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Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects
Performance-based funding for Ontario development projects
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,500,000
Deadline
September 23, 2026
Opened June 30, 2026
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Regional Development Program supports business and community projects in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. It provides performance-based funding for investments that drive growth, job creation, innovation, and regional economic development.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop workforce skills
- Access new markets
- Launch or market a product/service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : June 30, 2026
- Closing date : September 23, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Community leaders
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- investments in equipment, new technologies, talent and training to enhance business productivity and competitiveness
- investment in new operations in Eastern or Southwestern Ontario
- investment in existing operations that lead to business expansion and introduction of new products or services, or new markets
- municipal infrastructure projects that secure a private sector investment
- projects that implement an economic development strategy
Documents Needed
- cash flow forecast
- copy of articles of incorporation and/or letters patent
- corporate family tree
- financial statements from the last three fiscal years
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Existing businesses
- Municipalities
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Economic development organizations
- Indigenous communities
Who is not eligible
- Companies in primary production, retail, construction, consulting, and personal services.
- Businesses focused on electricity generation, waste management, recycling, or academic research.
- Stand-alone restaurants and hotels, unless transformative and a regional priority.
- Projects involving ongoing operations, refinancing, acquisitions, buyouts, or relocations within Ontario.
- Projects that target ineligible sectors or applicants, for example retail or start ups.
Eligible expenses
- construction and project facility modifications or upgrades
- site servicing and power service upgrades required to execute the project
- equipment and machinery necessary for the successful completion of the project
- one-time labour directly related to the project
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- ongoing costs of production or operations
- purchase of land or buildings
- costs associated with landscaping and staff parking lots
- purchase/lease or operation of vehicles or off-site equipment
Eligible geographic areas
- Brant
- Bruce
- Chatham-Kent
- Dufferin
- Elgin
- Essex
- Grey
- Haldimand
- Huron
- Lambton
- Middlesex
- Niagara
- Norfolk
- Oxford
- Perth
- Simcoe
- Waterloo
- Wellington
Selection criteria
- Applications will be assessed based on alignment with fund objectives and their relation to other projects under consideration, with a focus on regional economic development benefits.
- Priority will be given to projects that generate regional economic impacts beyond the company.
How to apply
- Talk with a regional advisor when applying to the Regional Development Program.
- The application form can only be accessed through the Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) website.
- You may only submit the completed application form during the application intake period.
- Speak with a Regional Advisor about your project.
- Register for TPON and follow the prompts to find the program under the “Submit for Funding” section.
- Upload the completed form and all supporting documents on TPON if you are eligible according to Part 1.
Processing and Agreement
- In order to obtain funding, the company or organization will be required to enter into a funding agreement with the Province of Ontario.
- No payments will be made until the funding agreement has been signed and any conditions for disbursement have been fulfilled.
- Disbursements will be made in arrears, unless an initial payment up to 20% is approved.
- A performance payment, usually 20% or more of the total funding, will be disbursed after the project has been completed and all final reporting requirements have been received to Ontario’s satisfaction.
Additional information
- Applicants are required to talk with a regional advisor when applying to the Regional Development Program.
- The application form can only be accessed through the Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) website.
- You may only submit the completed application form during the application intake period.
- The program is competitive and funding is only provided to the strongest applications.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects Program
What is the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects?
The Regional Development Program supports business and community projects in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. It provides performance-based funding for investments that drive growth, job creation, innovation, and regional economic development.
How much funding can be received?
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,500,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is September 23, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects program?
To be eligible for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects program, you must:
The applicant must be a for-profit business registered to carry out business in Ontario.
The applicant must have at least three years of substantive operating experience.
The applicant must meet the program’s employee and job creation requirements.
What expenses are eligible under Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects?
investments in equipment, new technologies, talent and training to enhance business productivity and competitiveness
investment in new operations in Eastern or Southwestern Ontario
investment in existing operations that lead to business expansion and introduction of new products or services, or new markets
municipal infrastructure projects that secure a private sector investment
projects that implement an economic development strategy
Where is the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects available?
The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Community economic development projects is a Grant and Funding