Programs with a deadline come first, soonest at the top. Year-round programs follow. We aim to re-check every program once a month, and each page shows the date of its last check.
Destination Animation Fund up to $5,000 (10% match). Gather Here sponsorship up to $25,000, and no more than 15% of the event budget. The Marketing Assets program gives photos, video and training, not money.
The City of Guelph runs three tourism funding programs paid for by the Municipal Accommodation Tax. They support new tourism products, marketing photos and video with training, and events that bring visitors to Guelph. Incorporated for-profit and not-for-profit organizations can apply.
City of Guelph (with Destination Marketing Guelph for for-profit applications)Guelph
Up to 50% of the provincial adult minimum hourly wage for private and public sector employers (up to 100% for not-for-profits)
Canada Summer Jobs pays part of the wage when you hire a young person for a full-time summer job. Small private businesses get up to half of the provincial minimum wage per hour. Applications for summer 2027 close December 3, 2026.
Employment and Social Development CanadaAll of Canada
Not stated on the main page. The Economic Diversification Grant guide says up to $100,000 per fiscal year per applicant.
Ontario's Indigenous Economic Development Fund offers grants and financing to Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, communities and organizations. It has three streams. The two streams open now are mainly for communities and organizations doing economic planning and partnership projects.
Government of Ontario (Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation)All of Ontario
$125,000 to $5 million per project, up to 50% of eligible costs
RAII lends interest-free, repayable funding to southern Ontario businesses that are adopting AI or bringing their own AI products to market. You pay it back, normally starting a year after the project ends. There are two streams, with different size and age rules.
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)All of Ontario
Up to 15% of eligible project costs. Loans up to $5 million, interest-free during the project period (up to 4 years), with up to 30% (max $500,000) forgivable if targets are met. Grants only in limited cases: up to $500,000 for small rural firms, or $1.5 million for strategic projects.
SWODF helps established businesses in southwestern Ontario pay for growth projects that create jobs. Most support is an interest-free loan covering up to 15% of project costs. Waterloo and Wellington are on the list of eligible areas.
Government of Ontario (Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade)All of Ontario
No per-grant maximum stated; about $50,000 to $60,000 is shared among successful applicants this window
The Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation gives grants for projects that preserve, study or celebrate the heritage of Waterloo Region. There are property, project or event, and publication grants. Any individual or group in the Region can apply.
Waterloo Regional Heritage FoundationAll of Waterloo Region
$500 to $7,500 per project or property depending on the program, up to $10,000 for priority sites
The Township of Wellesley offers 9 grant programs under its Community Improvement Plan, updated in 2025. They cover fees, studies, façades and signs, building and accessibility work, conversions, extra housing units, agri-tourism, placemaking and sustainability. Owners, and tenants with the owner's consent, can apply.
Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan: up to $15,000. Retail Modernization Project Grant: up to $5,000. Technology Demonstration Program: up to $50,000 (closed).
OCI's Digital Competence Centre has grants to help Ontario businesses plan and buy digital technology. One pays for a custom digital plan made with a consultant; another helps shops and other public-facing businesses buy point-of-sale and similar tools. A third stream, for putting a plan into action, is closed.
Liquidity help up to $2 million for up to 12 months (non-repayable, up to 50% of costs). Pivot projects up to $1 million non-repayable (up to 50%), or over $1 million repayable (up to 75%). Up to $3 million non-repayable and $20 million in total.
RTRI helps southern Ontario businesses hit by U.S. tariffs and other trade disruptions. It can cover short-term operating costs or a longer project to change how and where you sell. It's for businesses with at least $1 million in yearly revenue and real tariff exposure.
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)All of Ontario
Up to $99,999 for individual Indigenous entrepreneurs; up to $250,000 for eligible Indigenous community businesses
The Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program gives Indigenous entrepreneurs a non-repayable equity contribution to start, grow or buy a business. It's delivered by Indigenous Financial Institutions and Métis Capital Corporations. The amount depends on the project and need.
Indigenous Services Canada, administered by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) through Indigenous Financial Institutions and Métis Capital CorporationsAll of Canada
Up to $17,000 per apprentice, paid in $1,000 steps as the apprentice finishes in-class levels and earns their certificate, with registration and extra payments for some apprentices.
Ontario pays employers and group sponsors a grant when their registered apprentices hit training milestones. Payments come at each completed level of in-class training and when the apprentice earns the top certificate in their trade. A registration payment and extra amounts apply for apprentices under 25 or who self-identify as part of an under-represented group.
Government of Ontario (Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development)All of Ontario
$10,000 to $350,000 for the Small Business Loan. BDC lists other loans for larger or specific needs.
BDC is the federal Crown bank for small businesses. Its Small Business Loan offers $10,000 to $350,000, applied for online, for businesses already making sales and profits. It's a loan you repay with interest.
BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)All of Canada
Loans of $10,000 to $250,000. FACE says start-ups get up to $50,000 and existing businesses up to $250,000.
The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund lends $10,000 to $250,000 to Black business owners across Canada. Start-ups can get up to $50,000. FACE runs it in partnership with BDC. It's a loan, repaid with interest.
Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), with BDCAll of Canada
Rural Women in Business Loans up to $250,000; CIP Matching Loan up to $20,000 at 3%; general business loan amounts not stated
Wellington Waterloo Community Futures makes small business loans in rural townships of Waterloo Region and Wellington County. It has general business loans, a 3% CIP Matching Loan for projects approved for a township Community Improvement Plan grant, and loans of up to $250,000 for women in business. Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph are NOT in its service area.
