Eligible projects

These types of projects are eligible for funding:

  • a municipality investing in infrastructure in order to secure a private sector investment
  • a consortium between a community and businesses to address limitations to competitiveness or promote technological adoptions or developing a supply chain to accommodate a new foreign direct investment (FDI)
  • a consortium between municipalities to implement an economic development strategy
  • implementation of priorities identified in planning processes that impact the region (for example, regional/provincial strategic plans, previously completed business cases)

Ineligible projects

These types of projects are not eligible for funding:

  • ongoing operations including maintenance and capital replacement
  • refinancing of existing business operations
  • acquisitions and buyouts
  • restructurings, or relocations to other jurisdictions within Ontario
  • projects that target ineligible sectors or applicants (for example retail, start ups or incubators)

Projects in these sectors are not eligible for funding:

  • primary production
  • retail
  • construction (for example, residential development)
  • personal services
  • consulting
  • electricity generation
  • waste management
  • recycling
  • information and communication services
  • academic research
  • stand-alone restaurants and hotels (unless transformative and considered a regional priority)

Criteria

Type of organization

Your organization must be at least one of the following:

  • a municipality or Indigenous community in Eastern or Southwestern Ontario
  • an incorporated non-governmental organization with an economic development mandate, or industry/sector association (for example, a formally constituted body bringing together multiple organizations with a common interest such as manufacturing, technology, or other similar associations)
  • a consortium of businesses led by at least one not-for-profit organization

Operation experience

Your organization or one of the consortia partners must have a minimum of three years of operating experience supported by three years of financial statements (audited financial statements are preferred)

Minimum eligible investment

You must commit to a minimum eligible investment amount of $100,000 (project period up to 4 years).

Project start date

The project start date cannot be earlier than the application period close date.

Length of project

The project must be two to four years in length. Investment targets must be met within the project time period.

Compliance

Your organization and all consortium partners must be in compliance with all applicable laws and not owing any fees, levies or taxes to Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario or her agencies.

Previous funding

If your organization or one of the consortium partners has previously been approved for a project under the EODF or SWODF, it must have successfully completed the approved project before a new project will be considered.

Stacking

Stacking with other provincial sources of financing for the project is not permitted, except for projects receiving supports provided through the program’s complementary services.

Maximum funding from federal and provincial sources is 75%. Organizations need to demonstrate that all financing will be in place, to the satisfaction of Ontario, at the start of the project.

Sector

Projects should be in sectors that play a role in long-term economic sustainability with higher multiplier effects.