Rural Economic Development (RED) Program

RED > Home

Rural Economic Development (RED) Update - Program Fully Subscribed

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is not currently accepting applications to the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program.

There has been a strong demand for the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, reflecting the benefits of this initiative for the food and agriculture sectors, rural economies and Ontario families.

If you have questions about the RED program, would like to inquire about the status of a current application, or would like information on applying to the program for next year, please contact us at 1-888-588-4111 or email red.omafra@ontario.ca for more information.

Rural Economic Development (RED)

The Rural Economic Development (RED) program assists with the costs of projects that benefit rural Ontario. Why? In today's economic climate, we can no longer rely on our traditional strengths and advantages to stay competitive in the global market. Communities that succeed in the new economy are those that can attract and retain creative individuals --innovators in technological, cultural and social enterprises. As a province we share a common goal: to create and retain jobs, to revitalize our communities, train and develop the skills of our workforce.

The priorities of the RED program are:

• Support the Food Processing Sector
• Community Revitalization
• Improve Access to Skills Training and Enhancement

Two examples of RED projects

1. Building skills in the Peterborough area

Here community partners are working to keep existing jobs in the manufacturing sector and create new ones. With the support of the Ontario government, they provide better training for workers, access to experts, and an internship program for youth. They are also making local residents more aware of career opportunities in the sector.

2. Retaining jobs and improving skills in Markdale

   After a devastating fire that destroyed its entire production facilities, Chapman's Ice Cream is looking to 'rise from the ashes'. With support from the RED program and its local supporters, Chapman's plans to retain its 350 full-time employees and provide them with the training and skills necessary to transition them from the temporary production site to the new state-of-the-art facility planned for spring 2010.

How does my community apply to RED?

Download the Program Guidelines and Grant Application Form and fill out the forms. Once the application has been received, it will be reviewed by an assigned project analyst before being sent to the Project Review Panel. The panel reviews and recommends projects on a case-by-case basis before sending them to the Minister for final approval.

Why is RED so important to rural Ontario?

The Rural Economic Development Program is a key part of the Ontario's Rural Plan, a vision for building stronger rural communities. The Rural Plan provides a co-ordinated framework across government for delivering the policies and programs that rural communities need most. Through the Rural Economic Development Program, we are delivering real, positive change that will make rural Ontario strong, healthy and prosperous.

We know that strong economies attract and retain investment, bring in new residents and retain their youth, provide stable employment as well as social, cultural, tourism and recreational facilities and services. The Rural Economic Development Program supports rural economic development; stimulating new innovations and future development throughout rural Ontario.