Wellington Waterloo Community FuturesWellesley, Woolwich, North Dumfries, Wilmot
Up to $1.15 million in total: up to $1 million in term loans and up to $150,000 in lines of credit
The CSBFP helps small businesses get loans from banks and credit unions by having the government share the risk with the lender. It's a loan you repay with interest, not a grant. It can be used for equipment, property, leasehold improvements, working capital and more.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, through banks and credit unionsAll of Canada
25% to 30% of the student's wages and agency fees, up to $3,000 per work placement.
If you hire a co-op student from an eligible Ontario college or university, you can claim part of their pay back as a tax credit. It's refundable and works for both corporations and unincorporated businesses. The most per placement is $3,000.
Government of Ontario (administered by the Canada Revenue Agency)All of Ontario
No dollar amounts stated on the official pages. EDC's small business group covers businesses with revenue up to $10 million.
Two federal options for businesses that sell, or want to sell, outside Canada. EDC is a Crown corporation that offers financing, guarantees and insurance, directly or through your bank. The Trade Commissioner Service helps export-ready businesses prepare for and find contacts in foreign markets.
Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Canadian Trade Commissioner ServiceAll of Canada
Up to $10,000 per street address or storefront ($20,000 corner lot with work on both frontages, $30,000 for buildings with multiple storefronts)
A City of Kitchener grant for street-facing façade work on downtown buildings. It can pay up to half the cost of a project. It's for property owners and tenants in the Downtown Community Improvement Area with a commercial use on the ground floor.
Normally $125,000 to $10 million per project, up to 50% of eligible costs
FedDev Ontario lends interest-free, repayable funding to established businesses in southern Ontario for growth projects, such as new products, better productivity or new markets. You pay it back, usually starting a year after the project ends. It's aimed at businesses with at least 5 employees and 3 years in business.
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)All of Ontario
Up to $75,000 in total: up to $25,000 from Futurpreneur and up to $50,000 from BDC
Futurpreneur lends to Canadians aged 18 to 39 who are starting or buying a business, and pairs them with a mentor for up to 2 years. The loan comes in two parts, one from Futurpreneur and one from BDC. Both are repaid with interest.
Not stated on the official page. Funding is decided case by case and usually comes after a period of advice.
NRC IRAP helps Canadian small and medium-sized businesses turn new technology into products and services they can sell. It starts with advice and connections, and in some cases adds funding for research, development and other innovation work. It's for incorporated, technology-driven businesses, not everyday business costs.
No money. Free export consulting, webinars and workshops, plus business missions.
Ontario offers free help for businesses that export or want to sell into new markets. That includes one-on-one export consulting, webinars, trade missions and meetings with distributors. There's no grant or loan on the page.
Innovation Tax Credit: 8% refundable, on up to $3 million of spending (max $240,000 a year). R&D Tax Credit: 3.5% non-refundable, no maximum stated.
These two Ontario tax credits sit on top of the federal SR&ED program. Corporations that do SR&ED in Ontario and claim the federal credit can claim them on their T2 return. One is refundable for smaller companies; the other only reduces Ontario tax owing.
Government of Ontario (administered by the Canada Revenue Agency)All of Ontario
40% of eligible Ontario labour and marketing costs for products you sell yourself; 35% of labour for products made for a client. No overall maximum is stated.
The OIDMTC is a refundable tax credit for Ontario corporations that build interactive digital products meant to entertain people or educate children under 12, such as games and kids' learning apps. It's based on Ontario labour costs, plus marketing costs for products you sell yourself. Most websites and promotional products don't qualify.
Ontario Creates and the Canada Revenue AgencyAll of Ontario
Up to $10,000 per trainee. Employers with under 100 staff can get up to $15,000 per trainee for a new hire who was unemployed.
The Ontario Job Grant pays part of the cost of third-party training for your current employees or for new hires with a job offer. It's open to private and non-profit employers with an Ontario location. You pick the training, and it has to come from an eligible training provider.
Government of Ontario (Employment Ontario)All of Ontario
Typically 10% to 20% of eligible project costs, up to $5 million. Up to 75% only for projects with exceptional benefit to Ontario.
This fund helps Ontario businesses affected by U.S. tariffs invest in projects that open new Canadian markets, bring supply chains back to Ontario or protect jobs. Support is a grant or a loan, usually covering 10% to 20% of project costs. It's aimed at small and medium-sized businesses with at least 5 staff.
Government of Ontario (Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade)All of Ontario
Up to $5,500 in installed upgrades at no cost: up to $3,000 for lighting and up to $2,500 for refrigeration and smart thermostats.
Save on Energy sends a contractor to assess your business space and install energy-saving lighting, refrigeration upgrades and smart thermostats. Upgrades within the limits cost you nothing. It's for Ontario businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
Save on Energy (Independent Electricity System Operator)All of Ontario
35% of qualified SR&ED spending up to $6 million a year for most Canadian-controlled private corporations (tax years starting after December 15, 2024), and 15% on spending above that
SR&ED is a federal tax credit for businesses that do research and development in Canada. You claim it with your tax return, and part or all of it can come back as a refund. Most Canadian-controlled private corporations earn the higher 35% rate on spending up to a yearly limit.
Up to $5,000 for each placement offered to a student
The Student Work Placement Program helps employers hire post-secondary students for work placements. You apply through a partner organization, not to the government directly. The official page lists up to $5,000 per placement.
Employment and Social Development Canada, through partner organizationsAll of Canada
The Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund offers loans of up to $50,000 to help women start or grow a business, or reach international markets. You apply through a delivery organization, not to the government. In southern Ontario the listed organizations are Nventure and NACCA.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, through delivery organizationsAll of Canada
