Grants and Funding

Various levels of governments and community agencies offer a wide range of grants, loans, and other financial support that apply to the agri-food sector specifically, to farms specifically, or to all businesses generally.

The EOAN continuously researches available and relevant grants to update members on opportunities as they arise. If you have a project idea, contact the EOAN directly to chat about what the options are!

Experience Ontario 

Experience Ontario 2025 supports in-person festivals or events in Ontario that will: Application Guide for grants that support Festivals an Events 1. Draw tourists and increase visitor spending through innovative programming in partnership with businesses and community partners. 2. Provide job opportunities for Ontarians in the tourism, culture, and entertainment sectors.

BizGrowth

If you are an existing women owned business looking to grow, scale-up, or expand, BizGrowth may be for you. Businesses may have difficulty moving their business to the next level and this program is designed to help businesses increase and capitalize on market opportunities to grow and expand. The purpose is to assist businesses to expand into new markets. Only businesses located in Ontario are eligible for this program.

OTF Grant Application Deadlines 2025

  • Capital Grant opens February 5th to March 5th.
  • Seed Grant opens July 23rd to August 20th. 
  • Grow Grant opens October 8th to November 5th. 
  • Youth Opportunities Fund opens  November 5th, 2024 to March 12th, 2025. 

Canada Summer wage subsity

Launches November 18th, 2024. 

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) provides opportunities for employers to invest in their workforce, with help from the government.

RTO9 Partnership Funding

The funding window is now open – the window remain open until July 28th, 2024 at 11:59pm.

Accelerate Your Agri-Food Innovation

Bioenterprise is now accepting applications for the Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub (GOAH) Initiative. We’ve already onboarded some truly innovative companies and we can’t wait to tell you all about them. 

 Excellence in Agriculture Awards

The people within Ontario’s agriculture and food industry have always demonstrated excellence in running their businesses, adopting innovative practices and creating a safe and stable supply of food.

To help showcase the outstanding efforts that have made this a $48.8 billion industry, the Ontario government created the Excellence in Agriculture Awards.

 

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.

You may use the funding to grow your business through:

  • marketing analysis and planning
  • new product development
  • marketing activities
 

AgriInnovate Program

The program provides repayable contributions to incent targeted commercialization, demonstration and/or adoption of commercial-ready innovative technologies and processes that increase agricultural and agri-food sector competitiveness and sustainability benefits.

 

AgriScience Program

The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

 

Financial support for technology innovation through NRC IRAP

If you’re a small or medium‑sized Canadian business pursuing technology‑driven innovation, you may be eligible for financial support from NRC IRAP. We provide this funding to eligible firms under our technology innovation projects and youth employment strategy programs.

 

Québec-Ontario project funding

The Ontario and Québec governments are each investing $250,000 annually under the Cooperation and Exchange Agreement between the government of Québec and the government of Ontario with respect to the Francophonie. 

Youth Employment and Skills Program

The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers. Each project will be eligible to receive up to $14,000 in matching funds to employ one (1) employee. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is one of several Government of Canada departments participating in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

 

My Main Street 

My Main Street is a $15-million investment to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario. The program will offer streamlined direct-to-business supports and complementary programming for community projects that will encourage growth and economic prosperity.

Application deadline is March 31, 2024.

 

Retrofit Program

Incentives to help speed up your payback on energy-efficiency equipment upgrades.

 

Small Business Program

Drive your business forward with Save on Energy incentives of up to $3,000 for eligible lighting equipment and up to $2,500 for eligible non-lighting equipment.

 

Promoting Agriculture and Food Carrers Initiative

The purpose of the Initiative is to promote careers in the agriculture and food sector through Agricultural Societies. There are 2 components:

  • Provide money through Initiative Payment(s) to Agricultural Societies to promote and distribute pre-existing materials related to agriculture and food career opportunities at Fairs and Events.
  • Provide money through Initiative Payment(s) to Agricultural Societies so they can develop their own local agriculture and food career promotion materials and activities.
 

SDG Regional Incentives Program

The 2024 intake for the Regional Incentives Program officially launches on Friday, January 5th, 2024. The intake closes on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at noon. Only one intake is proposed for 2024. Any additional intakes will only occur if there are funds remaining following the initial intake.
 

