Ontario Business Grants: What’s Available and How to Apply

If you own or lease a property in Uptown Waterloo, you may be eligible for a grant to support renovation projects through the Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) helps make uptown a more vibrant and welcoming place. Funding helps support commercial improvements, heritage preservation, environmental sustainability and community accessibility.

The Workforce Development Program covers salaries/wages and the employer’s portion of Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs) for a limited-term 52-week internship position. It is open to businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations located in Northern Ontario that have been in operation for at least one year and have at least one full-time employee.

The Winery Agri-Tourism Economic Relief Grant will help eligible Ontario wineries and cideries continue to grow their operations, create new jobs, and attract more visitors to rural Ontario.

Summer Company is an amazing opportunity for young entrepreneurs to run their own business over Summer. Participants can expect to receive:

start-up money to kick-off a new summer business
advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help get the business up and running
Learning how to run your own student business is one of the best summer jobs you can have. You get to be your own boss while learning what it takes to manage a business. You’ll develop skills in areas such as sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management, networking and more

The Starter Company Plus (SCP) Program is for business owners operating less than 5 years (market ready and ready to sell), ready to expand (hiring employees, contractors, or getting a location), or buying a business in Waterloo Region.

The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wine Support Program provides funding to help wineries grow their business and increase their VQA wine sales at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

Ce programme fait partie de l’ensemble des programmes des arts francophones, dont l’objectif est de soutenir la vitalité du secteur artistique francophone en Ontario.
Le programme appuie les pratiques en arts visuels et en métiers d’art au moyen de subventions aux artistes, aux commissaires, aux groupes ad hoc, aux collectifs et aux organismes francophones de l’Ontario.

Toronto Arts Council’s Visual Artists Program: Creation provides support to visual artists who have a professional independent art practice for the creation/production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funds are intended to cover direct costs of creation/production, and materials.

The program supports professional Ontario-based visual artists to create new work. The program aims to reflect the range of artistic practices in the visual arts, and to support excellence, regional activity, diverse artists and communities.

The purpose of the grant is to to improve appearance of streetscape and buildings, and conserve heritage features. City and UpTown BIA grants are matched to funding from the applicant. Heritage designation grant does not require matching funds

The Ontario government established the Trillium Book Award in 1987 to recognize excellence, support marketing and foster increased public awareness of the quality and diversity of Ontario writers and writing.
The award given to the author of each winning book is $20,000 and their publishers receive $2,500 for the marketing and promotion of the titles.

This program supports touring and circulation by Ontario artists, arts groups and arts organizations for audiences across Ontario, Canada and internationally. Grants fund touring presentations and exhibitions in all artistic practices funded by OAC.

The Indigenous Arts Projects program is an annual multi-disciplinary project grant specifically for Indigenous artists, collectives and organizations. For the purpose of this program, “Indigenous” refers to people who self-define as a First Nations (Status or Non-status), Inuit, or Métis person of Canada. TAC recognizes Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of what is now known as Toronto, which has great historical and cultural significance as a place for ceremony, gathering, trade, and exchange. This program is designed to increase participation in and access to Toronto Arts Council funding by Indigenous artists, while increasing the creation and presentation of high-quality Indigenous art in the City. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.

The program recognizes a diverse range of art practices. You may apply in one of four categories described below. Grants awarded may be less than the full amount requested. With the exception of the Project Development and Creation categories, TAC will not fund 100% of a project: applicants must indicate other revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services.

The Dance Projects program provides funding to professional dance artists, organizations and collectives for the creation, production and presentation of dance works, and other projects that support the development of professional dance in Toronto. The program recognizes a diversity of dance practices. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.

The program supports professional theatrical exploration, creation, development, production and presentation, regardless of theatrical tradition, as well as initiatives that benefit the Ontario professional theatre community.

Le programme soutient la création, l’exploration, le développement, la production et la présentation d’œuvres dramatiques de langue française en Ontario. Le programme a trois catégories :

We fund high-impact climate solutions to create low-carbon, equitable cities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

Providing funding and guidance through the Technology Demonstration Program and Retail Modernization Project Grant, helping companies test and implement new digital tools, equipment and processes.
Receive up to $50K in support to implement DMAP recommendations for your digital transformation.

