Business Funding Opportunities

The Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program provides Cost-Share funding to support activities that create strong rural businesses in Ontario by funding projects that:

• address barriers to economic development
• build capacity to attract, retain and expand businesses
• better position rural businesses to attract or retain investment
• support jobs being attracted and retained in rural businesses

Small brick and mortar businesses in rural Ontario with 1 to 20 employees can apply through the business development stream. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, to a maximum of $10,000. Projects will enhance and support rural businesses in Ontario. Eligible project types include: 

• Increasing competitiveness through market diversification or product diversification
• Enhancing cyber security
• Increasing readiness for business success (succession planning)
• Increasing accessibility infrastructure

The Canada Digital Adoption Program gives up to $100,000 in interest free loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement the technologies that can propel your business forward.

You are eligible to apply if you have completed a digital adoption plan:

• As part of CDAP and have received your grant payment OR
• Under another recognized digital adoption program and submitted it to CDAP

Eligible technologies include but are not limited to:

• Acquiring IT equipment
• Installation of new technologies
• Updating and/or expanding IT equipment
• Training staff on onboarded technologies
• Materials and support services directly related to onboarding the technology
• Further advisory services on your digital adoption plan

If you're a Canadian incorporated SME, start-up company, or academic research institute, the Fast-Track to Financing Program can get you a contribution of up to $25,000 for the cost of an external consultant or other service provider that will help develop a business or commercialization plan.

With the Access to Talent program, Canadian SMEs or start-up companies can receive up to 40% of the cost of a new employee’s salary to a maximum of $75,000 in order to carry out a project that supports the development of a natural product or technology.

Eligible positions include but are not limited to:

• Product or technology development
• Business development
• Regulatory strategy and/or collecting necessary data for regulatory submissions
• Product or technology scale-up
• Marketing or sales strategy
• Fundraising to support the growth of the product or technology

Apply to the Starter Company Plus receive support through one-on-one guidance from a Small Business Enterprise Centre Advisor, participate in workshops, seminars, or networking events, or talk with a mentor with experience in starting, expanding, or buying a small business. Additionally, a grant of up to $5,000 is available.

These services and grant are available if you want to start a new company, expand an existing company or buy a business in Ontario. To qualify for a grant, you must be able to make a contribution in cash or in kind. It has to be for least 25% of the grant amount. Apply through a Small Business Enterprise Centre.

The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders. The maximum loan amount for a borrower is $1.15 million.

• Up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for term loans for any one borrower, of which no more than $500,000 can be used for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment and of that amount, a maximum of $150,000 could be used for intangible assets and working capital costs.
• Up to a maximum of $150,000 for lines of credit.

Financial institutions deliver the program and are solely responsible for approving the loan. For more information download their PDF pamphlet or click here to find a lender near you.

The Small Business Program, financed through Save on Energy, provides a free on-site assessment to help small business owners identify energy-efficient opportunities, with eligible lighting and non-lighting upgrades covered at no cost up to a specified limit. The program is designed to help small businesses make free, turn-key equipment improvements that reduce energy consumption, enhance employee productivity and lead to a better customer experience. You can receive:

• Up to $3,000 for eligible energy-efficient lighting upgrades
• Up to $2,500 for eligible energy-efficient non-lighting upgrades

With financial support for a technology innovation, funded through NRC IRAP, get a non-repayable contribution to develop, adopt or adapt new or improved technologies at any stage of innovation. You may be eligible if the following applies:

• You are an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized business in Canada
• You have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
• You plan to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada

The Accelerator Centre gives up to $30,000 in matching funds, 7-12 months of mentorship and access to market research and investors to start or grow your technology business.

A federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-cost cash advances. Under the Advance Payments Program, the following items are applicable:

• Access up to $1,000,000 in total advances based on the value of the eligible agricultural products you will produce or that you have in storage.
• The Government of Canada pays the interest on the first $100,000 of your advance (the first $250,000 for 2024 and 2025).
• Up to 18 months to fully repay the advance for most commodities (up to 24 months for cattle and bison).

