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Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects - Ontario - Canada
Closed
Source verified July 24, 2026

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

Support for economic growth in eastern Ontario
Offered by
Government of Ontario
Official source: ontario.ca
Funding available
$ 1,500,000
Deadline
September 17, 2024
Opened July 2, 2024
Location
Ontario, Canada
Who can apply

For-profit businesses

See full eligibility

Overview

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund supports businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations in eastern Ontario with financial assistance for economic development projects. Eligible work includes equipment and machinery, infrastructure or facility modifications, and skills training to help companies grow, improve productivity and create jobs.
Find open grants for your business
Explore open funding programs that match your business and project.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Increase operational productivity
  • Access new markets
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
  • Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Ontario
Legal structures
  • Non-profit
  • Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • Rural or Northern Residents
  • Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
  • Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
  • Rural / Remote communities
  • Business owners / entrepreneurs
  • Community leaders
Revenue structures
  • All structures
Scope
  • Municipal
  • Regional

Next Steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Investments in equipment, new technology, talent and training to enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth.
  • Investment in existing operations that lead to business expansion and the introduction of new products, services or markets.
  • Municipal infrastructure projects to secure private sector investment.
  • Consortium projects to address competitiveness limitations, promote technological adoption, develop supply chains for new foreign direct investment, implement an economic development strategy, or advance regional planning priorities.

Documents Needed

  • Application form
  • Cash flow forecast
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Corporate family tree
  • Three years of financial statements

Official resources

Official page

Eastern Ontario Development Fund

Program guide

Appendix A: Eligible and ineligible cost categories

Appendix B: job creation and definition

Appendix B: Key terms of funding agreements

Application form

Application form

Application form

Application form

Application form

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) and Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • For-profit businesses
  • Municipalities
  • Not-for-profit organizations

Who is not eligible

  • Sole proprietorships.
  • Charities.
  • Distributors.
  • Start-ups.

Eligible expenses

  • Project-related equipment and machinery
  • Infrastructure and facility modifications or upgrades
  • One-time internal labour, materials, specialized expertise, and skills training
  • Project-related permits or fees

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Ongoing operations, including maintenance and capital replacement.
  • Refinancing of existing business operations, acquisitions and buyouts, restructurings, and relocations to other jurisdictions within Ontario.
  • Primary production, retail, construction, personal services, consulting, electricity generation, waste management, recycling, information and communication services, academic research, and stand-alone restaurants and hotels unless transformative and considered a regional priority.
  • Acquisition of paid media space, travel and hospitality, purchase of land or buildings, landscaping, staff parking lots, replacement capital equipment, ongoing operational and production labour, materials for regular production, and wages of staff during training.
  • Preparation of funding proposal, purchase, lease or operation of vehicles or off-site equipment, shareholder payments, costs incurred outside Ontario, mergers and acquisitions, travel, hospitality, meal and incidental expenses, rebates, debt service costs, taxes, sales or distribution/shipping costs, in-kind contributions, overhead costs, lease costs, and working capital costs for regular production or operations.

Eligible geographic areas

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

Selection criteria

  • Alignment with the fund’s goals of investment attraction and job creation.
  • Regional economic development benefits and relation to other projects under consideration.
  • Achievability, including the necessary financing, project management structure and experience to implement the project.

How to apply

  • Complete the online self assessment tool.
  • Contact a regional advisor for help with your application.
  • Register for Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON).
  • Work with your regional advisor to complete the application form and submit the application on TPON along with the required supplemental information.

Processing and Agreement

  • A funding agreement with the Province of Ontario must be signed before any payment is made.
  • Sources of project financing and proof of insurance of at least $2 million must be in place before disbursements.
  • Disbursements are made in arrears in annual instalments and cannot exceed the annual cap set by the Government of Ontario.
  • For grants, a performance payment usually 20% or more of the total funding is paid after project completion and final reporting is received to Ontario’s satisfaction.
  • Funding agreements can require annual financial statements, project status reports, and a third-party auditor’s certificate at the recipient’s expense.

Additional information

  • Complementary services and supports are available for the duration of the project regardless of the funding outcome.
  • Business projects may receive advisory services, assistance with environmental compliance approvals, help accessing skills and talent, and information on leveraging available tax credits.
  • Community economic development projects may receive advisory services and navigation support for land-use planning and workforce development.

Contacts

rdp@ontario.ca
1-800-267-6592

Other components of this program

Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects Program

What is the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects?

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund supports businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations in eastern Ontario with financial assistance for economic development projects. Eligible work includes equipment and machinery, infrastructure or facility modifications, and skills training to help companies grow, improve productivity and create jobs.

How much funding can be received?

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,500,000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline for this grant program was September 17, 2024.

Who is eligible for the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects program?

To be eligible for the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects program, you must: Businesses must have at least 3 years of operations and financial statements. Businesses must employ at least 10 people, or 5 in rural Ontario, and commit to creating at least 5 new jobs or a 30% increase for companies with fewer than 15 employees. Businesses must invest at least $500,000, or $200,000 in rural Ontario, and be located in, or plan to locate in, eastern Ontario.

What expenses are eligible under Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects?

Investments in equipment, new technology, talent and training to enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth. Investment in existing operations that lead to business expansion and the introduction of new products, services or markets. Municipal infrastructure projects to secure private sector investment. Consortium projects to address competitiveness limitations, promote technological adoption, develop supply chains for new foreign direct investment, implement an economic development strategy, or advance regional planning priorities.

Who can I contact for more information about the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects?

You can contact Government of Ontario by email at rdp@ontario.ca or by phone at 1-800-267-6592.

Where is the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects available?

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Community economic development projects program is available the province of Ontario.