GF2 Ontario Small Business Grants for Producers: Capacity Building

Growing Forward 2 Ontario (GF2) is a five-year combined federal/provincial program that offers funding to support the major players of the agricultural and agri-food sector. The Ontario provincial funding variant of the programs supports producers, processors and collaborations become more efficient and more effective. There are two streams of Ontario grant funding available for each type of applicant: Capacity Building and Project Implementation. For producers, the goal of the Capacity Building Stream is to fund projects that investigate the value and benefits of implementing a project a particular improvement project.

Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants Ontario: Eligibility

The Capacity Building Stream for Producers is open to a range of applicants from new to established producers. Funding from this program is available as a grant. The grant will cover costs associated with projects in the following areas:

• Education;
• Skills Development;
• Training
• Assessments;
• Audits; and
• Planning Activities

Up to 50% of the project costs can be submitted for reimbursement. The costs supported by this Ontario business grants program include consultants and reports. The maximum amount that a single producer can receive from the program over five years is $350,000. This includes projects submitted for both streams – Capacity Building and Project Implementation. Of this amount, up to $100,000 can be obtained for capital related expenses.

GF2 Ontario Business Grants for Producers, Capacity Building: Application Process

The funding from Growing Forward 2 Ontario is available on an annual basis from April to March. Projects must be completed during this timeframe. There is also a schedule for submitting paid receipts to receive in order to be reimbursed for your costs.

Learn More about Capacity Building for Producers through Growing Forward 2 Ontario

Choose from one of the following options to learn more about Ontario small business grants for producers, or click “Get Started” to contact a Canadian government funding expert.

Once a Capacity Building Project has been completed, producers can then take advantage of the Project Implementation Stream to execute the results.  As applications are accepted ongoing and multiple projects are eligible.  To learn more, attend Mentor Works’ next Free Canadian government funding for agriculture and agri-food webinar.