Canadian Government Grant Funding for Small Businesses in Ontario, Canada

Did you know that there are hundreds of Federal and Ontario government funding programs available for small businesses and large corporations? Did you know that there are millions of dollars in government grants available for small businesses in Ontario and other Canadian provinces to expand a business, purchase equipment and software, conduct research and development, expand on export markets, hire and train qualified employees? Find a list of top small business funding programs to learn what your businesses can get or connect with experts in government funding for businesses by clicking a button below.

Canadian Government Grants, Loans and Funding for Small Businesses in Ontario (Small Business Grants) by Purpose

Click on the links below to find the list of available Canadian government grants and loans for small businesses by the purpose of the funding.

Canadian Government Funding Programs for Small Businesses in Ontario by Industry

Click on the links below to find the list of available Canadian government funding programs for small businesses by the industry.

Complete List of Government Grants for Small Businesses in Ontario, Canada

Below are the most popular government grants and loans programs available for small businesses in Ontario, Canada. As you can see each funding program has different eligibility criteria and different purposes. We recommend you to study the program rules carefully before you apply. In order to help you, we included the links on the official pages of the grants & loans programs. Should you have any questions such as what Canadian government funding programs are right for your small business, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 647-800-5006 or fill out free eligibility check form.

Government Funding Directory

Government Funding Program	Eligibility Criteria	Eligible Cost	$ Amount
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy	Individuals Partnerships Private Corporations Canadian non-profits and charities Revenue decline due to Covid-19	Employees Wages	Up to 75% of remuneration to $847 per week per employee
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy	Individuals Partnerships Private Corporations Canadian non-profits and charities Revenue decline due to Covid-19 Forced to shut down by the provincial, regional or municipal governments	Commercial rent (excluding HST) Property taxes Property insurance Interest on commercial mortgages (less any subleasing revenues).	Up to 65% of eligible rent, property tax, property insurance and mortgage interest expenses. Plus up to 25% of the above expenses if the business was forced to shut down. The maximum amount of eligible expenses is $75,000 per month.
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund	An incorporated business, co-operative, partnership or an Indigenous-owned business with 1 to 499 full-time employees Located in Ontario Affected by Covid 19	Capital lease payments for existing equipment and machinery Salaries and benefits Property taxes Utilities Bank charges and interest payments Professional fees Monthly insurance payments Rent Personal protective equipment / safety measures Cleaning expenses expenditures	Up to $60,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits in Southern Ontario that don’t qualify for other types of pandemic-related government assistance.
Busines Scale Up & Productivity	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	Labour Expertise Non-Capital Capital	No-interest, repayable contributions from $500,000 up to $10 million per project
Supercluster Fund	For-profit and not-for-profit organizations that facilitate and fund research and development Projects must be delivered in Canada and the cost incurred in Canada	Administration and Operating Costs Project Costs	Eligible expenses are reimbursed at a maximum rate of 44.4%
Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Ontario, Alberta, BC)	Legal farm business that produces agricultural commodities. Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN) OR eligible exemption for the farm business. Valid Premises Identification (PID) Number	Covers a portion of capital Labour Contractor cost Purchasing or upgrade of equipment ERP or Supply Chain Management software implementation New product development	Up to$350,000
Customs Duty Drawback	Be a Canadian legal entity: sole proprietor, corporation or partnership Import goods that are later exported as-is Import goods to produce other goods for export Destroy imported goods that are obsolete or surplus, or that are manufactured into an item that is obsolete or surplus Paid customs duties on imported goods in the past four years	Customs duty paid on goods imported to Canada	There is no minimum or maximum amount of customs duty drawback
Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)	Located in Eastern ON Minimum 10 employees Minimum 3 years in business Commit to minimum 10 jobs Invest minimum $500,000	Facility Expansion Equipment Software Installation Direct Labour Training Leasehold Improvement	15% of eligible costs up to $1,500,000
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)	Located in Southwestern ON Minimum 10 employees Minimum 3 years in business Commit to minimum 10 jobs Invest minimum $500,000	Facility Expansion Equipment Software Installation Direct Labour Training Leasehold Improvement	15% of eligible costs up to $1,500,000
Canada Ontario Job Grant (COJG)	For-profit business Any size Any industry Must have training needs Training must be from ON trainer Only payroll employees are eligible Foreign workers are not eligible	Training (tuition) fees Books / supplies Examination fees	2/3 to 5/6 of eligible cost up to $10,000 per trainee (no maximum per company)
Yves Landry Foundation’s AIME Global Initiative (AIME Global – Temporarily Unavailable)	Manufacturer Located in Southern or Northern ON Minimum 10 employees Minimum 3 years in business Training may be anywhere in the world	Training (tuition) fees Travel to the training location Labour cost Other training fees	50% of eligible costs up to $50,000
