How much funding can be received?

The Economic Development Capacity Building program offers up to $50,000 annually to local governments for hiring an Economic Development Officer and pursuing activities that support economic development. Eligible activities include developing economic plans, conducting research, sector development, marketing, and business retention and expansion efforts.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

This grant provides a substantial financial incentive with specific terms regarding its disbursement and utilization. The modalities are structured to support economic development activities effectively.

Funding of up to $50,000 is available each calendar year for approved projects or positions.
Funds are allocated specifically for hiring or maintaining an Economic Development Officer or for qualifying economic development activities.
Reimbursement of expenses can only be claimed once the final report is submitted by February 28 of the following year.
Costs must be incurred within the approved calendar year to be eligible for funding.

grant_single_labels|projects

The Economic Development Capacity Building grant supports projects and activities that enhance the economic planning and implementation capacities of local governments within the specified region. The eligible activities are designed to foster economic growth, diversification, and business development.

Staff or contract wages to support an economic development position where economic development is at least 50% of the workload.
Development of economic development plans, business retention and expansion plans, community and downtown revitalization plans, marketing plans, and workforce attraction planning.
Conducting sector or economic analysis, collaborative research studies, evaluations, feasibility studies, and market research.
Activities aimed at sector development and economic diversification, expanding current sectors, and attracting new businesses or sectors to a community.
Marketing activities promoting specific economic opportunities for investment, such as creating entrepreneurship attraction videos.
Conducting business retention and expansion activities, implementing specific action items identified from a business retention and expansion plan.
Hosting trade missions and/or investor tours for business or investment attraction, with costs covering transportation, accommodations, and facility/venue rentals up to a maximum of $5,000.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 50,000

Hiring an Economic Development Officer for downtown revitalization

$ 50,000

Research project on economic diversification opportunities

$ 50,000

Business retention and expansion consultancy for local merchants

$ 50,000

Developing a regional economic strategy for attracting tech startups

$ 50,000

Hosting an investor tour to showcase local agricultural opportunities

$ 50,000

Marketing campaign to boost local tourism industry

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and the economic development activities they plan to pursue.

The applicant must be a local government.
All applicants must be located within Northern Development’s service region.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Local governments located within Northern Development's service region are eligible to apply for the Economic Development Capacity Building program.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

This grant is specifically designed to support local governments in their economic development efforts. As such, it naturally excludes various organizations and entities that do not fit this criterion.

Individual businesses or private sector companies.
Non-local government organizations or non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Entities located outside the Northern Development's service region.
Organizations involved in sectors or activities that do not align with local government-led economic development plans.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

This grant encourages local governments to undertake or support various economic development activities to bolster community growth and diversification. The eligible projects and activities are focused on strategic planning, sector development, marketing, and business collaboration.

Staff or contract wages for an economic development position where at least 50% of the workload is focused on economic development.
Developing economic development plans, strategies including community and downtown revitalization plans, business retention and expansion plans, marketing plans, and workforce attraction planning.
Conducting applied research and analysis to support planning or priority setting, such as sector or economic analysis, collaborative research studies, feasibility studies, and market research.
Activities aimed at sector development and economic diversification, including efforts to attract new businesses or sectors to a community.
Marketing and promotional activities to highlight specific economic opportunities for investment, such as entrepreneurship attraction videos.
Conducting business retention and expansion activities and implementing action items from a business retention and expansion plan.
Hosting trade missions and investor tours focused on business and investment attraction, up to a maximum of $5,000.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

This grant is available to local governments located within the service region of the Northern Development Initiative Trust. These areas are specifically earmarked for program eligibility to support regional economic growth.

Local governments within Northern Development's service region.

grant_single_labels|criteria

The application for the Economic Development Capacity Building program is evaluated and selected based on specific criteria to ensure alignment with the program's goals. Here are the key evaluation and selection criteria:

The applicant must be a local government located within Northern Development's service region.
The economic development activities or wages must be at least 50% of the workload.
The project should align with the community's economic development plan.
Must submit a complete application form, including the local government's latest economic development strategic plan.
For wage applications, the job description must specify the percentage of time allocated to economic development.
For activity applications, copies of quotes or a detailed budget breakdown are required.
Proposed activities must be completed within the approved calendar year.
Prior year reporting must be received and processed by Northern Development.

grant_single_labels|register

Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:

Step 1: Review Program Documents
Download and save all necessary documents, including the Application Guide and Reporting Form, to your computer desktop.
Thoroughly read the Application Guide to understand the eligibility and funding requirements.
Step 2: Prepare Your Application
Complete the Application Form with accurate and detailed information.
Ensure the local government’s latest economic development strategic plan is up to date and included.
For wage funding, prepare a copy of the job description with specified percentage of time allocated to economic development.
For activity funding, obtain quotes or provide a detailed budget breakdown for proposed activities.
Step 3: Submit the Application
Log into the Online Application System provided by Northern Development.
Upload the completed application form along with all required supplementary materials electronically.
Ensure submission before the deadline of March 31 to be considered for the funding year.
Step 4: Await Approval and Reporting
Understand that the application will not be approved until the prior year’s reporting has been received and processed.
Be prepared to submit a final report by February 28 of the following year to receive reimbursement.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

The Economic Development Capacity Building program by Northern Development Initiative Trust provides financial support to local governments for hiring economic development officers or pursuing economic development activities.

Application intake starts from November 1 to March 31 each year.
The program funds up to $50,000 for eligible projects per calendar year.
Applicants must submit a final report by February 28 of the following year for reimbursement.
Combines administrative roles where economic development is less than 50% of the workload are ineligible.
Costs for CPP, EI, WCB, other benefits, and recruiting expenses are not covered.
Projects influencing or lobbying any level of government are ineligible.
Online applications are mandatory for submission.