As TechAlliance takes bold steps towards equitable growth, we continue to unlock opportunities for some of Canada’s most promising startups and fastest-growing innovation companies with the i.d.e.a. Fund™ to foster a vibrant, inclusive and green ecosystem.

In Cohort 3, we will distribute up to a maximum of $20,000 in matching seed funding and up to 30 hours of expertise from our Venture Growth team to select innovative businesses in various sectors.

The OVIN Talent Development Internship Program (OVIN-TIP) provides support for current college and university students and recent undergraduate or Master’s graduates, to work on industry-driven research and development projects related to automotive and smart mobility technology such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies, Electric Vehicles (EV), battery technologies the metallurgical (metal & mining) sector and other related areas. Companies can tap into world-class talent to strengthen their capacity to develop new products, services, and processes, while interns receive hands-on industry experience and mentorship opportunities in areas such as software and hardware development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

The OVIN Talent Development Fellowship Program (OVIN-TFP) provides support for PhD graduates and post-doctoral fellows, to work on industry-driven research and development projects related to automotive and smart mobility technology such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies, Electric Vehicles (EV), battery technologies the metallurgical (metal & mining) sector and other related areas. Companies can tap into world-class talent to strengthen their capacity to develop new products, services, and processes, while fellows receive hands-on industry experience and mentorship opportunities in areas such as software and hardware development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

The Talent Development – Internship Program (TDI) provides support for recent undergraduate or Master’s graduates, to work on industry- driven projects related to the six CIT Critical Technology areas: 5G and advanced networks, AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Robotics, in any one of the four key sector areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Construction, Mining. Companies can tap into world-class talent coming out of Ontario’s publicly funded post-secondary institutions and strengthen their capacity to develop new products, services and processes, while interns receive hands-on industry experience in areas such as software and hardware development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

Innovation Factory’s Synapse Competition is Ontario’s premier life science pitch competition. Designed to help move your innovative life science products and services out of the lab and into the market, the competition pairs innovators with business and entrepreneurship students, and provides the training, mentorship, and resources to be successful.

This program supports agriculture and food-related businesses in Northern Ontario to develop new products, improve productivity, and adopt clean technologies.

The StART Partnership Program provides support and up to $70,000 in funding for large-scale projects that support the program’s mission to revitalize and engage communities through mural, street, and graffiti art.

The Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program (SFEP) provides for-profit innovative companies with non-repayable funding to support projects that promote business growth and market expansion and are critical for the development and commercialization of new innovations.

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario.

Southern Ontario Pharmaceutical & Health Innovation Ecosystem (SOPHIE) Program brings together Innovation Factory’s commercialization services with the Synapse Life Science Consortium’s strategic network to leverage access to Hamilton’s unique life sciences capabilities and research expertise. This funding will support collaborative projects for Ontario-based life science firms in the later stages of commercialization and in need of financing to secure technology validation and first sale.

The Small Distillery Program provides grant payments to help Ontario distilleries grow their operations. Payments are based on production of spirits.

The Small Cidery Program provides grant payments to help Ontario cideries grow their operations. Payments are based on sales of alcoholic cider.

Intended to provide financial incentive to stimulate new investment in small businesses in the targeted sectors for the purposes of expanding and diversifying the local economy.
Consists of a grant program, whereby new or existing businesses that are expanding will be eligible to receive a grant for a percentage of the tax increment generated from the investments made in the development or redevelopment of the building or property in conformity with this Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

The Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream offers funding to organizations for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training, or retaining workers, including apprentices, to drive Ontario’s economic growth.

This program supports Ontario-based Indigenous arts professionals and arts professionals of colour, or ad hoc groups and collectives made up of Indigenous arts professionals or arts professionals of colour for professional development and skill-building opportunities that advance applicants’ work and careers.

As part of the broader Critical Industrial Technologies initiative, the Sector Adoption (SA) Program is a challenge based multi-partner program that drives significant impact and advancement of a whole sector.

The Save on Energy XLerate Program is a streamlined, pay-for-performance initiative that provides organizations across Ontario in the industrial, municipal, institutional, and healthcare sectors with a simplified approach to undertaking large-scale energy-efficiency projects. This program is supported by the Ontario government.

