Top Northern Ontario Business Grants and Funding Programs

Northern Ontario is a vibrant region positioned for growth, with an increasing population driving the expansion of the region’s economy. Businesses in this region provide world-class products and services across a range of key sectors, including the manufacturing, arts and culture, professional services, tourism, and natural resources sectors, thereby bolstering their communities and contributing to Ontario’s overall economic competitiveness.

Businesses in Northern Ontario are eligible for a wide range of region-specific provincial government funding initiatives through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). These initiatives serve to help Northern Ontario-based organizations to invest in innovation, growth, and workforce development, contributing to long-term economic development in the region.

Specifically, NOHFC works to promote and stimulate economic development initiatives in Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify, and foster regional economic growth. NOHFC provides funding to projects across the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming.

Currently, NOHFC offers four main programs:

1. Invest North Program;
2. People and Talent Program;
3. Community Enhancement Program; and
4. Cultural Supports Program.

Each of these programs has several streams that provide targeted funding opportunities for Northern Ontario-based organizations.

Invest North Program

The Invest North Program supports businesses investing in transformative, strategic, and complementary business development opportunities in Northern Ontario. Specifically, the program supports projects that drive productivity, innovation, business competitiveness, revenue growth, export capacity development, and job creation and retention. Specific streams include:

• Innovation Stream: Supporting research, development, and commercialization of new and innovative technologies in Northern Ontario with funding of up to 50% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $2,000,000 depending on project focus.
• Investment Stream: Supporting the launch of new businesses and/or growth of existing businesses in Northern Ontario, including support for locating new business operations to Northern Ontario, with funding up to 50% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $5,000,000 depending on project focus.

People and Talent Program

The People and Talent Program works to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce by providing businesses and not-for-profit organizations with wage subsidy support for hiring of new interns. Streams include:

• Indigenous Workforce Development Stream: Funding support ranging from 75-90% of an Indigenous intern’s salary to a maximum of $52,500 in funding per year.
• Workforce Development Stream: Funding support ranging from 50-90% of an intern’s salary of a maximum of $35,000 in funding per year.

Community Enhancement Program

The Community Enhancement Program helps build strong, resilient Northern Ontario communities through investments in infrastructure, upgrading assets to improve community quality of life while supporting strategic economic development initiatives. Streams include:

• Rural Enhancement Funding Stream: Supporting priorities of rural communities with populations of less than 30,000 to contribute to healthy, strong communities, including improvements or repairs to capital assets and municipal assets, with funding support ranging from 75-90% of eligible costs to a maximum of up to $500,000, depending on project specifics.
• Enhance Your Community Stream: Providing support for repairs and renovations to extend the useful life of social and recreational facilities, municipal assets, and community halls, with funding at 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $2,000,000.
• Broadband and Cellular Expansion Projects: Providing municipalities, Indigenous communities, community-based networks, or ICT community champions with funding support for improving broadband and cellular coverage to areas with download speeds of less than 25mbps at 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $1,000,000.

Cultural Supports Program

NOHFC’s Cultural Supports Program helps showcase Northern Ontario’s culture, geography, and talent through event partnerships and production of films and television series. Specific streams include:

• Community Events Stream: Providing funding to municipalities, Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations, and local service boards hosting events that increase community profile and promote regional economic development, with funding up to 30% of eligible costs to a maximum of $15,000.
• Film and Television Stream: Increasing film and television industry jobs and investment while increasing quality original film and television productions produced in Northern Ontario, with funding support for production companies up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum cap of $500,000-$2,000,000, depending on overall project size.

Previous NOHFC Funding Recipients

Examples of previous organizations that have successfully received NOHFC funding support for their projects across Northern Ontario include:

• $500,000 for Whimper Productions Inc. to support feature film development in Nipissing;
• $395,400 for Don Poulin Potatoes Inc. to support business expansion in Chelmsford;
• $300,000 for Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa to support development of a new wildlife experience in Timmins;
• $283,953 for Rubino Trucking to support shop expansion in Timmins;
• $250,000 for Thunder Bay Hydraulics Inc. to support new product commercialization in Thunder Bay;
• $200,000 for Cygnus Technology Group to support development of a start-up digital hub in Sault Ste. Marie;
• $70,000 for Penokean Hills Co-operative (PHC) Inc. to hire two co-operative interns in Thessalon (across two projects at $35,000 each); and
• $21,528 for Split Rail Brewing Company Inc. to support hiring of a marketing and sales intern in Gore Bay.

Apply for NOHFC and Northen Ontario Funding Programs

Taking advantage of available government funding programs, including those offered by NOHFC, can help Northern Ontario businesses to expand and thrive within their communities. If you are interested in learning more about our team’s services and how we can support your organization in applying for NOHFC funding opportunities, please reach out to our team to find out what funding programs you’re eligible to apply for.

Learn more about the various types of funding programs offered by the Canadian federal and provincial governments by downloading our free Types of Funding Guide PDF that teaches you about the various grants, no-interest loans, wage subsidies, and tax credit programs for various business activities like hiring, training, R&D, exporting, and more.