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REGI — Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) - Northern Ontario
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Funds to accelerate business growth in Northern Ontario
Grant and Funding
Overview
Get a repayable contribution of up to $500,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible costs for a project that focuses on growth, productivity, technology adoption, market development and investment attraction.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Develop a new product
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
- Closing date : June 15, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
Activities funded
- Adoption or demonstration of new technologies and processes to enhance productivity.
- Expansion into new domestic and global markets through product or service development.
- Commercialization of innovative products, services, or processes.
- Development of advanced manufacturing capacity.
- Implementation of best management practices to strengthen business performance and governance.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 300,000
Adopting AI tools to improve customer experience
$ 425,000
Implementing advanced drone technology for forest management
$ 350,000
Development of a regional food processing facility
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an incorporated small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or an Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) business or organization.
- The applicant must demonstrate a sustainable business model, normally supported by at least two years of operations.
- The applicant must be a legal entity capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
- The applicant must operate in Northern Ontario and the project benefits must accrue to Northern Ontario.
- The applicant must demonstrate financial, managerial, technical, and operational capacity to complete the project and repay the contribution.
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ontario
- Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) businesses and organizations in Northern Ontario
Who is not eligible
- Retail businesses.
- Service-based businesses.
- Smaller startups and entrepreneurs (these may be eligible under separate Regional Innovation Ecosystems streams).
Eligible expenses
- Project-specific salaries and benefits for labour directly involved.
- Purchase of machinery, equipment, and infrastructure for the project.
- Incremental and measurable operating costs directly related to the project.
- Professional, advisory, and technical services fees required for project delivery.
- Intellectual property-related costs.
- Preproduction expenses such as technological development and commercial demonstrations.
- Commercialization costs related to bringing products or services to market.
- Expenses for expanding or maintaining access to new or existing markets.
- Subcontracting costs directly linked to the project.
Eligible geographic areas
- Northern Ontario
Selection criteria
- Demonstrated sustainable business model, typically supported by at least two years of operations.
- Financial capacity to complete the project and fully repay the contribution.
- Managerial, technical, and operational capacity to achieve the project's objectives in a timely manner.
- Clear demonstration of market or industry demand and the potential for market growth or export diversification.
- Viable project plan with achievable outcomes, substantiated by verifiable cost estimates.
How to apply
1
Initial Contact
- Call FedNor at 1-877-333-6673 to discuss your project proposal with a FedNor Officer in your area.
- Ensure your project aligns with the program's objectives and requirements.
2
Prepare Proposal
- Draft a detailed project proposal outlining the technology adoption or market expansion strategy.
- Include financial forecasts, expected results, and a demonstration of management capacity.
- Compile necessary supporting documents, such as financial statements or business plans.
3
Submission Process
- Follow the instructions provided by the FedNor Officer regarding the specific submission method.
- Ensure all documents are complete and meet the specified requirements.
- Submit your application before the stated deadline, if applicable.
4
Await Feedback
- Once submitted, wait for confirmation of receipt from FedNor.
- FedNor may contact you for additional information or clarification during the assessment process.
Additional information
- The program currently faces limited budget availability due to high demand.
- Applicants are encouraged to consult a tax professional regarding the tax implications of financial assistance.
- FedNor will assess applications as they are received, with funding approval subject to both merit and available budget.
- Completing an application does not guarantee funding approval.
Documents and links
Contacts
1-877-333-6673
