Thunder Bay businesses have a massive Northern Advantage: access to exclusive funding streams like NOHFC and FedNor that offer significantly higher grant-to-loan ratios than Southern Ontario programs. We are specifically targeting mandates for Mining Hub Infrastructure and Clinical Innovation.
NOHFC: Invest North Program (Innovation & Expansion)
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is the engine of Thunder Bay’s industrial growth. We target the Innovation Stream to fund up to 50% of eligible project costs (max $1M). Whether you are a manufacturing shop in the Intercity area adopting robotic welding or a tech firm developing remote-sensing tools for mining, we help you secure the non-repayable cash that anchors your operations in the North.
FedNor: Regional Growth Through Innovation Fund (REGI)
FedNor’s REGI fund is critical for local firms scaling their production for international markets. This program prioritizes Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Technology. We help you secure repayable contributions for projects that integrate Industry 4.0 systems into your production lines or develop new products for the aerospace and mining sectors, reinforcing Thunder Bay’s status as a high-tech manufacturing leader.
Indigenous Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF)
With Thunder Bay serving as the gateway to the Ring of Fire, this intake of the CMIF Indigenous Grants is a high-priority stream. We help local partnerships and service providers secure funding for capacity building and infrastructure planning. This program is essential for projects involving clean energy transmission or all-weather road feasibility, ensuring Indigenous-led growth is at the center of the region’s mineral development.
SR&ED Tax Credit (Health Sciences & Mining R&D)
Innovation in Thunder Bay is driven by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) and local engineering firms. The SR&ED tax credit is your foundation for recovering R&D costs. Whether you are solving technological uncertainties in medical imaging software or custom mining equipment design, we help you recover up to 35% of qualified expenditures, turning your technical risks into predictable, reinvestable cash flow.
