- Equipment and machinery necessary for the successful completion of the project
- One-time labour directly related to project costs
- Costs of specialized expertise required for the project including third-party engineering services, software development, management, etc
- Skills training, including employer-provided training, related to the project
- Permits, inspections and other fees directly attributable to the project
Eligibility Criteria
- Be located in southwestern/eastern Ontario.
- 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 southwestern/eastern Ontario
Funding Amount
Up to 15% of eligible project costs in government loans with forgivable component (grant).