Grow Ontario Market Initiative (GOM)

Who is eligible?

This grant is aimed at agribusinesses and organizations looking to grow their market within Ontario and internationally.

• Primary producers engaged in crop, livestock, or controlled environment agriculture (such as indoor agriculture, greenhouse, vertical farming).
• Processors operating in the agri-food supply chain, including new processors who will begin processing within 18 months of project completion.
• Industry organizations made up of primary producers, processors, or entities involved in the agri-food sector.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activity. The restrictions aim to ensure that funds are directed toward strategic sectors aligned with the grant's objectives.

• Companies involved in the domestic marketing and product development of Aquaculture.
• Fish and Seafood Processing businesses focusing on domestic markets.
• Entities who owe a debt to Ontario or Canada without a repayment plan.

Eligible expenses

This grant focuses on aiding businesses in the agri-food sector to explore and capture new market opportunities domestically and internationally. The funding supports activities related to market analysis, new product development, and marketing efforts.

• Engaging third-party advisory services for completing market analysis and life cycle analysis or developing a marketing plan.
• Investigating regulatory or certification standards necessary to access new markets, including label information preparation for both domestic and international standards.
• Contracting third-party advisory services for the development of new products, including formulation developments, ingredient sourcing, and shelf-life determination.
• Labeling development for new products to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Execution of a business or marketing plan, including brand development, consumer studies, and product demonstrations.
• Creating new promotional materials such as advertisements, brochures, and social media content.
• Launching new product marketing campaigns aimed at expanding into domestic and international markets.
• Organizing sales, marketing, and promotional events such as trade missions and tradeshows.
• Developing specially produced product samples for tradeshows or specific promotional events.

Eligible geographic areas

Eligible geographical areas for the Grow Ontario Market Initiative have not been specified beyond its association with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. No explicit locations have been outlined, leaving the geographic eligibility ambiguous based on the provided information.

The Grow Ontario Market Initiative provides significant support for primary producers, processors, and industry organizations to expand their market opportunities. Here are additional details to consider:

• Applicants can submit a maximum of two applications/projects at any given time.
• Projects are recommended to be less than two years long.
• Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis starting from May 19, 2023, subject to funding availability.
• Processor and Primary Producer Recipients can receive 50% of eligible costs up to $60,000 per project.
• Industry Organization Recipients can receive 50% of eligible costs up to $125,000 per project.
• Eligible activities include market analysis, new product development, and marketing activities.
• Ineligible activities include domestic marketing of aquaculture and fish/seafood processing.
• Applicants must provide written quotes from third parties detailing proposed eligible costs.
• Recipients must retain any assets funded by the initiative for at least two years after the Approval Letter date.