Grow Ontario Market Initiative
The Grow Ontario Market Initiative provides funding to primary producers, processors and industry organizations to find and develop domestic or export market opportunities.
Offered by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs
Amount
50% of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of $60,000 per Project for Processor and Primary Producer Recipients; 50% of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of $125,000 per Project for Industry Organization Recipients
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To be eligible to participate in the Initiative, an Applicant will meet the following requirements:
- Be a Person that is:
- a Primary Producer
- a Processor
- doing Aquaculture, but only to the extent they are undertaking international marketing activities
- a Fish or Seafood Processor, but only to the extent they are undertaking international marketing activities, or
- an Industry Organization
- Provide its:
- Canadian Revenue Agency Business Number (CRA BN), or
- Social Insurance Number (SIN), but only if the Applicant has been found eligible to participate in the Initiative and is also eligible to receive an Initiative Payment
- Submit a completed Ministry-approved Application Form to the Ministry in accordance with what is set out under section 4.4 of the Guidelines
- Have a valid and up to date Premises Identification Number (PID) for the business location(s) where the Project is to take place (to register for or update a PID, visit the Provincial Premises Registry)
- If applying as a Primary Producer, have a:
- valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN)
- an Order from the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal exempting the Person from having to have a FBRN, or
- a letter from the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario
- If applying as a beekeeper under Primary Producer, have a valid certificate of registration issued under the Bees Act
- Is undertaking an activity set out in section 4.1.1 of the Guidelines
- Be in compliance with the following for its business operations at the time of applying to the Initiative:
- environmental-related Requirements of Law
- labour-related Requirements of Law
- tax-related Requirements of Law
- material compliance with all other Requirements of Law
- Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a current or former federal public office holder or federal public servant, or if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or that officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act (Canada), the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Canada), the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector (Canada) and the Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post-employment (Canada), as applicable
- Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a member of the House of Commons on the Senate, or, if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or the officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), is permitted under the Parliament of Canada Act (Canada) to receive funding from Canada under the Partnership
- Agrees that any intellectual property rights arising from their Project, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, belongs to the Applicant
- Agrees that Canada and Ontario may, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, publish information about the Applicant, including:
- Project-related information
- the Name of the Applicant
- the amount of funding Canada and Ontario provided
- the outcome of the Project
- Agrees to be bound by the terms, conditions and requirements of the Initiative, as set out in the Minister’s Order, the Guidelines and the Approval Letter
To be eligible to receive an Initiative Payment, a Recipient must:
- be registered with Transfer Payment Ontario
- be registered for doing business with the Government of Ontario with Supply Ontario (to receive Initiative Payments)
Not eligible:
The following activities are ineligible for the Initiative
activities related to the domestic marketing and product development of Aquaculture as well as Fish and Seafood Processing
any activity that is not set out under section 4.1.1 of the Guidelines
Any Applicant or Recipient may be found to be ineligible to participate in the Initiative or have their eligibility to participate in the Initiative revoked if the Applicant or Recipient
owes a debt to Ontario or Canada and does not have a repayment plan with Ontario or Canada, including any agents thereof; or
is not in compliance with any repayment plan with Ontario or Canada, including any agents thereof
About the funding
Processor and Primary Producer Recipients are eligible to receive 50% of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of $60,000.00 (sixty thousand dollars) in funding per Project under the Initiative.
An Industry Organization Recipient is eligible to receive 50% of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of $125,000 (one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars) in funding per Project under the Initiative.
The following activities related to new or expanded domestic (within Canada) and international (outside of Canada) markets are eligible under the Initiative:
- market analysis and planning:
Show all funding details
- third-party advisory services to complete market analysis, life cycle analysis and/or a marketing plan for a new product and/or a new or expanded existing market
- third-party advisory services to investigate the regulatory or certification standards, or requirements needed to access a new market (such as food product labels, preparation of nutritional panels and other required label information for domestic and international markets and trade issues)
- new product development:
- third-party advisory services for new product development activities, including:
- regulatory review for new products
- ingredient, material or packaging sourcing
- formulation development
- scale-up trials
- shelf-life determination
- testing or analysis to verify and complement development process including:
- nutritional, microbial, chemical, allergen or
- sensory/consumer
- package testing to ensure compatibility with product
- labelling development and design for marketing purposes
- labelling development for a new product to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
- marketing products:
- third-party services for implementation of a business or marketing plan to access or expand into a new market, including:
- brand development
- focus group and/or consumer studies
- product demonstrations
- new promotional material development (such as advertisements, brochures, videos, website development/updates, social media posts, tradeshow booth/display development)
- new product marketing campaigns for domestic and international markets
- new sales, marketing and promotional activities or events (such as trade missions, tradeshows, buyer meetings/demonstrations)
- specially produced product samples (not from normal production) for market research, tradeshow, or specific events (such as pilot plant samples made specifically for marketing purposes)
The following costs are eligible for the purposes of the Initiative, provided they were reasonably incurred and directly necessary to complete the Recipient’s Project:
- costs that were incurred after the date that the Project was approved and before the date the Project is to be completed
- costs that reflect the actual costs to the Recipient, less any costs, including taxes, for which the Recipient has received, will receive or is eligible to receive, a rebate, credit or refund, whether or not the Recipient applied for that rebate, credit or refund
- third-party service fees for:
- creative development services
- product development services
- regulatory services
- consumer and marketing analysis
- marketing and sales
- laboratory and diagnostic analysis
- advertisement placement costs or media buys
- one-time tradeshow entrance and exhibiting fees
- shipping costs of marketing materials and product samples
- costs of rental of facilities and rental of equipment for new product development only
- transportation, meal and hotel costs in accordance with Appendix A for Recipient’s staff and third-party service providers
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Development Program: Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream | Grant, Loan | Up to 15% of eligible project costs | Open |
| AgriScience Program – Projects | Grant, In-Kind Support | Up to $5 million per project and $10 million per applicant over the program's duration (2023 to 2028) | Open |
| Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program | Grant, Loan | AAFC contribution normally not exceeding $1 million per project, generally not more than $5 million over 5 years for each applicant | Open |
| Ontario Together Trade Fund | Grant, Loan | Up to $5 million | Open |