Get ahead with energy management training for your business! Save on Energy offers incentives of up to 50 percent for a range of industry-leading training courses for energy professionals.

Save on Energy has expanded its Energy Management program offering for commercial, institutional and industrial facilities.
EEM is a tailored energy management offering based on the unique business needs of your organization. It offers the following paths to help facilities save energy and achieve sustainability goals.

We help small businesses across Ontario make equipment improvements to reduce their energy consumption.
The Small Business Program offers turn-key, direct installation services for eligible lighting and non-lighting upgrades to qualifying small businesses at no cost.

We help businesses by providing financial incentives to upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment that can reduce energy bills, lower carbon footprints and enhance staff comfort.
Projects that achieve sustainable, measurable reductions in electricity use may be eligible for the Save on Energy Retrofit Program.

Got a smart thermostat? Get paid to reduce your energy use and help out Ontario’s grid.
Participants allow brief, time-limited smart thermostat adjustments during periods of peak electricity demand on the hottest summer days.

Save on Energy’s Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) program is designed to help owners, operators and managers of commercial and institutional buildings in Ontario improve their energy management.
The EBCx program offers financial incentives to commercial building owners to hire qualified commissioning providers to undertake building recommissioning at their facilities, helping them realize energy savings from improved facility operations and maintenance (O&M) business practices.

The Energy Performance Program (EPP) rewards customers who are able to make behavioural and operational changes that support capital investment projects, enabling them to grow their energy savings year over year.

Commercial buildings in Ottawa and Toronto can receive direct installation and instant discounts on energy-saving equipment upgrades for lasting benefits.
The Save on Energy BizEnergySaver program is designed to help industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI), and multi-residential building owners and operators make equipment improvements to reduce their energy consumption.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

RMP: Grains and Oilseeds helps Ontario producers offset losses caused by low commodity prices and rising production costs. Payments are made if a crop’s market prices fall below the annual support level. The support level is based on the industry average cost of producing a crop (target price), which is calculated annually by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. Under the RMP plan for edible horticulture, producers deposit funds into self-directed risk management (SDRM) accounts and the deposit is matched by the government to help mitigate risk associated with farm business.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

The Revitalizing Hamilton Tax Increment Grant Program provides financial incentives to property owners within strategic commercial districts to develop, redevelop, or improve properties and buildings. The program aims to support the broader revitalization of these districts while generating new municipal property tax revenue through increased property assessments.

The Residential Development Charges Grant program is designed to encourage private sector investment in residential property development in the Downtown and Old East Village areas. A grant, equal to a rebate of residential Development Charges (DCs), is offered for each new residential unit constructed.

The Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Tax Grant refunds a portion of the municipal tax increase resulting from the rehabilitation of an existing building or the construction of a new one. A percentage of this tax increase is refunded to the property owner annually for a 10-year period.

The Regional Development Program consists of the Eastern Ontario Development Fund and Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.
The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern and southwestern Ontario make investments to:
1. grow their businesses
2. improve productivity
3. invest in innovation and skills development
4. pursue new markets
5. generate broad positive regional economic impact
6. create new good, sustainable jobs

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream will provide financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ontario.

The Region of Waterloo Arts Fund is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land that was promised to Six Nations, and was traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral Peoples. We are grateful to have the opportunity to live, work, create, and to meet on territory protected by the Dish With One Spoon wampum. The enduring presence, philosophies, and deep traditional knowledge of First Peoples are foundational to the arts and culture of this place. We are committed to supporting local creators by acknowledging the collective past, and respecting the contributions of all peoples.

To assist theatre creators to develop new work.
This is a third-party recommender program. Using Nova, OAC’s online grant application system, theatre creators apply to theatre companies designated as recommenders for the program (a maximum of five applications per year).

Receive co-investment of up to $1,000,000 toward the development, testing and validation of electric vehicle (EV) and battery-focused technologies.
The R&D Partnership Fund – Electric Vehicle (EV) – Stream 2 Program supports projects related to the development and demonstration of technologies in electric vehicles (EV) and battery manufacturing technologies in the following priority areas:

The Summer Company program provides students aged 15 to 29 start-up money to kick-off a new summer business and advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help get the business up and running.
Applicants must start their business from May to July and end it on Labour Day or they can choose to keep running their summer business while in school.