Tourism Growth 

Regions and communities across Canada host many exciting tourist attractions that bring people in and drive economic development. We want to celebrate the businesses behind those attractions and make sure they can grow and thrive. Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) provides $108 million over 3 years to support communities, small- and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations in developing local tourism products and experiences. The RDAs will work in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and tourism partners to ensure the program is complementary to other supports for the tourism industry, helps to diversify regional economies and contributes to Canada’s economic growth.
 

Innovation Booster 

The Innovation Booster provides flexible and rapid support on a cost-shared basis to enable Small- or Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to advance their food innovation and research outcomes. A SME is defined as a business with 499 or fewer employees and less than $50 million in gross revenues.
 

Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program 

The objective of the CASPP is to provide funds for projects that address national or sector-wide priorities that help industry address emerging issues and capitalize on opportunities.
 

Managed Forest Tax incentive Program

The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program encourages good forest management by giving a property tax reduction to eligible landowners who prepare and follow an approved Managed Forest Plan.
 

AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP BURSARY

The entrepreneurial bursary is designed to encourage the establishment of young farmers and Franco-Ontarian entrepreneurship in agriculture. It is awarded to a candidate with superior entrepreneurial skills and qualities who is committed to a promising agricultural business project.
 

Agricultural Clean Technology program: Research and Innovation

As part of the Government of Canada’s strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, the new Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program aims to create an enabling environment for the development and adoption of clean technology that will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
 

Business Innovation and Growth projects

The Business Innovation and Growth category of the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) fosters the development of for-profit businesses so that they can invest, grow and create jobs for the prosperity of Canadians.
 

Young Farmers Loan – Farm Credit Canada

Farm Credit Canada provides loans to young producers under 40 to purchase farm or agriculture-related assets of up to $1,500,000.
 

Enviromental Solutions – Farm Credit Canada 

Farm Credit Canada offers financing for environmental solutions that can help farmers make environmental upgrades to their operation and switch to renewable energy resources.
 

Canada-Ontario Job Grant Program  

Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) provides opportunities for employers, individually or in groups, to invest in their workforce, with help from the government.
 

Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN)

GTN is a Niagara College-led consortium of three institutions supporting the research and development needs of the greenhouse industry through applied research projects. The objective of the GTN is to bring together greenhouse and technology businesses with research institutions to advance development and adoption of new technologies.
 

Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program  

The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP) aims to help supply-managed poultry and egg producers adapt to market changes resulting from the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 
 

Small Business: Advice, Support Services, Regulations 

Get guidance and a grant for your small business. If you’re starting, expanding or buying a small business, apply for training, mentoring and a grant through Starter Company Plus.
 

AgriMarketing Program 

The AgriMarketing Program is a $129.97-million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
 

AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association

The AgriAssurance Program is a $64.05-million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
 

Local Food Infrastructure Fund

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) is a 5-year, $70 million initiative ending on March 31, 2024. It was created as part of the Government of Canada’s Food Policy for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada.
 

Capital Grant

Apply for a Capital grant to help your non-profit organization address a community need by improving the infrastructure Ontarians need to thrive. Whether it’s purchasing equipment, building a new space, or completing renovations, retrofits or repairs, Capital grants support projects that will have a positive impact in your community.
 

Experience Ontario 2023 Grant

The Ontario government is introducing the Experience Ontario 2023 program for festivals and events taking place between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. 
 
This year, the government is investing almost $20 million in one-time funding through the Experience Ontario 2023 program to provide support to in-person festivals and events. The programming encourages people to travel, experience events in person and celebrate Ontario.  
 

Grassroots Growth Grant 

These Grassroots Growth Initiative (GGI) guidelines are subject to change from time to time and without notice. Applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines including appendices in their entirety before submitting an application.

The objectives of the GGI are to:

  • increase public engagement and support for agriculture, local food and rural development
  • build youth leadership capacity and increase youth involvement in the agri-food sector
  • enhance safety and risk management practices in the agri-food sector
  • strengthen public trust and public knowledge about Ontario’s agri-food systems
  • encourage agri-food and rural development outcomes

 

Click here for more information and to apply.