Rural Economic Development program — Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream
ON, Canada
Cost-share funding for rural economic development
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateJanuary 21, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateFebruary 21, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration
grant_single|grantors
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Government of Ontario
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Receive up to $150,000 to cover a maximum of 50% of eligible project costs that remove barriers to business and job growth, support investment attraction, strengthen sector and regional partnerships, and diversify regional economies in rural Ontario.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Rural Economic Development program offers funding for various projects and activities in two main streams:
- Entrepreneurship/Business succession
- Business retention and expansion
- Downtown revitalization
- Technology adoption/innovation initiatives
- Attraction and retention of workers/immigrants/youth
- Collaborative marketing and outreach
- Sector/value chain development
- Rehabilitation of cultural, heritage, or tourism attractions
- Recreational trail rehabilitation
- Redevelopment of vacant and/or underutilized buildings
- Streetscaping and landscaping
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$75,000
Kingston
Rehabilitate a local heritage site to boost cultural tourism and community engagement
$37,500
Thunder Bay
Create a collaborative marketing campaign to boost tourism in the region
$60,000
Hamilton
Establish a technology adoption initiative for local manufacturers to increase productivity
$50,000
Sudbury
Launch a downtown revitalization project to repurpose vacant buildings into coworking spaces
$75,000
Windsor
Redevelop an underutilized building into an arts and culture community center
$50,000
Waterloo
Develop a training program to attract and retain skilled workers in the tech sector
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility criteria for the RED program:
- Applicants must be a municipality, not-for-profit entity, Ontario Indigenous community or organization, or a Local Services Board.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Eligible entities under this grant program include municipalities, not-for-profit entities, Ontario Indigenous communities or organizations, and Local Services Boards.
- Municipalities
- Not-for-profit entities
- Ontario Indigenous communities or organizations
- Local Services Boards
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant.
- For-profit businesses
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
There are eligible expenses for the Rural Economic Development program grant:
- Entrepreneurship/Business succession projects
- Downtown revitalization projects
- Technology adoption/innovation initiatives
- Attraction and retention of workers/immigrants/youth projects
- Collaborative marketing and outreach projects
grant_single_labels|criteria
There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant program. The applications will be assessed on various criteria, including basic eligibility, alignment with program outcomes, collaboration, reducing economic barriers, and project budget.
- Basic eligibility criteria included the project takes place in and benefits rural Ontario
- Alignment with the RED program's outcomes
- Collaboration and partnerships
- Reducing economic barriers
- Regional, sector, or value chain impacts
- Project work plan
- Project budget, including reasonable and eligible project costs
- Financial commitments
- Sustainability beyond the project timelines
- Project oversight
Apply to this program
Rural Economic Development Program Summary
The Rural Economic Development (RED) program in Ontario provides cost-share funding to support activities that create strong rural communities by addressing economic development barriers, attracting investment, and enhancing economic growth. The program offers two streams: Economic Diversification and Competitiveness, and Strategic Economic Infrastructure, each with specific project types and funding amounts.
Rural Economic Development Program Overview
The Rural Economic Development (RED) program in Ontario aims to help rural communities thrive by providing cost-share funding to support various projects that enhance economic growth and create jobs in rural areas. The program offers two distinct streams: the Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream and the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream, each tailored to address specific needs and opportunities in rural communities. By focusing on initiatives like entrepreneurship support, downtown revitalization, technology adoption, and infrastructure development, the RED program aims to build community capacity and facilitate economic development in rural Ontario.
Eligible entities for the RED program include municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, Ontario Indigenous communities, and Local Services Boards. The program provides funding up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $150,000 for the Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream, and up to 30% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $250,000 for the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream.
The Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream supports projects such as business start-up support, business retention and expansion, downtown revitalization, technology innovation initiatives, workforce attraction, and collaborative marketing efforts. These projects aim to attract investment, create jobs, and foster economic growth in rural areas through non-capital investments and community-building activities.
On the other hand, the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream focuses on enhancing physical community assets through minor capital projects like the rehabilitation of cultural or tourism attractions, redevelopment of vacant buildings, creation of incubators or innovation hubs, streetscaping and landscaping improvements, and the development of recreational trails. These projects aim to improve the design quality of public spaces, promote tourism, and support economic development through infrastructure investments.
The selection process for the RED program involves assessing applications based on criteria such as alignment with program outcomes, collaboration and partnerships, reducing economic barriers, project work plans, budgets, and sustainability. Successful applicants will enter into a contribution agreement with the Province of Ontario and are jointly liable for the funded projects.
Overall, the RED program plays a crucial role in fostering economic development, building community resilience, and creating opportunities for growth in rural Ontario. By supporting a diverse range of projects and initiatives, the program helps rural communities attract investment, retain talent, and strengthen their local economies, contributing to the province's overall economic prosperity and inclusivity.
