Regional Development Program: Eastern Ontario and Southwestern Ontario Development Fund – Business Projects
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
Offered by Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Amount
Up to 15% of eligible project costs; loans up to 15% to a maximum of $5M, interest free during the project period (up to 4 years), with up to 30% of the loan (to a maximum of $500,000) forgivable; grants up to 15% to a maximum of $500,000 (fewer than 100 employees, rural Ontario) or $1,500,000 (strategic projects)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- Is your organization an incorporated for-profit business with a plan to invest in an eligible region in Ontario?
To be eligible, businesses need to:
- have at least 3 years of operations/financial statements
- employ at least 10 people (or 5 if you are in rural Ontario)
- commit to creating at least 5 new jobs (or 30% increase for companies with fewer than 15 employees)
- invest at least $500,000 in their project (or $200,000 if you are in rural Ontario)
- be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in eastern Ontario
be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in southwestern Ontario
Rural is defined as a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 people or a population density of 100 people per square kilometer or less.
Eastern Ontario includes the following 15 geographic areas:
- Frontenac
- Haliburton
- Hastings
- Kawartha Lakes
- Lanark
- Leeds and Grenville
- Lennox and Addington
- Muskoka
- Northumberland
- Ottawa
- Peterborough
- Prescott and Russell
- Prince Edward
- Renfrew
- Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Southwestern Ontario includes the following 18 geographic areas:
- Brant
- Bruce
- Chatham-Kent
- Dufferin
- Elgin
- Essex
- Grey
- Haldimand
- Huron
- Lambton
- Middlesex
- Niagara
- Norfolk
- Oxford
- Perth
- Simcoe
- Waterloo
- Wellington
About the funding
Up to 15% of eligible project costs.
Loans
Up to 15% funding to a maximum of $5M, interest free during the project period (up to 4 years). If you achieve your investment and job targets, up to 30% of the loan (to a maximum of $500,000) may be forgiven.
Grants
Show all funding details
Grants are available only for specific circumstances, up to 15% to a maximum:
- Of $500,000 if your company has fewer than 100 employees and is based in rural Ontario (population of your community is less than 100,000 or population density is less than 100 people per square kilometre)
- Of $1,500,000 for strategic projects that are foreign direct investments or from companies competing against other jurisdictions (in limited circumstances)
Restrictions
You are not allowed to combine (or “stack”) Eastern Ontario Development funding with other provincial programs.
Complementary Services and Supports are available when you submit a complete application to the Eastern Ontario Development Fund or Southwestern Ontario Development Fund through the Regional Development Program. These services are available for the duration of your project regardless of the funding outcome. Services will be coordinated by working with partner ministries until they are delivered, closed-out or finalized.
Business projects
Businesses may be eligible for other assistance related to advisory services, assistance with environmental compliance approvals, assistance in accessing skills and talent, and information related to leveraging available tax credits.
Eligible projects include:
- investments in equipment, new technology, talent and training to enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth
- investment in new operations or existing operations that lead to business expansion/new products/services.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) – Business Projects | Loan, Grant | Performance-based loan of up to a maximum of 30% of eligible project costs (forgivable portion to a maximum of 50% of the loan amount) | Open |
| Grassroots Growth Initiative | Grant | Up to 50% of eligible project costs | Open |
| Ontario Together Trade Fund | Grant, Loan | Up to $5 million | Open |
| Regional Development Program: Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream | Grant, Loan | Up to 15% of eligible project costs | Open |
