FedDev Ontario is the Regional Development Agency (RDA) for Southern Ontario, Canada’s most populated region. As an RDA, FedDev Ontario provides funding to businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and communities to support rural growth and innovation.
Over the last 10 years, FedDev Ontario has invested over $2 billion in funding support to revitalize southern Ontario’s rural economies. The RDA’s headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, and FedDev Ontario additionally has offices in Toronto, Peterborough, and Ottawa to serve communities across the region.
In addition to administering federal programs for the region, FedDev Ontario also offers unique funding programs that cater to rural communities, such as the Community Economic Development & Diversification (CEDD) program.
The CEDD program exists to create sustainable economic growth in small and rural communities throughout southern Ontario. Applicants can be businesses or not-for-profit organizations who are working to diversify and transform their local economies.
Successful applicants to the FedDev Ontario CEDD program can receive up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $5 million per application in grant or loan funding.
FedDev Ontario CEDD For-Profit Stream
Offering no-interest, repayable contributions from $250,000 up to $5 million per project for incorporated businesses (including Indigenous businesses), the CEDD For-Profit Stream supports projects that boost economic development and diversification to increase competitiveness and employment opportunities in small and rural communities in southern Ontario.
Funded by the FedDev Ontario CEDD for-profit stream, eligible businesses can receive up to 50% of eligible expenses through a maximum repayable loan of $5 million.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for this stream must be legally incorporated businesses, including indigenous-owned businesses with operations in rural areas of Eastern and Western Ontario and who demonstrate:
- Evidence of project funding;
- Evidence of market opportunities;
- Capacity to achieve the project’s stated objectives;
- Viable project plan with achieve outcomes and verifiable cost estimate; and
- Projects that address a gap, including evidence of economic opportunities for community growth and transformation.
Project Eligibility
Projects for FedDev Ontario CEDD funding must foster economic diversification and transformation and improve productivity, capacity, and competitiveness of businesses to increase employment and growth opportunities that foster resilience in their communities. Examples of eligible project activities include:
- Adoption of new equipment;
- Market development, diversification, and expansion; and
- Facility improvement or expansion to support greater economic diversification.
Eligible Expenses
- Labour;
- Expertise;
- Non-Capital; and/or
- Capital.
Timeline
There is an ongoing application intake until funding is depleted. All project costs must be incurred by December 31, 2023.
FedDev Ontario CEDD Not-For-Profit Stream
Like the for-profit stream, the FedDev Ontario Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) Program not-for-profit stream supports community economic development and innovation for rural southern Ontario.
Successful CEDD not-for-profit stream applicants can receive up to 50% of eligible expenses in non-repayable grant funding, through a maximum amount of $5 million.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for the CEDD not-for-profit stream must operate in rural areas of Eastern and Western Ontario and can be:
- Co-operatives;
- Indigenous organizations;
- Business accelerators and incubators;
- Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs);
- Municipalities and other municipal-type organizations;
- A group or an alliance such as an industry association or consortium that is a legal entity capable of entering into a contribution agreement; or
- Other not-for-profit organizations, as determined on a case-by-case basis.
Project Eligibility
Example projects include:
- Improving the availability of risk capital in the region, including by establishing or capitalizing an investment fund;
- Developing and/or expanding collaborations that connect smaller communities with larger firms or supply chains in urban centres;
- Implementing of community and/or regional action plans;
- Developing of new technology, processes, prototypes, and/or commercially relevant technology platforms;
- Attracting, growing, and retaining business programs and services, including supply chain development and succession planning;
- Supporting business incubators and accelerators that address needs at a sub-regional or community level; and/or
- Supporting business through programs and services, including training and mentorship.
Looking for more government funding support? Check out our actively updated Ontario Grants and Funding Directory.
Eligible Expenses
- Labour;
- Expertise;
- Non-Capital; and/or
- Capital.
Timeline
There is an ongoing application intake until funding is depleted. All project costs must be incurred by December 31, 2023.
How to Apply for the FedDev Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) Program
To have a strong application for the FedDev Ontario CEDD funding program, interested applicants for either the profit or not-for-profit stream need to have initiatives that:
- Develop and expand collaborative efforts that strengthen regional competitiveness;
- Enhance business attraction, investment, retention, and employment opportunities in southern Ontario communities; and
- Support regional businesses, hubs, and communities with the goal of economic diversification, integration, and transformation.
To confirm your eligibility and review your project for the FedDev Ontario CEDD program, please contact the Mentor Works, a Ryan company team to discuss next steps.
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