Starter Company Plus provides a grant of up to $5,000 to start a new company, expand an existing company or buy a business in Ontario. Applicants can also apply for training and mentoring.

The ProtoZone program will give you a crash course in product and business development, a crucial new product assessment, and assistance towards the design and development of your prototype.
The focus of the program is to support innovative product development and commercialization by providing the right technical and business support, ensuring product-market fit throughout the product development process, and assisting innovative entrepreneurs and small businesses find the necessary funding programs associated with successful product development.

The Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF) provides financial support to help businesses near-term investments so they can serve more interprovincial customers, develop new markets and re-shore critical supply chains in the face of U.S. tariffs. With a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the program will help businesses, build local capacity, enhance trade resiliency, and make the necessary investments to successfully expand into new markets.

The OMIF Music Creation stream supports the development of competitive, sustainable music companies in Ontario that take risks discovering and developing talent – particularly emerging artists – and bringing it to market.
Music Creation provides funding to eligible domestic record labels, multinational record labels and domestic music publishers to support business activities that are focused on: expanding artist rosters; investing in professional recording and production; facilitating job creation; undertaking export market development; enhancing business capacity; and increasing and strengthening diversity within Ontario’s music industry.

The OMIF Live Music stream supports businesses and organizations that produce or promote live music events in Ontario featuring Canadian artists, including eligible music festivals and concert series. The Live Music stream will provide funding to increase the number and quality of live music experiences (e.g. events, festivals and concerts) that can be experienced by residents in and visitors to Ontario.

The Ontario Labour Market Partnerships program provides financial assistance to local communities, sector groups, employee/employer associations, and employers in developing and implementing strategies for addressing and responding to local economic (employment) development, labour force adjustments and human resource planning.

Employers can apply for funding for projects that give work experience to unemployed Ontarians, help their community and benefit their local economy.

The Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) is a partnership with small- and medium- sized automotive parts suppliers in Ontario.
The goal is to help modernize Ontario’s automotive supply chain to make it more competitive and responsive to the changing needs of its customers.

This program supports Ontario-based not-for-profit arts organizations and for-profit publishers led by, working with and providing services to professional artists across arts disciplines and sectors. Operating grants are a form of sustained investment in the province’s arts infrastructure.

The program supports Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) artists to research, develop and create new work and engage with their communities, as well as opportunities for Indigenous organizations and communities to strengthen their relationships with the arts.

The program supports the creation, production and presentation of live and virtual dance and other initiatives that benefit the Ontario professional dance community.

AgriStability is an important part of a comprehensive suite of risk management programs. AgriStability protects producers from large declines in their farming income caused by production loss, increased costs or market conditions.

Pilot and demonstration projects are undertaken after lab work or theoretical applied research on proof-of-concept has been completed. The goal of the pilot and demonstration stream is to fund projects that focus on the development of a model or prototype of new technology (complete TRL 6).

The pilot project is the step between applied research and full-scale commercial application. The latter allows researchers to assess if their findings are generalizable to the real world. These projects aim to complete TRL 6 (prototype development).

The knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) stream is focused on activities designed to drive the transformation of research knowledge into use faster, including:

synthesis
exchange
engagement
dissemination
dialogue
collaboration
brokering between researchers and research users
These projects go beyond typical communication activities and include an array of knowledge mobilizing activities.

Commercialization stream funding is focused on scaling innovative technologies, products and services to the real world or commercial environment. It ensures technologies and best practices are suitable for commercial use and ready to be widely used.

Applied research projects use the process of scientific investigation (including lab work and experiments) to find solutions to existing problems.

ONCAT Resource Grants support the identification and collection of new information related to learner mobility that can enrich ONCAT’s ongoing research activities.

The Office-to-Residential (OTR) Construction Conversion Grant offers a per-unit incentive grant, functioning as a forgivable loan, for eligible office-to-residential conversion projects

The program supports the creation, production and presentation of artwork; professional development; and community-engaged arts initiatives that benefit communities in northern Ontario (see OAC’s geographic regions map as a PDF or on Google Maps).The program has four categories:

The Next Level program provides funding for Northwestern Ontario businesses with an innovative product or service and looking to expand. The support may be applicable to contracted expertise, services or direct costs in any of the following areas: equipment purchase, expansion to new markets, conference & tradeshows costs ($1,000 max), training & certification costs.