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)	For-profit corporation Maximum 500 employees Must conduct R&D activities	Labour cost Subcontractors cost Professional fees	50%-80% of eligible cost up to $50,000 (extendable to $150,000)
Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit	For-profit corporation Must be Canadian controlled Must conduct R&D activities	Labour cost Material cost Subcontractors cost	35%-68% of eligible cost up to $3,000,000
Investing in Business Innovation	Start-Up Located in Southern ON Able to secure angel of venture financing Must conduct R&D activities	Business development Product development Market development	33% of eligible cost up to $1,000,000
Business Innovation Access Program (BIAP)	For-profit corporation Maximum 500 employees Must engage public college or university in R&D activities	Subcontractors cost (fees of colleges or universities)	75% of eligible costs up to $50,000
NSERC Collaborative R&D Program	For-profit corporation Must engage public college or university, or research institution in R&D activities	Subcontractors cost (fees of colleges, research institutions or universities)	Up to $500,000
Mitacs Accelerate	For-profit corporation Must engage Master or PhD student in research through internship	Salary of an Intern	50% of eligible cost up to $7,500
Sustainable Development Technology Fund	For-profit corporation Must be in clean water, air, soil industries Must develop commercially viable clean technology	Late stage commercialization Technology development Technology demonstration	33%-50% of eligible cost
Agri Innovation Program	For-profit corporation Must be in agriculture or food and beverages industry Must develop new product	Late-stage commercialization Technology or product development Technology or product demonstration	50% of eligible cost up to $10,000,000
MARS Discovery District Investment Accelerator Fund	Start-Up High growth potential Exportable product or service	Business development Product development Labour cost	up to $500,000
OCE SmartStart Seed Fund	Start-Up High growth potential Solid business plan	Business development Product development Labour cost	up to $70,000 but typically $30,000
CanExport Program	For-profit corporation anywhere in Canada Must employ 1-250 employees Minimum annual sales mus be $200,000	Trade shows Trade missions Training Export consulting Export marketing	50% of eligible cost up to $99,999
Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit	For-profit corporation Located in Ontario Must develop interactive digital product	Salary of developers Subcontractors fees	40% of eligible cost up to $100,000
Skills Link	For-profit corporation Must hire 8 youth employees with barriers to work	Salary Training cost	Up to $25,000 per participant
Career Focus (Federal)	For-profit corporation Must hire 8 employees under 30 years old	Salary	Up to $20,000 per participant
Career Focus (Industry Specific)	For-profit corporation Must meet industry criteria Must hire an employee under 30 years old	Salary	35%-80% of eligible cost up to $20,000
Canada Summer Jobs Program (Temporarily Unavailable)	For-profit corporation Maximum 50 employees Must hire an employee under 30 years old for 6-16 weeks	Salary	50% of eligible cost up to $300,000
Ontario Co-Operative Education Tax Credit	For-profit corporation Must hire an intern	Salary	25%-30% of eligible cost up to $3,000
Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit	For-profit corporation Must train an apprentice	Salary	25%-30% of eligible cost up to $5,000 per year for 3 years
TalentEdge Internship and Fellowship Program	For-profit corporation Must hire Master or PhD level intern	Salary	50% of eligible cost up to $10,000 for 4 months
Northern Business Opportunity Program (Northern Ontario Heritage Fund)	Must intend to expand business in Northern ON Must meet industry criteria	Capital construction Leasehold improvements Equipment Training Land servicing Software	50% of eligible cost up to $1,000,000
Northern Ontario Development Program, Business Growth and Competitiveness Stream	For-profit corporation Located in Northern ON Maximum 500 employees	Land servicing Leasehold improvements Machinery, equipment and technology Professional fees Studies and assessments Marketing cost Business planning	33%-50% of eligible cost
Targeted Manufacturing Initiative for Northern Ontario	For-profit corporation Manufacturer Located in Northern ON Maximum 500 employees	Equipment Installation Automation Training	33%-50% of eligible cost

How to Find Right Canadian Government Grants for Business?

As you can see there is a great variety of government funding programs. Government grant funding comes from federal, provincial and local sources, so there is no single source of the information. These programs are not advertised in the mass media. Yet Canadian small business grants and other funding for small business is available for you to help you finance your business growth. Our job as government grant writing professionals is to make you aware of different types of funding for small business. For this reason, we prepared a free Catalog of Government Grants & Loans in Ontario.

Questions About Canadian or Ontarian Government Grants & Loans?

Our primary goal is to make you aware of small business funding grants and other Canadian government funding opportunities. We invite you to discuss your business goals and grant funding opportunities that help you reach those goals. Book a no-obligation call with one of our Canadian Government Funding and Grant Writing Experts.

Other ways to get in touch with us are:

Free Confidential Government Funding Eligibility Form. Fill it out and we will tell you if the Canadian government funding programs listed above are right for you.
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Give us a call at (647) 800-5006