Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects

Eligibility for this fund requires the applicant to meet several specific criteria related to their business operations and investment plans.

• The business must have at least 3 years of operations with financial statements.
• The business must employ at least 10 people, or 5 if located in rural Ontario.
• The business must commit to creating at least 5 new jobs, or target a 30% increase in employment for businesses with fewer than 15 employees.
• The business must invest at least $500,000 in their project, or $200,000 if they are in rural Ontario.
• The business must be located in, or plan to relocate to, a community in eastern Ontario.

Who is eligible?

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund is available to entities located within the defined geographic regions of Eastern Ontario. Eligible applicants include:- Municipalities and Indigenous Communities: Within the specified regions, they can apply for support projects aimed at economic development.- Incorporated Non-Governmental Organizations: These organizations must have an economic development mandate or function, such as industry or sector associations.- Consortiums of Businesses: Such consortiums must include at least one not-for-profit organization leading the effort.In addition to organizational eligibility, the projects must comply with specific requirements, such as committing to a minimum investment amount of $100,000, demonstrating private sector support, and creating measurable outcomes in terms of investment, job growth, and new market accesses.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain projects and industries mainly related to specific businesses' ongoing operations or core activities. These restrictions are set to align with the program's economic development goals in eastern Ontario.

• Projects related to ongoing operations including maintenance and capital replacement.
• Refinancing of existing business operations.
• Acquisitions and buyouts.
• Restructuring or relocating to other jurisdictions within Ontario.
• Primary production.
• Retail businesses.
• Construction projects, such as residential development.
• Personal services operations.
• Consulting businesses.
• Electricity generation companies.
• Waste management and recycling industries.
• Information and communication services.
• Academic research.
• Stand-alone restaurants and hotels, unless they are transformative and considered a regional priority.

Eligible expenses

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides financial assistance for projects that stimulate economic growth and job creation in eastern Ontario. Eligible projects focus on business growth, productivity improvement, innovation, skills development, market expansion, and community economic development.

• Projects aimed at business growth through strategic investments.
• Initiatives that focus on improving productivity within businesses.
• Projects promoting innovation and skills development.
• Efforts to enter or expand in new markets.
• Community projects that invest in infrastructure supporting economic development.
• Projects that lead to significant job creation and private sector growth.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies and organizations located in specific geographical areas within Eastern Ontario. The eligible locations are focused on fostering regional economic development and growth.

• Frontenac
• Haliburton
• Hastings
• Kawartha Lakes
• Lanark
• Leeds and Grenville
• Lennox and Addington
• Muskoka
• Northumberland
• Ottawa
• Peterborough
• Prescott and Russell
• Prince Edward
• Renfrew
• Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry

The evaluation and selection of projects for the Eastern Ontario Development Fund are based on specific criteria to ensure they align with the fund’s objectives of fostering economic development and job creation in Eastern Ontario.

• Alignment with the fund’s goals of investment attraction and job creation.
• Provision of economic benefits such as job creation and contribution to the region or sector development.
• Achievability, including the necessary financing, project management structure, and experience to implement the project successfully.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Complementary services and supports are available whether or not your application for funding is successful.
• Consultations with a regional advisor are required before applying to better align your project with program objectives.
• Notification of the application decision is typically provided within 60 business days of the application deadline.
• Accessing skills and talent, environmental compliance assistance, and tax credit information may be available as additional support for business projects.
• Land-use planning and workforce development navigation support may be offered as additional support for community projects.