Open, closes Dec 3, 2026Wage subsidy
Canada Summer Jobs 2027
Up to 50% of the provincial adult minimum hourly wage for private and public sector employers (up to 100% for not-for-profits)
Employment and Social Development CanadaAll of Canada
LoanOntario program
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)
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.
- Amount
- 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.
- Status
- Open, closes Jan 21, 202768 days leftApplication period 24 runs from November 3, 2026 to January 21, 2027. Decisions are expected April 20, 2027. The next period listed runs February 18 to May 20, 2027.
- Type
- Interest-free loan (part forgivable), grants in limited cases
- Run by
- Government of Ontario (Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade)
- Where
- All of Ontario
- Checked on
- Nov 13, 2026
Who it's for
- Businesses located, or planning to locate, in one of 18 southwestern Ontario areas, including Waterloo and Wellington
- At least 3 years of operations and financial statements
- At least 10 employees (5 in rural Ontario)
- Commit to at least 5 new jobs (or a 30% increase if you have under 15 employees)
- Invest at least $500,000 ($200,000 in rural Ontario)
Not for
- Retail, construction, personal services and consulting
- Information and communication services
- Primary production (mining, agriculture, forestry)
- Electricity generation, waste management and recycling
- Stand-alone restaurants and hotels (unless transformative and a regional priority)
- Ongoing operations, refinancing, acquisitions and buyouts, or moving within Ontario
- Academic research
What it covers
- Growth and expansion projects that meet the investment and job targets
- The page doesn't list cost categories; they're in the program guidelines
How to apply
- Complete the online self-assessment for the business stream.
- Contact a regional advisor. This is required before you apply.
- Register with Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON).
- Work with your advisor to complete and submit the application on TPON with supporting documents.
Good to know
- Waterloo and Wellington are listed as eligible areas. Guelph isn't named separately, so confirm with a regional advisor.
- It can't be combined with other Ontario provincial programs.
- The page suggests registering on TPON and talking to an advisor about two weeks before the deadline.
- The grant section defines rural as a municipality with under 100,000 people or under 100 people per square kilometre.
- There's also a community stream for municipalities and economic development groups (up to 50% of costs, max $1.5 million).
- The page still lists application period 23 (deadline September 23, 2026) without saying it has closed.
Questions
Is Waterloo Region eligible?
The official page lists Waterloo and Wellington among the 18 eligible areas. Guelph isn't named on its own, so ask a regional advisor before you spend time on an application.
Can a small consulting or IT business apply?
The page lists consulting and information and communication services as excluded. The size rules also need at least 10 employees (5 in rural Ontario) and a $500,000 investment.
Is it a grant?
Mostly no. The usual support is an interest-free loan, with up to 30% forgivable if you hit your targets. Grants are only for small rural firms or strategic projects.