Existing for-profit business (or parent company) with at least 3 years of operations and 3 years of financial statements; start-ups are not eligible
Services
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
Ontario Regional Development Program support (up to 15% of eligible costs; loans to $5M) for existing businesses in southwestern Ontario investing to grow, improve productivity and pursue new markets, including export markets.
Overview
Ontario Regional Development Program support (up to 15% of eligible costs; loans to $5M) for existing businesses in southwestern Ontario investing to grow, improve productivity and pursue new markets, including export markets.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | grant or performance-based loan |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | Ontario |
| Administrator | Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (Regional Development Program) |
| Cost share | 15% |
| Max per project | $5,000,000 |
| Intake status | Open - multiple intake periods per year (about four); decisions issued approximately 60 business days after each deadline |
| Non-US bias | Neutral: supports pursuit of new markets including exports; no explicit US vs non-US distinction |
| Processing time | Approximately 60 business days from the application deadline |
Eligibility
Employ at least 10 full-time-equivalent employees (or 5 if located in rural Ontario)
Commit to creating at least 5 new jobs, or a 30% increase for companies with fewer than 15 employees, by the end of the project
Invest at least $500,000 in the project (or $200,000 if located in rural Ontario)
Be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in southwestern Ontario (Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Dufferin, Elgin, Essex, Grey, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth, Simcoe, Waterloo, Wellington)
Projects must be a distinct undertaking separate from ongoing operations
Ineligible
ongoing operations/maintenance, refinancing, acquisitions and buyouts, restructuring or relocating within Ontario, primary production (mining, agriculture, forestry), retail, residential construction, personal services, consulting, electricity generation, waste management/recycling, information and communication services, academic research, stand-alone restaurants and hotels
What it covers
Business expansion and introduction of new products, services or markets, including new export markets
Investments in equipment, new technology, talent and training to enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth
Investment in new operations in southwestern Ontario
Eligible cost categories
project facilities and infrastructure, equipment and machinery, labour, materials, specialized expertise, training and talent costs, permits and fees
Application form requires export projections, total export sales (domestic and foreign), and a description of how the project accesses new geographic or product markets
Grants only in limited circumstances
up to $500,000 for companies with fewer than 100 employees in rural Ontario, or up to $1.5 million for strategic projects (foreign direct investment or competing against other jurisdictions)
Market and diversification rules
Applicants may apply for either a grant or a loan, not both
Grants are only available for small rural companies and for strategic new investments
Loans are performance-based
interest-free during the project period (up to 4 years); up to 30% of the loan (to a maximum of $500,000) may be forgiven if investment and job targets are met
Loans require positive debt service coverage ratio and security satisfactory to the province
How to apply
Complete the online Regional Development Program eligibility self-assessment tool
Contact an Ontario Government regional advisor to review the project (required before applying)
Register for Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON)
Work with the regional advisor to complete and submit the Business Stream application form via TPON with required supplemental information
Applications are reviewed in intake periods; decisions are expected approximately 60 business days after the application deadline
Stacking notes
Cannot combine (stack) Southwestern Ontario Development Fund funding with other provincial programs
Disclose all sources of project financing in the application; funding may be stacked with federal programs subject to program guidelines
Notes
Delivered under the Regional Development Program, which also includes the Eastern Ontario Development Fund and the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) stream
Complementary services (advisory services, environmental compliance approvals, skills and talent access, tax credit information) available for the duration of the project regardless of funding outcome
Contact
swodf@ontario.ca
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
Book a free readiness call
Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
Book a free readiness call