How to Qualify for NOHFC Ontario Small Business Grants for New Investment Projects

One of the priorities of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is the development of a strong economy in Northern Ontario. Part of the plan to encourage this, includes supporting the development of new business investments in the region. To assist in attracting outside investment, the NOHFC has developed Ontario business grants for New Investment Projects.  This program offers up to $200k in grant funding.

Priority Areas:  Small Business Grants Ontario through NOHFC

There are some priorities for New Investment Projects. NOHFC Ontario grants for small business will favour projects that include:

• Job creation
• Support for regional clustering
• Are in a priority sector of the NOHFC:
  • 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

Northern Ontario Small Business Grants –Project Eligibility

Projects that are ineligible for NOHFC business grants Ontario funding include the following:

• Businesses with an existing presence in Ontario
• Business plans
• Strategic plans
• Feasibility studies
• Land
• Rolling stock (e.g. cars & trucks)
• Maintenance costs
• Administration costs
• Mineral exploration, mine development costs and milling operations
• Inventory
• Other ongoing operating costs
• Acquisitions and buy-outs of existing businesses
• Electricity generation projects

NOHFC Government Business Grants for Northern Ontario Details

Ontario business grants and loans from the NOHFC New Investment Projects program will be provided as a conditional grant or a combination of a conditional grant and term loan/incentive term loan. The type and quantity of funding for each project will be determined by the NOHFC on a case-by-case basis. The number of new full-time jobs created in Northern Ontario will impact the NOHFC’s decision regarding funding.

To explore whether this NOHFC Ontario government funding program is ideal for your upcoming project, please contact Mentor Works. Our team of Canadian Government Funding Planners can answer questions about this program and help optimize your application process.