With the AgriAssurance program, get up to $50,000 to implement third-party assurance certification projects that will help your company address and support the adoption of assurance systems and tools to make verifiable claims in order to meet market requirements. You may be eligible if the following applies:

• You are a for-profit organization (an organization that exists to make a profit)
• You operate in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products industry including the fish and seafood industry
• You are directly involved in growing, harvesting, processing, or otherwise transforming or consolidating your products
• Your project is aimed at meeting actual market-specific certification requirements (support under this component is only provided for initial certifications, not subsequent renewals)
• You have up to 500 full-time equivalent employees
• Your annual revenues don't exceed $100 million
• You are a legal entity capable of entering into legal binding agreements

Under the AgriDiversity program, your not-for-profit organization can get up to $200,000 per year or a maximum of $1 million over 5 years for to strengthen Canada's agriculture sector that help under-represented groups (women, youth, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and official language minority communities) pursue entrepreneurship, leadership and careers in agriculture and agri-food.You may be eligible if the following applies:

• You are a not-for-profit (Organizations that operate solely for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure or recreation, or any other purpose except profit.)
• You are an organization involved in providing education or developing educational materials or tools.
• You demonstrate the ability to deliver a national and/or agriculture and agri-food sector-wide project that includes, but is not limited to:
• Participation of relevant industry stakeholders in the project development and/or implementation
• The ability to implement the project nationally
• Support and buy-in from relevant industry stakeholders in the proposed project through support letters
• You are a legal entity capable of entering into legal binding agreements

Under the AgriInnovate program, get up to $10 million in repayable contributions to cover 50% of the cost of projects that aim to accelerate demonstration, commercialization and/or adoption of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase agri-sector competitiveness and sustainability. You may be eligible if your activity(ies) are of the following nature and type:

• Commercialization of innovative agricultural technologies or processes
• Demonstration of innovative agricultural, agri-food or agri-based technologies or processes where all necessary testing and piloting has been completed and the innovation is ready for you to commercialize. The demonstration must involve one or more of the following:
• Production of samples for market validation
• Creation of a reference or showcase site for pre-commercial demonstration
• Adoption and significant adaptation of commercially ready innovative technologies or processes to the applicant's agriculture or agri-food operations

AgriInvest is a self-managed producer-government savings account designed to help you manage small income declines and make investments to manage risk and improve market income. Each year, you can deposit up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales to your AgriInvest account and receive a matching government contribution on 1% of your Allowable Net Sales. You may be eligible if the following applies:

• You farm in Canada
• You file an income tax return reporting farming income (loss) to the Canada Revenue Agency by the final filing deadline for the program yearFootnote1
• You file an AgriInvest form reporting sales and purchases of allowable commodities by the final deadline for the program year

AgriStability protects Canadian producers against large declines in farming income for reasons such as production loss, increased costs, and market conditions. You may receive a payment if your production margin in the current year falls below your historical reference margin by more than 30%. The program covers 80% of the loss for every dollar below the threshold.

If your export-ready company features products from the agriculture and agri-food sectors, the Canadian Pavilion Program can give you funding to offset the cost of booth prices on a show-by-show basis when you exhibit at trade shows.

• Streamlined access to financial support
• Customizable turn-key booth in Canada Pavilion events
• Focus on new to market, first-time exhibitors, and innovative products
• Priority will be given to small and medium size exporters

The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders. The maximum loan amount for a borrower is $1.15 million:

• Up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for term loans for any one borrower, of which no more than $500,000 can be used for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment and of that amount, a maximum of $150,000 could be used for intangible assets and working capital costs.
• Up to a maximum of $150,000 for lines of credit.

The Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) program is a a loan-guarantee program designed to increase the availability of loans to farmers and agricultural co-operatives. Farmers can use an agriculture loan to establish, improve, and develop farms, while agricultural co-operatives may also access loans to process, distribute, or market the products of farming. The program aims to:

• help lenders incorporate CALA Program loans into their normal lending practice

• provide a government guarantee on eligible loans to farmers and agricultural co-operatives

• support farmers in accessing agricultural credit to grow their operations

Under this farm financing program, the federal government guarantees, to the lender, repayment of 95% of a net loss on an eligible loan issued.

The Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities program aims to support the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector by helping businesses capitalize on new opportunities, develop innovative ideas, products, or markets, and address emerging industry challenges. It also seeks to find and test solutions to ongoing issues, enabling the sector to adapt and remain competitive.

• Maximum funding will not exceed $1 million and will not be more than $5 million over a five year period for each applicant

New to the agriculture and food industry? Want to start your own business? Or already have a business? Turn your vision into a thriving reality with the Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Financing Starter Loan. If you’ve started an agriculture, agribusiness or food and beverage-related business, this loan product could be for you!

• Eligibility starts at 18 years of age
• Could receive up to $150,000
• If you’re 25 years or older:
  • new business or have started your business within the last three years
  • most recent revenue (individual and corporate combined) must be $50,000 or less
• Special 1- to 10-year fixed rates available
• No loan processing fees, renewal or conversion fees

Take the next step in your agricultural career with customized financing through the Farm Credit Canada Young Farmer Loan. If you’re a qualified producer under 40, purchase a farm or agriculture-related assets of up to $2,000,000 – even with limited credit experience. This loan features:

• Purchase agriculture related assets for up to 18 months
• No loan processing fees
• Preferential rates available

Receive funding and support for research and development needs in the greenhouse industry. The Greenhouse Technology Network creates collaborative opportunities between greenhouse and technology businesses alongside research institutions are created to advance development and adoption of new technologies.

