Community Futures Ontario — Access to Capital
- Open continuously
Overview
Get repayable financing of $150,000 or more for your SME or social enterprise, in the form of a loan, loan guarantee or equity investment, when financing from other sources is insufficient.
At a glance
Funding available
- Increase social or community impact
- Minimum amount : 150,000 $
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
- All industries
- Ontario
- Non-profit
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- Startups
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- All structures
- Local
- Regional
Next Steps
Activities funded
The Community Futures Program provides financial assistance for projects that aim to foster economic growth and community development through loans or equity investments. Eligible projects focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises.
- Start-up and expansion projects for small businesses.
- Stabilization plans to help maintain existing jobs in the community.
- Social enterprise initiatives that create or save jobs.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
The Community Futures Program's Access to Capital initiative is designed to support small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises that are seeking financing for start-up, expansion, or stabilization projects with the objective of job creation or retention. This program targets companies that have difficulties obtaining financing from other sources.
Who is not eligible
There are certain types of companies that are not eligible for this grant:
- Companies involved in illegal activities.
- Businesses that do not have a viable business plan.
Eligible expenses
This program provides financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises for start-up, expansion, or stabilization, specifically to help maintain or create jobs.
- Financing new or existing small businesses.
- Support for social enterprises' start-up activities.
- Expansion projects for growth and development.
- Stabilization plans to sustain operations and employment.
- Local decision-making for financing eligibility.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is designed for businesses and social enterprises that are located in specific regions under the Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in Canada. The eligible geographical areas are those served by the local CFDC offices, ensuring support is provided to regions that align with community economic development goals.
- Communities served by the Community Futures Development Corporations in Canada.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Financing options include loans, loan guarantees, and equity investments.
- The local boards of directors make all financing decisions at the community level.
- Projects must focus on maintaining or creating jobs in the local community.
- CFDCs provide support to small and medium-sized businesses when financing from other sources is insufficient.
- CFDCs offer repayable financing of $150,000 or more on commercial terms.
- Interested applicants should contact the nearest CFDC office for more details and assistance with the application process.