INVEST North Program — Regional Tile Drainage
Not-for-profit, agricultural, or community organizations representing a consortium of producers interested in installing tile drainage in a designated region can apply. These organizations act as consortium service providers, managing and administering the project on behalf of the producers.
Overview
Your not-for-profit agricultural organization, on behalf of a consortium of producers, could get financial assistance to cover 50% of the costs of installing tile drainage to improve the quality of arable land within a specific region in Northern Ontario,
At a glance
Funding available
- Increase social or community impact
- Increase operational productivity
- Optimize production processes
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible candidates
- All industries
- Ontario
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- All structures
- Regional
Next Steps
Activities funded
This grant supports projects aimed at enhancing agricultural infrastructure through tile drainage systems in Northern Ontario. The eligible activities focus on improving arable land productivity and optimizing project management.
- Installation of tile drainage systems by licensed contractors.
- Coverage of contractor costs for materials and labour involved in tile drainage.
- Payment of project management and administration fees for the service provider overseeing the tile drainage installation.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Not-for-profit, agricultural, or community organizations representing a consortium of producers interested in installing tile drainage in a designated region can apply. These organizations act as consortium service providers, managing and administering the project on behalf of the producers.Who is not eligible
Only not-for-profit, agricultural, or community organizations acting as consortium service providers with identified producers are eligible for this grant. This excludes certain types of entities based on their status and main activities.
- For-profit businesses and corporations.
- Individual farmers not part of an identified consortium.
- Organizations not involved in agriculture or community services related to farming.
- Entities without a legal not-for-profit status.
- Organizations unable to manage or administer a consortium service project.
Eligible expenses
The grant is designed to enhance agricultural productivity in Northern Ontario by financing tile drainage projects. Eligible activities funded under this grant mainly pertain to the installation and management of tile drainage systems.
- Tile drainage contractor costs, including materials and labour.
- Project management and administrative fees for service providers.
Eligible geographic areas
The INVEST North Program — Regional Tile Drainage aims to enhance agricultural productivity by focusing on specific regions in Northern Ontario. Eligible geographical areas are based on the program's objective to support regional development in Northern Ontario.
- Organizations operating within Northern Ontario.
Selection criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives.
- Feasibility and readiness of the project, ensuring that projects can be "shovel ready" and completed within two years.
- Inclusion of identified farmers within the consortium, who meet all outlined eligibility requirements.
- Ability to provide detailed GPS mapping and necessary documentation such as maps of tiled areas and the design's compliance with the Drainage Guide for Ontario.
- Alignment with the technical standards and approval facilitated by OMAFRA, including a mandatory technical review.
- Capability to ensure that each participating farmer’s financial contributions meet the stipulated 10% minimum of contractor costs.
How to apply
Here are the steps to submit an application for the Grow – Regional Tile Drainage grant:
- Step 1: Preliminary Consultation
- Contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) staff to discuss the project viability.
- Prepare to undergo an OMAFRA technical review as it is mandatory for the application process.
- Step 2: Form Consortium
- Identify and assemble a consortium of producers who are eligible and "shovel-ready".
- Ensure that each farmer within the consortium has a Farm Business Registration or qualifies for an exemption.
- Gather written lease agreements from producers leasing land for a minimum of five years.
- Step 3: Prepare Application
- Prepare a detailed project proposal outlining the objectives, expected outcomes, and project timeline.
- Include maps showing proposed tile installations and any technical designs in compliance with the Drainage Guide for Ontario.
- Draft a budget detailing contractor costs, administration fees, and required contributions from individual producers.
- Compile all necessary supporting documentation required for verification.
- Step 4: Submit Application
- Submit the complete application package to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
- Ensure all consortium members are accounted for and contribute their required cash contributions.
- Step 5: Confirmation of Submission
- Receive confirmation of receipt from NOHFC for the submitted application.
- Keep a record of the application number for future reference.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Projects should be shovel-ready and must be completed within two years of approval.
- Project funding will be adjusted if a farmer drops out of the consortium after application submission.
- Each farmer in the consortium must be identified at the application stage.
- A farmer must meet specific regulatory and contractual requirements to be included in a consortium.
- If a farmer stops farming or sells the tiled land within five years, they may need to repay the conditional contribution.