• Eligible projects will support acceleration, development, commercialization, or adoption of technologies related to indoor production of plants.

• Eligible technologies will have the potential to lower operating costs, environmental impacts, or increase overall competitiveness of greenhouse businesses

• Eligible technologies may be at any stage of development when the project begins

• Eligible technologies may relate to one or more crops that are (or could be) produced in a controlled environment setting

The Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative helps primary producers and processors address local labour force challenges in the agri-food sector with pilot projects that implement:

• innovative attraction strategies
• recruitment strategies
• retention strategies

Eligible applicants could get 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $40,000 in funding for a project under the Initiative. For industry organizations or collaborations between 2 or more businesses, participants could get up to 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $100,000 in funding for a project under the initiative.

The Resilient Agricultural Landscape program provides funding to support Ontario farmers in making their agricultural lands more productive and resilient. The Program provides funding to support projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon. Projects will focus on:

• Natural Grassland Establishment

• Perennial Biomass Crops

• Perennial Warm Season Pastures

• Reduced Tillage

• Tree & Shrub Planting

• Water Retention Features

• Wetlands

The Special Provisions for Financial Difficulties program offers Ontario farmers who are experiencing financial difficulty the chance to qualify to access financial advisory services to complete a Farm Financial Analysis. The Farm Financial Analysis:

• provides a review of your farm business’ past financial performance

• provides an analysis of the current business climate

• develops objectives and identifies options to meet profitability and sustainability goals.

A farm business’s eligibility under the financial difficulty provision will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Documentation supporting financial difficulty must be provided with the application. Approved applicants may receive a one-time funding of 100% of cost-share, up to a maximum of $5,650, upon completion of a Farm Financial Analysis (FFA).

The Save on Energy Agricultural Initiatives Retrofit Program aims to support agricultural organizations by providing funding for a variety of energy efficiency projects and incentives. Currently, the following incentives are available for businesses in the agricultural sector:

• LED grow lights and advanced lighting controls
• Dual and natural exhaust vents
• High-efficiency ventilation exhaust fans – receive up to a maximum of $500 per fan
• Recirculation ventilation fans – receive a high-volume, low-speed fan for up to $4,820 per fan
• Photocells and timers for lighting controls – receive up to $360 per timer and photocell controller combination

The Wine Sector Support Program (WSSP) provides short-term financial support to licensed Canadian wineries as they adapt to ongoing and emerging challenges that impact financial resilience and competitiveness of the wine industry. The program will provide non-repayable grants to wine licensees in Canada based on their production of bulk wine fermented in Canada from domestic and/or imported primary agricultural products.

The Regional Development Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream program provides financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ontario. It will provide investments in capital equipment, technology adoption or skills development. Application deadline is April 24, 2025. Funding is available up to 15% of eligible project costs with loan and grant options available:

• Loans: Up to 15% of funding to a maximum of $5 million, interest free during the project period (up to four years). If a business achieves their investment and job or upskilling targets, up to 30% of the loan (to a maximum of $500,000) may be forgiven.
• Grants: Available only for specific circumstances, up to 15% to a maximum:
  • $500,000 for small companies located in rural communities
  • $1.5 million for strategic projects that are foreign direct investments or from companies competing against other jurisdictions or companies with significant reshoring projects.

Save on Energy provides various programs, services, and incentives for industrial businesses to implement energy-efficiency measures.

The Site Readiness program provides financial support to property owners to complete site preparatory work for an eligible industrial property. Applicants can receive reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $25,000 per application, upon completion of the program. Applications can be received at any time.

Community Futures Essex County offers customized loans and financing to new and expanding businesses located in Essex County, including:

• Business loans up to $150,000, with potential funding up to $300,000 under certain conditions
• Microloans up to $10,000 for small-scale business needs
• Flexible repayment terms and covenants
• No penalty fees

Offered through the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), the Boost Your Business Technology program provides support to small and medium Canadian-owned businesses (SMEs), such as small manufacturing and food processing operations, to adopt new technologies. The grant will cover up to:

• $15,000 to develop a Digital Adoption Plan
• $100,000 in 0% interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement your plan
• $7,300 to hire a skilled youth to implement the technologies that can propel your business forward

With CanExports SMEs, get a contribution of up to $50,000 to cover up to 50% of costs related to developing and expanding your e-commerce presence, attending virtual events, applying for certification and intellectual property protection in international markets, search engine optimization, and more.

