Small businesses: grants and funding in Ontario

Wage subsidies for employers who hire youth aged 15 to 30 for summer jobs. Not-for-profits can get up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum wage; public employers and private businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees can get up to 50%. Applications for summer 2027 are open until December 3, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific.

Up to $5,000,000

Ontario funding for businesses expanding in eastern Ontario (at least 3 years operating, 10+ employees or 5 in rural areas, creating at least 5 jobs, investing at least $500,000 or $200,000 rural): interest-free loans of up to 15% of costs to $5 million, with grants in some cases. Community projects can get grants of up to 50%, to $1.5 million. The next application deadline is January 21, 2027.

Up to $5,000,000

Ontario funding for businesses expanding in southwestern Ontario (at least 3 years operating, 10+ employees or 5 in rural areas, creating at least 5 jobs, investing at least $500,000 or $200,000 rural): interest-free loans of up to 15% of costs to $5 million, with grants in some cases. Community projects can get grants of up to 50%, to $1.5 million. The next application deadline is January 21, 2027.

$14,000 – $100,000

AAFC funding for small and medium-sized agriculture and agri-food businesses to diversify their markets: AAFC pays up to 70% of a project costing at least $20,000, normally under $100,000. Applications are open from February 13, 2026 until September 30, 2030.

Up to $250,000

Non-repayable equity contributions for Indigenous small and medium-sized businesses: up to $99,999 for individual entrepreneurs and up to $250,000 for community-owned businesses, through Indigenous Financial Institutions and Métis Capital Corporations. There is no deadline.

Up to $2,000,000

AAFC funding for agriculture and agri-food industry associations and businesses to grow and diversify markets: up to $2 million a year and $10 million over five years, normally covering up to 50% of costs (70% in some cases). The intake is listed as open; contact the program before you apply. The program ends March 31, 2028.

Up to $500,000

Repayable contributions of up to $500,000 per project (up to 50% of costs) for incorporated small and medium-sized businesses and Indigenous businesses in Northern Ontario that are scaling up, adopting technology or improving productivity. Retail and service businesses and small start-ups are not covered. Applications are assessed as they arrive, but budget is limited.

Up to $20,000,000

FedDev Ontario help for southern Ontario businesses facing tariff pressures, with at least $1 million in annual revenue. Liquidity help of up to $2 million (non-repayable, up to 50% of costs) and pivot projects of up to $1 million non-repayable or more as a repayable contribution, to a total of $20 million per business. Accepting applications, with no fixed deadline.

A federal tax credit for research and development done in Canada. Most Canadian-controlled private corporations earn a refundable 35% credit on up to $6 million of qualified spending a year (for tax years starting after December 15, 2024); other claimants earn 15%. You claim it with your income tax return.

Up to $5,000

Wage subsidies of up to $5,000 per work placement for employers anywhere in Canada who hire post-secondary students. Employers apply year-round through one of 18 delivery partners (such as Technation, ECO Canada, BioTalent Canada and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce); some partners may be at capacity.

Up to $37,500

Up to $37,500 per project (75% of costs) for Canadian businesses with fewer than 500 employees, academic institutions and research centres to negotiate R&D partnerships with foreign partners. The next intake opens December 1, 2026 at noon Eastern for 24 hours, first come, first served.

Up to $5,000,000

Repayable contributions of up to $5 million per project (normally up to 60% of costs) for agriculture and agri-food businesses commercializing or adopting innovative products and processes. AAFC lists it as closed to applications; the program ends March 31, 2028.

Up to $350,000

A BDC loan of up to $350,000 for profitable Canadian businesses. Up to $100,000 needs at least $100K in revenue and 24 months in business, with approval in under 10 days and no application or prepayment fees; $100K to $350K needs at least $250K in revenue. The rate is BDC's floating base rate plus a variance. Apply online any time.

$10,000 – $250,000

Loans of $10,000 to $250,000 for Black business owners and entrepreneurs across Canada, through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (run by the Federation of African Canadian Economics with BDC). The program also funds Black-led not-for-profits that support entrepreneurs.

$10,000 – $50,000

Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 (half of a $20,000 to $100,000 project) to help Canadian businesses with 3 to 500 employees and $300,000 to $100 million in revenue enter new export markets. The program is closed: all 2026-27 applications have been processed, and no date for the next intake is posted.

Up to $75,000

Start-up loans of up to $75,000 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 18 to 39 starting or buying a business: up to $25,000 from Futurpreneur and up to $50,000 from BDC, each over five years, with up to two years of one-on-one mentoring. Applications are taken any time.

Research internships with graduate students and postdocs, co-funded by Mitacs. A partner organization (business, not-for-profit, hospital or municipality) contributes from $7,500 per 4- or 6-month internship and Mitacs matches it, for a $15,000 research award. Applications are taken on a rolling basis; talk to a Mitacs advisor first.

Business strategy internships with a post-secondary student: a $10,000 award per 4- or 6-month internship, of which the partner organization pays $5,000 (or a $15,000 model with at least $7,500 from the partner). Businesses, not-for-profits, hospitals and municipalities can apply at any time through the Mitacs portal.

NRC IRAP funds research and development of new technology products and services at incorporated, for-profit Canadian businesses with up to 500 employees. It starts with advice from an industrial technology advisor; funding comes later, in some cases. There is no deadline: you start with a phone call.

Ontario's Regional Development Program, the umbrella for the Eastern and Southwestern Ontario Development Funds and related funds. It supports small and medium-sized businesses investing in new equipment and training, plus municipalities and economic development organizations. Projects can't be eligible under other provincial programs.

FedNor's main business and innovation program in Northern Ontario, with a stream for growing companies (Business Scale-up and Productivity) and a stream for not-for-profits that build the region's innovation capacity. FedNor says budget is limited because of high demand; talk to a FedNor officer before you apply.

Up to $3,000

Save on Energy programs for Ontario small businesses: incentives of up to $3,000 for efficient lighting and up to $2,500 for other equipment through the Small Business Program, instant discounts on lighting at participating distributors, and a $75 prepaid card for joining Peak Perks.

Save on Energy incentives for upgrading equipment such as HVAC and manufacturing equipment in Ontario commercial, industrial, municipal, multi-residential and farm buildings, up to 50% of eligible project costs. Choose set incentives from a list or custom incentives based on verified savings. You need pre-approval before you install.

Up to $5,000

Training, mentoring and a grant of up to $5,000 for Ontario residents 18 and older (Canadian citizens or permanent residents, not in school full-time) who are starting, expanding or buying a small business. You must put in cash or in-kind equal to at least 25% of the grant. Apply through your local Small Business Advisory Centre.