INVEST North Program — Investment – Locate Stream

• The applicant must be a business that is locating new business operations to Northern Ontario.
• The project must consist of eligible activities such as capital construction, leasehold improvements, land servicing, ICT investments, marketing for new products or business initiatives, or third‑party training.
• The project must demonstrate net economic benefits for Northern Ontario, including job creation and investment from other sources.
• The applicant must present a detailed business plan that will be assessed for strength and feasibility.
• The applicant must complete a pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff before submitting an application.

Who is eligible?

• Businesses locating new business operations to Northern Ontario
• Tourism businesses that operate as destination accommodations for extended stays (e.g., remote outfitters, family vacation resorts)

Who is not eligible

• Retail and consumer service businesses that primarily earn their revenue by selling products or services directly to individual consumers.
• Accommodation and food service businesses and related activities, including hotels and motels that mainly serve the overnight travelling public.
• Businesses primarily involved in wholesale activities.
• Beverage alcohol manufacturing companies, including spirit distilleries, breweries, wineries and cideries.
• Businesses focused on commercial or industrial land and building development for resale or lease, including projects that only cover site servicing or development costs.

Eligible expenses

• Capital construction costs related to establishing new business operations in Northern Ontario.
• Leasehold improvements to prepare or upgrade rented premises for the new operations.
• Land servicing costs (e.g., servicing a site to make it ready for use, excluding land purchase or lease).
• Investments in information and communications technology (ICT), such as hardware, software and related systems required for the new operations.
• Marketing expenses for new products and business initiatives, up to 20% of all other eligible project costs or $75,000, whichever is less.
• Training costs paid to third-party providers, up to 20% of all other eligible project costs.

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses locating new business operations in Northern Ontario.

• Expected job creation associated with the new Northern Ontario operations.
• Amount and reliability of investment and financing secured from other sources by the applicant.
• Strength, clarity and completeness of the applicant’s detailed business plan.
• Extent to which the project does not unreasonably impact or displace existing Northern Ontario businesses.
• Overall net economic benefits and development advantages the project will generate for Northern Ontario.

• The program may make exceptions to certain eligibility rules for projects that address a priority economic need in Northern Ontario, at the discretion of the NOHFC Board of Directors.
• The applicant is expected to secure the remaining financing required to complete the project beyond any support approved by NOHFC.
• The applicant may be required to repay NOHFC if assets financed through this program are sold after the project is completed.
• Limited funds are available and funding decisions are made by the NOHFC Board of Directors, so not all applications that meet the guidelines will receive support.