You may be eligible if the following applies:

• You are for-profit
• You are an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP) or cooperative
• You have an active Canada Revenue Agency business number
• You employ fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees
• You have $100,000 to $100 million in declared revenue in Canada during its past fiscal year (or 12 months for quarterly filers)

Digital Main Street delivers programs and services that help main street businesses achieve digital transformation. The program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and a team of highly trained recent graduates who help main street businesses grow and manage their business through the adoption of digital tools and technology.

Offered through the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), the Grow Your Business Online program provides a micro-grant of up to $2,400 with costs related to adopting digital technologies. The grant supports small and medium sized enterprises:

• Get online

• Increase sales

• Adopt security software

• Connect with customers

• Improve social media marketing

• Improve user experience for online customers

Receive up to $15K in support to develop a custom Digital Modernization & Adoption Plan (DMAP) with a Digital Adoption Consultant tailored specifically to your organization’s digital needs. Best suited for Ontario-based for-profit SMEs with between 1-499 employees and those looking to understand their digital needs and adopt and implement digital technologies to grow their company.

Through the Retail Modernization Program, receive up to $5K in support to adopt and implement digital technologies, hardware and software. Best suited for:

• Minimum 1 year in business with at least $100K of annual revenue  
• Direct-to-Consumer business with a physical storefront (i.e., retail, restaurants & food, professional services such as hairstyling, florists, etc.)   
• Ontario-based-for-profit business with between 1-50 employees

First-come-first served model, while funds lat. 

The Technology Demonstration program allows businesses to receive up to $100K in support to implement DMAP recommendations for your digital transformation. Best suited for: 

• SMEs with at least $500K of annual revenue in one of the last three tax years 
• SMEs who have completed a DMAP project and are looking to adopt and implement the digital technology laid out in the DMAP 
• Ontario-based for-profit SMEs with between 1-499 employees 

WETech Alliance's I.D.E.A Fund will provide specialized industry expertise to develop growth plans and related strategies in areas such as talent attraction, raising follow-on investment, product development and quantification of product benefits/market value propositions, commercialization of intellectual property, and market diversification.

• Each RIC will distribute up to a maximum of $20,000 in matching seed funding to select innovative businesses in various sectors

Through Boundless Accelerator's Rhyze Up! program, applicants are eligible for up to $10,000 to help advance or up-scale their business. You will also gain access to 15 hours' worth of entrepreneur mentorship from industry specialists. Apply to this grant if you are a woman led or co-founded business that has a plan for scaling up.

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses for economic development in southwestern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern and southwestern Ontario make investments to:

• grow their businesses

• improve productivity

• invest in innovation and skills development

• pursue new markets

• generate broad positive regional economic impact

• create new good, sustainable jobs

Funding is available up to 15% of eligible project costs with loan and grant options available:

• Loans: Up to 15% of funding to a maximum of $5 million, interest free during the project period (up to four years). If a business achieves their investment and job or upskilling targets, up to 30% of the loan (to a maximum of $500,000) may be forgiven.

• Grants: Available only for specific circumstances, up to 15% to a maximum:

  • $500,000 for small companies located in rural communities

  • $1.5 million for strategic projects that are foreign direct investments or from companies competing against other jurisdictions or companies with significant reshoring projects.

Through the Strategic Innovation Fund, receive a contribution of up to 50% of eligible expenses to support the expansion or material improvement of existing industrial or technological facilities, or projects.

The Canada-Ontario Job Grant program provides funding to help businesses train their employees and update their skills. This helps employers ensure their workforce has the right skills to adapt to a changing economy. The grant lets employers choose who to train, and what skills to focus on to address their needs. Employers can use the grant to:

• train existing employees to upgrade their skills

• train new hires, whether currently employed elsewhere or unemployed

Employers and the government share the costs of the training. An approved third-party training provider must deliver the training. The program supports eligible training costs up to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee, with additional flexibility for small employers.

If your business hires co-op students, you may be eligible for a refundable tax credit of 30% to a maximum of $3,000 per placement under the Co-Operative Education Tax Credit program.

With the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital Wage Subsidy program, get a wage subsidy to cover up to 50% of the costs of a work term placement with a maximum of $5,000 or 70% of the costs with a maximum of $7,000 for underrepresented students, that provides post-secondary students with digital learning , with maximum coverage for first-year students or those in under-represented groups.

Futurpreneur Canada makes it easier for aspiring young business owners to secure financing. And we’ve partnered with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to extend our support to you even further. We offer collateral-free loans at better interest rates than most banks. But we can’t do it alone. We’re able to finance up to $20,000 per business. If you need more money, BDC may provide up to $40,000.