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program provides support for newcomer and refugee artists to develop their artistic practice and establish connections to sustain their practice and livelihood in the Toronto arts community.
The program provides funding for individual newcomer and refugee professional* artists to be mentored (guided) in their chosen arts discipline.

The New Relationship Fund (NRF) supports First Nations, Métis communities, and Indigenous organizations efforts to:
– build consultation and engagement capacity and expertise
– create jobs
– develop business partnerships
– improve economic opportunities

The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers. The program has two categories:

This program supports the development and presentation of all genres of live and virtual music by Ontario-based professional musicians, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations. The program has six categories:

The OMIF Music Industry Initiatives (MII) stream provides support to Ontario’s established music trade associations and music service organizations to offer initiatives, events and activities that strengthen, support and stimulate the economic and cultural growth of Ontario’s music industry.

The program supports Ontario-based professional artists in creating original musical works. This program supports music creators at all career stages, working in all music genres/styles. The program has two categories:

Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music. This program will support new work in any/all genres of music.

Le programme appuie la création, l’enregistrement et la production de chansons de langue française et de musique par des artistes professionnels.
Le programme appuie les artistes de la musique qui créent, enregistrent et se produisent en français dans une vaste gamme de genres et de styles musicaux.

Le programme subventionne les artistes médiatiques et les réalisateurs francophones indépendants de l’Ontario qui cherchent à développer ou à produire de nouvelles œuvres de cinéma, de la vidéo, de l’art audio, des médias numériques, des nouveaux médias et des jeux vidéo et électroniques. Les projets doivent être en français et s’adresser à un public francophone.

Toronto Arts Council’s Media Artists Program provides support to media artists who have a professional independent art practice for the creation/production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funds are intended to cover direct costs of creation/production, and materials.

The program supports individual professional Ontario-based media artists/directors working with film, video, audio, digital, new media, video and electronic games, and virtual reality as independent artist-controlled art forms in the production and post-production phases of their projects.

The Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative seeks to enhance the capacity processing capabilities within the province’s meat processing plants and abattoirs.
The Initiative will provide funding to eligible free-standing meat plants and abattoirs so they can make short-term investments in meat handling and processing equipment, technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and productivity.

The Marquee Event Program provides support to municipalities and organizations in Ontario for the hosting of large-scale, high-impact events.

A City of London-funded London Community Recovery Network project, TechAlliance launched the London Innovation Challenge in 2020 to accelerate and scale select London-developed solutions to address the recovery in areas of focus identified by the London community – Investing in People, Driving Prosperity and Fostering Community.
The London Innovation Challenge encouraged London innovators to develop a sustainable technology solution to address challenges facing our community.

Le programme appuie les activités littéraires au moyen de subventions aux artistes, groupes ad hoc, collectifs et organismes francophones de l’Ontario.

This program supports the professional presentation, and promotion of written and oral Canadian literatures in Ontario, and the development of professional, ongoing arts and literary publishing capacity in the province.

The program supports Ontario-based literary artists to complete new works for book-length publication or for public performance, and literary performers who wish to record their own repertoire.

The program supports Ontario-based literary artists to complete new works for book-length publication or for public performance, and literary performers who wish to record their own repertoire.

Encourages sustainable industrial, commercial, mixed-use, and multi-unit residential construction* and land development in urban areas.
The City of Hamilton will equally share the incremental construction costs, consultation, energy modelling, and certification fees with applicants to achieve LEED certification.

The Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative (the Initiative) helps primary producers and processors address local labour force challenges in the agri-food sector with pilot projects that implement:
1. innovative attraction strategies
2. recruitment strategies
3. retention strategies

Invest Ottawa offers a suite of intellectual property (IP) programs designed to help innovators protect, manage, and maximize the value of their ideas. Through a streamlined access point, you can connect with our IP team and a network of trusted advisors.

The IP Fund is intended to drive economic growth in Ontario’s screen sectors by investing in activities that support the production and exploitation of innovative, high-quality, consumer-focused content.
The IP Fund – Linear Content stream supports Development and Production phases for:
 feature film; and
 digital series