Please Note: IBGP is closed. Please consider the Business Scale-up and Productivity program for similar support. Administered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Investing in Business Growth & Productivity (IBGP) is one of core programs which comprise the $530 million Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives (SOPI) running from 2014-2018. IBGP has a stream…
Until earlier this year, when I started my career with Mentor Works, I felt like nothing that I did really mattered. I felt empty, like I wasn’t contributing in a way that made a difference to myself or to society. I often attribute this to an education system that provides lots of “what” (the material…
With its stunning landmarks and a rich culture, Ontario has long been seen as a world-class area for tourism. As a result, the province has generated a meaningful economic impact from tourism activities, such as events and attractions. In 2012, Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport reported that visitors to the province spent over…
FedDev Ontario’s 2014 launch of the Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives (SOPI) provided $530 million for small businesses to finance a variety of innovative and productivity-building projects. Investing in Business Innovation (IBI) is one of the four business-oriented programs created through the SOPI’s and aims to assist early-stage businesses to commercialize new, innovative products and processes….
In Canada, home ownership is widely seen as a key part of a long-term personal investment strategy. The 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) conducted by Statistics Canada reveals that 69% of households own their own homes (including both mortgaged homes and fully paid off). Unfortunately, home purchase is not necessarily a strong investment or a…
Mentor Works gets several calls a day from entrepreneurs and aspiring small business owners on how to get started. Their questions vary, but each one is looking to orient themselves in this space and find out what sort of government backed programs exist to support them. I have had the pleasure of working in this space…
Canadian manufacturers have a variety of financing methods to help them grow their business and increase productivity. Canadian government grants, loans, and tax incentives all provide benefits to Canadian manufacturers which helps them to strengthen operations and become more competitive globally. However, just 16% of manufacturers will be using government funding programs this year, according…
According to a 2014 release of Statistics Canada data, Canada continues to decline in its commitment to innovation. The portion of Canadian businesses investing in process innovation fell from 33.5% in 2007-2009 to 29.0% in 2010-2012. Similarly, innovative businesses in Canada fell from 76.3% to 60.1% in the same time period. This decline is alarming….
Please Note: Export Market Access is now closed and not accepting further applications. For trade show grants and other forms of export support, learn more about the CanExport program. Export Market Access (EMA) Ontario government grants assist small businesses to gain access and expand their reach in international markets. Administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC)…
The Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) has proved to be one of the most popular government funding grants available to Ontario employers looking to train their workforce. Since its launch in September 2014, COJG has subsidized over 21,000 workers’ training plans in Ontario, improving skillsets and helping to fill the province’s most in-demand skilled labour positions….