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Ontario Creates Industry Development Program
Last Update: March 23, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Supports Ontario creative industry organizations with strategic development initiatives
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Ontario Creates Industry Development Program offers non‑refundable grants of up to $35,000 to Ontario-based not-for-profit trade and event organizations in the book, magazine, film, television and interactive digital media sectors. It funds business development and capacity-building activities such as B2B and B2C market initiatives, professional development, mentorship, training, research, and industry events that expand skills, business capacity, market share, and sales.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce the ecological footprint
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 35,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business Associations
- Professional Associations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
Activities funded
- Business-to-business (B2B) activities that create new leads and long-term business relationships, such as buyer-seller meetings, business forums and content incubators.
- Business development initiatives that help companies access new markets, business opportunities, distribution channels and niche markets, including strategic export and sales office activities.
- Industry events, conferences or structured initiatives focused on professional development, mentorship and training for creative sector companies and professionals.
- Strategic capacity-building projects, including research or consultation initiatives that identify sector needs and help companies adapt to challenges, opportunities or environmental changes.
- Projects that promote inclusion and increase participation or support for equity-deserving groups within the book, magazine, film, television and interactive digital media sectors.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 30,000
Mentorship and training program for mid-career professionals in the television sector
$ 25,000
Increasing business capacity for a film production company through professional development workshops
$ 30,000
Launching an interactive digital media platform for environmental sustainability education
$ 15,000
Development and mentorship program for mid-career magazine editors
$ 20,000
Expanding market share for a book publishing company through audience development activities
$ 25,000
Strategic initiative to improve accessibility of digital media content for visually impaired users
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an Ontario-based incorporated not-for-profit organization.
- The organization must have been in operation for at least one full year and be financially viable.
- The organization must generate at least 60% of its revenues from non-government sources, unless it is exempt as a trade organization or membership association.
- The project must provide capacity-building, business development or strategic activities that benefit Ontario companies in the book, magazine, film, television, and/or interactive digital media sectors.
- The project must demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes such as increased skills, business capacity, market share, sales, or innovation for Ontario creative industry stakeholders.
Who is eligible?
- Ontario-based incorporated not-for-profit organizations serving the book publishing sector
- Ontario-based incorporated not-for-profit organizations serving the magazine publishing sector
- Ontario-based incorporated not-for-profit organizations serving the film sector
- Ontario-based incorporated not-for-profit organizations serving the television sector
- Ontario-based incorporated not-for-profit organizations serving the interactive digital media sector
Who is not eligible
- For-profit companies and other organizations that are not incorporated as not-for-profit entities in Ontario or at the national level.
- Organizations that are not Ontario-based (i.e., do not operate as Ontario organizations) and do not offer significant benefits to Ontario participants.
- Organizations that have been operating for less than one full year or that are not financially viable as ongoing entities.
- Organizations that derive more than 40% of their revenues from government sources, unless they qualify as a trade organization or membership association as defined by the program.
- Organizations receiving operational (core) funding from the Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF).
Eligible expenses
- Project-related administrative costs (e.g. project management, bookkeeping, office rent, insurance), up to 15% of the total project budget.
- Labour costs directly tied to delivering the project activities (e.g. salaries and wages for project staff, trainers, mentors, coordinators), up to 50% of total eligible costs.
- Equipment costs required for the project, including purchases subject to amortization, up to a maximum of $5,000.
- Fees for external service providers and suppliers (e.g. consultants, trainers, researchers, event organizers) contracted to deliver parts of the project.
- Direct delivery costs for events, training, mentorship or business development activities (e.g. venue rental, materials, technical services), where these are included in the approved budget.
- Eligible Ontario-based project costs that are necessary and reasonable for carrying out the approved activities, as detailed and approved in the submitted budget.
Eligible geographic areas
- Organizations incorporated and operating in Ontario.
- National organizations, provided their activities offer significant benefits to participants based in Ontario.
Selection criteria
- Relevance of the project (30%): importance to Ontario creative industry stakeholders, clear evidence of need, and alignment with sector development goals.
- Feasibility (25%): clarity and realism of objectives, work plan, timeline and budget, strength of the project team, and evidence of consultation with industry stakeholders.
- Expected results (25%): measurable outcomes, benefits for Ontario companies, and contribution to diversity, equity, inclusion and support for equity-deserving communities.
- Track record (20%): past experience delivering similar projects, commercial and audience impact, number of Ontario participants, and demonstrated DEI actions and commitments.
How to apply
1
Initial Consultation
- Contact an Ontario Creates Consultant to discuss the eligibility of your organization and project.
- Complete a request form to schedule a consultation call.
2
Review Guidelines
Carefully read the Industry Development Program guidelines available on the Ontario Creates website.
3
Attend Information Session
- Register online to attend the webinar conducted by Ontario Creates to understand program specifics.
- Submit registration by 5:00 PM on the day prior to the webinar.
- Request for a French session if needed by the specified date.
4
Application Preparation
- Prepare your application, ensuring it includes all necessary information and documents as per the guidelines.
- Only one project should be included per application, but multiple applications are allowed per deadline.
5
Submit Application
- Log into the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal (OAP).
- Upload all required documents and complete the application form.
- Submit the application by the specified deadline; late applications will not be considered.
6
Receive Confirmation
- Ensure receipt of confirmation of submission from Ontario Creates.
- Retain the confirmation for your records.
Additional information
- Applicants are encouraged to attend an information session, with the possibility of a separate French session or accessibility accommodations upon request.
- Organizations may submit more than one application per deadline, but each application can only cover a single project.
- Previously funded projects must be re-submitted annually for consideration and are not guaranteed renewed support.
- Ontario Creates applies a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to all decisions, including attention to equity-deserving communities and accessibility.
Documents and links
Contacts
gflac@ontariocreates.ca
416-642-6652
