The Government of Canada maintains a long list of hundreds of grants, loans, tax credits and more, including tariff support resources. You also may wish to try using the Canadian Government's Business Benefits Finder that is updated regularly. It can help you better narrow down what's available to specifically fit your need(s).

*New - Ontario is Investing $1.3 Billion to Protect Manufacturing Workers and Jobs

On May 5, 2025 the Ontario Government announced it is expanding the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, providing an additional $1.3 Billion over three years to help lower costs for businesses that invest in buildings, machinery and equipment that are used for manufacturing or processing in Ontario. Learn more.

Facade and Building Improvement Supports

Some of our local member municipalities across Hastings County have introduced what is known as a "Community Improvement Plan", or "CIP". This permits municipalities in Ontario to provide financial assistance to private property owners and businesses in a defined area including tax assistance, grants or loans.

Hastings County municipalities that currently offer grants for improvements through a CIP include:

Town of Bancroft - Tax Increment Equivalent Grant Program

Municipality of Centre Hastings - Community Improvement Plan

Marmora and Lake - Community Improvement Plan

Municipality of Tweed - Community Improvement Plan

The federally funded Community Futures Development Corporation located in Bancroft, which covers most of our County, also offers financial support for facade improvement. They have a grant program (50% of eligible costs up to $3,000) to assist businesses with facade improvements that will result in enhanced accessibility to the business or improvements that will result in a positive environmental impact either by the improvement made or the materials used. Contact their office for more information and to apply.

Government and utility programs to support business owners

Energy Efficiency for Business & Industry | Save on Energy

Energy Efficiency for Small Business | Save on Energy

Energy Training & Support for Contractors & Allies | Save on Energy

Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program

Grants and others programs accepting applications 

CanExport SMEs funding is now open until May 31, 2025.(Get up to $50,000 to cover 50% of costs of exporting products or services to countries where you have little or no sales)

Ontario Together Trade Fund - Financial support to help businesses near-term investments so they can serve interprovincial customers, develop new markets and re-shore critical supply chains in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Futurpreneur - Core startup program and flexible, equity-free startup business loan of up to $75,000 including up to $50,000 in financing from BDC

Starter Company Plus Grant (Small Business Centre). Open until May 23, 2025

Summer Company grant 2025  Applications opened May 2. Space is limited and the program reaches capacity quickly!

Canada-Ontario Jobs Grant (Up to $10,000 for training)

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (up to 15% funding to a maximum of $5 million)

(SR&ED) Scientific Research and Experimental Development (earn tax incentives that reduce income tax payable) 

Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program Open (until funds are used) 

Grants for Theatre Creators (Ontario Arts Council)

Exhibition Assistance (Ontario Arts Council)

Indigenous Visual Artists' Materials (Ontario Arts Council)

2025 - Market Development Travel (Ontario Arts Council)

Loans

Funding for businesses in southern Ontario (FedDev)

Currently closed - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative in southern Ontario (FedDev)

BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) 

Black Opportunity Fund 

Business Scale-up and Productivity - FedDev Ontario

Community Economic Development Diversification - FedDev Ontario 

Community Futures 

FACE (Federation of African Canadian Economics)

FCC Women Entrepreneur Program

Futurpreneur - Ages 18-39

IAPO First Nations Farm & Business Financing

PARO - Women

WEOC (Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada)

Other organizations accepting ongoing submissions

100 Women Who Care (Bancroft)

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital

Applied Research and Development Grant

Alliance Grant (R&D partnerships with educational institutions and businesses)

Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (FACE)

Black Opportunity Fund (contact for current funding availability)

BITS Bucks (Up to $5,000 grant/loan for youth 18-34)

Community Futures Development Corp. - Local Initiatives Program (L.I.P.) (Up to $3,500 for incorporated not-for-profits)

Community Futures Development Corp. - Facade Improvement Grant

First Nations Women’s Entrepreneurship program (FNWE) (Loans and grants up to $15,000)

Grow Your Business Online Grant ($2,400)

Hockey Canada - Call for Indigenous Artists 

ODSP Start Up Benefit (Up to $500 for training and business costs)

Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (partial funding)

PEFIP (Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program)

Rhyze Up! (Female-led businesses)

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (various programs)

See Training and Workforce section for recruitment funding support

Workshops, Events, Education

Open until December - Training for Co-op Enterprise Developers (CoopZone)

December 3, 11am-1pm - 2SLGBTQI+ Travel Market Seminar (CGLCC - Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce)

December 5, 10am-12pm - Selling at Farmers’ Markets (OFA)

December 5, 11:30am-1pm - The Path to Success for Tourism Entrepreneurs (Futurpreneur and Tourism Innovation Lab)
December 10, 11:30am-12pm - Selling Travel Services Webinar (TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario)
December 11, 2-3pm - Harnessing Data and AI for Business Growth (CGLCC - Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce)

December 12, 9-11am - Free Tax Help For Small Businesses/Self-Employed Individuals (CRA)

December 12, 10am-12pm - Selling to Restaurants and Institutions (OFA)
December 12, 11:30am-12:15pm - Skode Program Information Session (ITO - Indigenous Tourism Ontario)
December 19, 12-1pm - What’s the Buzz? Connect and learn with Rainbow Registered (CGLCC - Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce)
January 7, 10-11am - Understanding Basic Analytics and Metrics (MellowBrew Marketing)

January 9, 10am-12pm - Selling Online and Leveraging Social Media Platforms (OFA - Ontario Federation of Agriculture)

January 15, 2-3pm - How to Make Your Business Size Inclusive: How Anti-Fat Bias is a Hidden Phenomenon (RTO 9)
January 15 - February 26 - Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism: A Series for Businesses & Destinations (GreenStep)

January 16, 10am-12pm - Labelling and Attributes: Organic, Free Range, Gluten-Free and more (OFA)

January 30, 10am-12pm - Exploring Agritourism Opportunities (OFA)

February 4, 10-11am - Social Media Customer Service & Engagement (MellowBrew Marketing)

February 13, 10am-12pm - Selling Local in Rural and Remote Ontario (OFA)

February 24-26 - FEO Annual Conference “Synergy” (Festivals & Events Ontario)

February 25-27 - International Indigenous Tourism Conference (ITAC - Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada)

February 27, 10am-12pm - Beyond Food: Textiles, Ornamental Horticulture & More (OFA)

March 3-5 - Southern Ontario Tourism Conference (TIAO)

April 7-9 - Restaurants Canada Show 2025

 
Open/On Demand:

BDC Learning Centre

OBCT (Ontario Building Trades and Construction) Newsletter

Ontario Chamber of Commerce Webinars

Small Business Centres Ontario: Business Basics, Start-Up, Business Growth

Start Now Incubator for Women Entrepreneurs

StrikeUp - Digital conference for women entrepreneurs

Teeny Tiny Summits

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub  (WEKH)
Product Testing at Loyalist College - Contact Loyalist Industry Partnership Officer Laurie Caouette LCaouette@loyalistcollege.com

Reports

Our Economic and Tourism Development Staff collect and analyze statistics, conduct research and review reports regularly. This helps inform our plans and programming, and should also serve to help you with your business planning.