Opening Soon
Eastern Ontario Development Fund
Supports business growth in Eastern Ontario
Last Update: June 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,500,000
Timeline
- Open Date : June 30, 2026
- Closing date : September 23, 2026
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for business and community projects in Eastern Ontario. It can finance growth, productivity, innovation, market expansion, job creation, and regional economic development.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 15% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : June 30, 2026
- Closing date : September 23, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 10-100 employees
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Business expansion and investment projects.
- Investments in equipment, new technologies, talent, and training.
- Projects that introduce new products, services, or markets.
- Community economic development projects that support infrastructure or regional strategies.
Documents Needed
- Completed online self-assessment tool.
- Full application form submitted through TPON.
- Required supplemental information.
- Program guidelines for the relevant stream.
- Sample application form for the relevant stream.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Existing businesses.
- Municipalities.
- Not-for-profit organizations.
- Economic development organizations.
- Sector organizations and consortia.
Who is not eligible
- Start-ups.
- Businesses in retail, consulting, or personal services.
- Projects focused on primary production, construction, or academic research.
- Projects involving electricity generation, waste management, recycling, or information and communication services.
- Stand-alone restaurants and hotels, unless transformative and a regional priority.
Eligible expenses
- Eligible project costs for business or community development projects.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Ongoing operations, maintenance, and capital replacement.
- Refinancing, acquisitions, buyouts, restructuring, or relocation within Ontario.
- Retail, consulting, personal services, primary production, and academic research.
- Electricity generation, waste management, recycling, and information and communication services.
- Stand-alone restaurants and hotels, unless considered transformative and a regional priority.
Eligible geographic areas
- Eastern Ontario.
- 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.
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the fund’s goals of investment attraction and job creation.
- Clear regional economic benefits.
- Feasibility based on financing, project management structure, and experience.
- Relation to other projects under consideration.
How to apply
- Step 1: Complete the online self-assessment tool
- Use the business or community stream screener.
- Step 2: Contact a regional advisor
- Discuss the project and get help with application preparation.
- Step 3: Register for Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON)
- Register your organization before applying.
- Have legal business information and official documents ready.
- Step 4: Complete and submit the application in TPON
- Work with your regional advisor to finish the form.
- Upload the required supplemental information.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after the intake deadline.
- Decisions are usually provided within about 60 business days.
- Successful applicants must sign a funding agreement with the Province of Ontario.
- Funding is only paid after conditions are met.
- Reporting and project targets are monitored through the agreement.
Additional information
- The program is competitive and funds only the strongest applications.
- Applicants must first discuss the project with a regional advisor.
- Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) is required for full application submission.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Eastern Ontario Development Fund Program
What is the Eastern Ontario Development Fund?
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for business and community projects in Eastern Ontario. It can finance growth, productivity, innovation, market expansion, job creation, and regional economic development.
How much funding can be received?
Eastern Ontario Development Fund Funds up to 15% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,500,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
Applications will open on June 30, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Eastern Ontario Development Fund program?
To be eligible for the Eastern Ontario Development Fund program, you must:
3 years of operations.
Minimum job creation commitment.
Located in Eastern Ontario.
What expenses are eligible under Eastern Ontario Development Fund?
Business expansion and investment projects.
Investments in equipment, new technologies, talent, and training.
Projects that introduce new products, services, or markets.
Community economic development projects that support infrastructure or regional strategies.
Who can I contact for more information about the Eastern Ontario Development Fund?
You can contact Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (ON) by email at eodf@ontario.ca or by phone at 1-800-361-3223.
Where is the Eastern Ontario Development Fund available?
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund program is available the province of Ontario.