Funding Programs and Support

Where to Get Funding and Support:

Food companies don't always know where to find funding and other types of service and support that is relevant to them. So we've pulled together some of the key programs and resources that may be of interest to you. Our list includes federal, provincial, and municipal programs, and programs offered by utilities providers.

Workforce Development

Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit: a tax credit to companies that hire and train apprentices in certain skilled trades.

Canada Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit: a non-refundable tax credit designed to encourage employers to hire new apprentices in eligible trades.

Job Connect: a program which helps bridge the gap between employers seeking new employees to meet their business needs and individuals seeking sustainable employment.

Ontario Co-op Education Tax Credit: a refundable tax credit available to employers who hire students enrolled in a recognized Ontario university or college co-operative education program.

Recruiting Employees: resources and links to services to assist in recruiting, hiring and training employees.

Sector Initiative Fund: a funding program designed to help industry sectors and organizations to develop training programs, materials and standards for their workforces.

Targeted Wage Subsidy: a program that encourages employers to hire people who face barriers to employment by offering a temporary wage subsidy.

Youth Employment Strategy (part of Industrial Research Assistance Program: food manufacturing companies that are looking to develop new products or improve their technical production processes may qualify for funding to hire an intern through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). This program provides financial assistance to innovative Canadian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME's) to hire post-secondary graduates to work on innovation projects.

Business Development

CanAdvance: provides grants, loans and loan guarantees to projects that expand the agriculture and food sector's capacity to respond to current and emerging issues.

Food Safety Initiative: financial assistance for food processors of all products to adopt Good Manufacturing Practices and/or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point.

Meat Plant Assistance Program: financial assistance for provincial meat plants to help them comply with the new meat regulation, Ontario Regulation 31/05.

Rural Economic Development Program: a financial support program to help rural communities thrive and grow. It supports projects that remove barriers to community development and economic growth.

Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy: interest-free loans to encourage Ontario manufacturing companies in all sectors to invest in leading-edge technologies and processes

Agri-Opportunities Program: a program to assist in the commercialization of products which includes new agricultural products, processes or services

Infrastructure Development

Hydro One Retrofit Program: The Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program assists companies to develop energy conservation and load management strategies.

Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program: a $9 million program to help agri-food businesses and farmers turn farm and food waste into clean energy by using biogas systems.

ecoEnergy Biofuels: ecoEnergy for Biofuels will invest up to $1.5 billion over nine years to boost Canada's production of renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

Environmental Programs: how to make wise and better use of water and sewer services.

The ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive: a program to help retrofit industrial and commercial buildings to improve energy efficiency

Research and Development Programs

Industrial Research Assistance Program: financial support and "consulting" services to Canadian companies in all industry sectors to encourage innovative products, processes and technology.

Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program: a federal tax incentive program to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development in Canada that will lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products or processes.

For more funding programs, check out Ontario Investment and Trade Services web site at http://www.2ontario.com/software/government_programs.asp.