How much funding can be received?

The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program provides funding support of up to 30% of eligible costs, with a grant maximum of $3 million for collaboration projects, aimed at improving productivity, competitiveness, and market access in Ontario's forest sector. Eligible activities include strategic innovation projects by forest sector manufacturers, processors, and collaborations with research organizations, industry associations, and academia.

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The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program aims to strengthen Ontario's forestry sector by supporting strategic projects that enhance productivity and competitiveness. Eligible activities include substantial investments by various wood product manufacturers and collaborative efforts involving industry and academia.

Projects by for-profit manufacturers and processors such as sawmills and pulp and paper mills.
Innovative secondary wood manufacturing initiatives.
Bio-economy projects related to wood and forest biomass processing.
Collaborative projects involving forest businesses, research organizations, and academic institutions to innovate technology, products, or processes in the forest sector.

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Eligibility for the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program is contingent upon the applicant meeting specific criteria related to their operations and proposed project initiatives.

For Business Projects: The applicant must be a for-profit manufacturer or processor of wood and forest biomass located in Ontario.
Eligible Business Projects must involve at least $3 million in eligible costs.
The types of operations eligible for business projects include saw mills, pulp and paper mills, secondary wood manufacturers, and bio-economy projects.
Harvesting and resource extraction projects are not eligible.
For Collaboration Projects: The initiative must be Ontario-based and include at least $3 million in eligible costs.
Collaboration projects require a consortium of at least three partners, with at least one being an Ontario-based for-profit forestry or wood products company.
Partners in collaboration projects can include forest sector for-profit businesses, not-for-profit research organizations, forest industry associations, and academia.

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This program is designed to support strategic investments in Ontario's forest sector by providing funding for projects that enhance productivity and innovation, improve competitiveness, support market access, and strengthen regional economies through business and collaboration efforts.

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This grant excludes certain industries and projects from eligibility to ensure alignment with its strategic objectives. The restrictions help to focus on fostering innovation and competitiveness in the forest sector.

Harvesting and resource extraction projects.

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This grant is available to manufacturers and processors of wood products located across Ontario. Eligibility is specific to for-profit entities based within the provincial boundaries.

Companies based in Ontario, Canada.

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The evaluation and selection of projects for the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program involve a two-stage process to ensure their alignment with the program’s objectives, although specific point scores are not provided.

Demonstrate strong alignment with the program’s objectives: enhance productivity and competitiveness, increase innovation, create greater market access, improve the competitiveness of Ontario’s broader forest sector, and strengthen regional economies.
Demonstrate need for government financial support to complete the project and have sufficient funding to complete the project when combined with proposed support from FSIIP.
Pass a two-stage project evaluation process: Stage I focuses on checking eligibility and initial alignment with program objectives, and Stage II involves a competitive evaluation process, including financial and technical due diligence.

grant_single_labels|register

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

Step 1: Access Transfer Payment Ontario
Login to the Transfer Payment Ontario portal.
Access the Stage I Eligibility Checklist and Application Form.
Step 2: Complete Stage I Application
Complete the Stage I Eligibility Checklist.
Fill out the Stage I Application Form with detailed project information.
Submit your Stage I application before the deadline for the desired round.
Step 3: Prepare for Stage II
If selected, prepare a Stage II Business Plan.
Gather all required supplemental documents.
Step 4: Submit Stage II Application
Submit the completed Stage II Business Plan and supplemental documents by the Stage II deadline.
Ensure all information is complete and accurate to avoid deferral or rejection.
Step 5: Review and Confirmation
Check for a confirmation of submission for both Stage I and Stage II.
Contact the Business Development Branch via email or phone for assistance if needed.

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Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The program has a competitive rounds-based selection process, meaning not all eligible projects will receive funding if others better align with program objectives.
Applicants should ensure all required supplemental documents are complete and submitted on time to avoid the risk of deferring to a later round.
Partial grants are possible in exceptional situations for business projects, at the province’s discretion, even though loans are typically provided.
Performance-based loans may have forgivable portions under certain conditions.
The deadline for Stage I submissions determines the evaluation round in which the application will be considered, with continuous submissions evaluated in the subsequent round.
Questions and further assistance are available via a dedicated contact email or phone line provided by the Business Development Branch.

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FSIIP@ontario.ca

1-844-573-9017

Apply to this program

Fueling Innovation in Ontario's Forest Sector

The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program offers substantial financial support to manufacturers and processors of wood products across Ontario to enhance productivity, support innovation, and improve market access. It specifically targets strategic investments that contribute to the Ontario forest sector's competitiveness and regional economic strength.

Exploring the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program

The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) is a pivotal initiative aimed at fostering growth and innovation in Ontario's forest sector. Targeted at for-profit manufacturers and processors, the program seeks to bolster productivity and competitiveness through strategic investments. Eligible participants include saw mills, pulp and paper mills, secondary wood manufacturers, and ventures focusing on the bio-economy—those leveraging forest biomass innovations. Notably, the program excludes funding for harvesting and resource extraction projects, ensuring a concentrated focus on enhancing product and process innovation within the region.

FSIIP offers two distinct categories of funding: business projects and collaboration projects. Business projects require a substantial commitment of at least $3 million in eligible costs, providing performance-based loans that can partially be forgivable, and grants in exceptional circumstances. This structure is designed to encourage robust private investment while maintaining economic feasibility for recipients. For collaboration projects, the program necessitates partnerships between a mix of for-profit entities, non-profits, and academic institutions, fostering an environment where diverse expertise can converge to propel technological and process innovations in the forest sector.

The overarching objective of the program is to transform and modernize Ontario’s forest sector, promoting projects that align closely with its objectives—enhancing productivity and competitiveness, increasing innovation, improving market access, and strengthening regional economies. By supporting ventures that demonstrate a clear need for governmental assistance and possess a well-defined project completion strategy, FSIIP aims to allocate resources effectively to initiatives with the highest potential impact.

Selection for funding involves a meticulous two-stage evaluation process. The first stage assesses basic eligibility and the project's alignment with program goals. Successful candidates proceed to the second stage, engaging in a competitive, rounds-based evaluation that includes rigorous financial and technical due diligence. This process ensures that funded projects are not only competitive but also sustainable and impactful.

Applications are managed through a structured, rounds-based timeline, allowing continuous submissions with specific deadlines. This periodic method ensures timely considerations of new projects while encouraging planners to refine proposals to meet precise deadlines. Importantly, applicants have the flexibility to seek additional government support, provided their total funding from all sources aligns with permissible stacking limits—50% for business projects and 75% for collaboration projects.

By spearheading such initiatives, the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program not only aims to rejuvenate Ontario's forestry sector but also lays the groundwork for long-term economic viability through innovation and sustainable development. This economic transformation endeavours to position Ontario as a leader in forest technologies, both on a national and global platform.