INVEST North Program — Investment – Locate Stream

• Detailed business proposal, if invited after initial review.

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.

• Step 1: Pre-application consultation (mandatory consultation)
  • Contact the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) at 1-800-461-8329 to schedule a pre-application consultation.
  • Work with the assigned staff member (from the relevant ministry/NOHFC team) to review your project concept and complete the pre-consultation process.
  • Discuss funding options and determine whether your project aligns with the Invest North – Locate Stream guidelines.
• Step 2: Submit initial online application (eligibility screening)
  • Access the NOHFC online portal and locate the Invest North – Investment – Locate Stream application form.
  • Complete and submit the initial online application, providing the required information about your proposed project.
  • Allow NOHFC to review this initial application to determine if your project is eligible under the program guidelines.
• Step 3: Provide detailed business proposal (full application)
  • If your project is deemed eligible after the initial review, wait for NOHFC to notify you and invite you to the next stage.
  • Prepare and submit a detailed business proposal for your project as requested by NOHFC.
  • Include a comprehensive business plan and other details required by NOHFC to assess net economic benefits and overall feasibility.
• Step 4: Application evaluation (program assessment)
  • NOHFC staff review your detailed proposal and may request additional information on your project.
  • Your application is evaluated in greater detail against the program’s assessment criteria and funding parameters.
• Step 5: Funding decision (board review and outcome)
  • NOHFC staff present their review and recommendations to the NOHFC Board of Directors.
  • The Board of Directors makes the final decision on whether to approve funding, the amount, and the form (conditional contribution and/or term loan).
  • Receive notification from NOHFC informing you of the Board’s decision on your application.

• Submit an initial online application after the pre-application consultation.
• NOHFC reviews the initial application to confirm eligibility under program guidelines.
• If eligible, you are notified and asked to submit a detailed business proposal.
• The NOHFC Board of Directors makes the final funding decision.

• 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.