How to Qualify for NOHFC Business Grants Ontario Start-up Funding
Are you considering starting a new business in Northern Ontario? Depending on what your business is, you may be eligible to receive up to $200,000 in startup funding through Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
NOHFC Grants for Businesses in Northern Ontario –Company Eligibility
The Small Business Start-Up Projects is a new funding program from NOHFC that provides funding to new businesses in the following sectors:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Agriculture, aquaculture and food processing
- Arts, culture and creative industries
- Digital economy
- Forestry and value-added forestry-related industries
- Health sciences
- Minerals sector and mining supply and services
- Renewable energy and services
- Tourism
- Transportation, aviation and aerospace
- Water technologies and services
Businesses that are not eligible for funding include those in the retail and consumer services industries, food and accommodation, and professional services.
Ontario Government Grants for Start-ups –Eligible Expenses
The Small Business Start-up Projects offers government funding for the following expenses that are associated with starting a new business:
- Leasehold improvements
- New or used equipment
- Training costs incurred with third parties
- Information and communications technology investments including, but not limited to, software
- Marketing costs
NOHFC Ontario Business Grants –Ineligible Expenses
The following costs are not eligible for government funding through the NOHFC Small Business Start-up Projects program:
- Business plans
- Strategic plans
- Feasibility studies
- Research and development
- Land purchase/lease
- Rolling stock (e.g. Cars & trucks)
- Project management costs
- Consulting costs
- Maintenance costs
- Administration costs
- Mineral exploration, mine development costs and milling operations
- Working capital
- Inventory
- Information and communications technology service providers (e.g. Cellular and internet service providers)
- Other ongoing operating costs
- Leasehold improvements to residential or personal properties
- Acquisitions and buy-outs of existing businesses
- Electricity generation projects
NOHFC Government Grants Ontario –Funding Details
The NOHFC Small Business Start-up Projects program is interested in supporting new businesses that will employ at least one person (the applicant) full time, with a plan to develop and create more full-time job opportunities. To apply for this government funding, the applicant must be able to provide a minimum of 15% of the project costs as cash. NOHFC will provide funding to a maximum of 50% of the project costs, to a maximum amount of $200,000.
Access Small Business Grants and Start-up Funding
The Small Business Start-up Projects fund is now open and accepting applications until funding is depleted. To find out if you qualify for this and other government funding, download the Canadian government funding for small business checklist.
