Business Scale-up and Productivity in Northern Ontario
Run by FedNor
The short answer · Checked today
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.
Closes
No fixed deadline
Apply on fednor.canada.ca(Opens the funder’s site)Key facts
| Who can apply | Small businesses, Indigenous entrepreneurs |
|---|---|
| Pays for | Growth and equipment, Research and innovation |
| Where | Ontario |
| How much | Up to $500,000 · Pays up to 50% of costs |
| Type | Repayable contribution |
| Intake | Accepts applications all year · Assessed as received; budget is limited. |
Who qualifies, in the funder’s words
Each rule is copied word for word from the funder’s page, and re-checked. If the funder changes it, we take it down until it’s checked again.
How much
Usually repayable, up to $500,000 per project.
“Assistance available for SMEs is generally repayable and normally up to a maximum of $500,000 per project.” Covers up to 50% of eligible project costs.
“Applicants are eligible to receive up to 50 percent of eligible and supported project costs.” Source: fednor.canada.ca · Checked today
Who qualifies
For incorporated small and medium-sized businesses, and Indigenous businesses and organizations.
“Incorporated small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)” Retail and service businesses are not considered.
“Retail and service-based businesses will not be considered under this program.” It is not meant for small start-ups.
“This program is not intended to support smaller startups and entrepreneurs.” Source: fednor.canada.ca · Checked today
Other
You must already have at least half of the rest of the money lined up.
“The applicant must have secured funding of at least 50 percent towards the balance of the project's eligible costs.” Source: fednor.canada.ca · Checked today
How to apply
Call FedNor at 1-877-333-6673 to discuss your project with an officer, then start your application in the FedNor client portal.
Other programs for the same need, open now
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 $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 $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.
Guides and answers
Sources and checks
Facts on this page come from the funder’s own page, and a CanGrant editor hasn’t reviewed them yet. Check the funder’s page before you apply. fednor.canada.ca · Report a mistake