Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
The short answer · Checked today
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.
Closes
Jan 21, 2027
78 days left
Apply on ontario.ca(Opens the funder’s site) Add the dates to my calendarKey facts
| Who can apply | Small businesses, Non-profits and charities, Municipalities |
|---|---|
| Pays for | Growth and equipment, Hiring and wages |
| Where | Ontario |
| How much | Business: interest-free loan up to 15% of costs, max $5M (grants up to $500,000 rural, $1.5M strategic FDI). Community: grant up to 50%, max $1.5M. |
| Type | Loan |
| Intake | Until Jan 21, 2027 · Application deadline, Period 24. Until May 20, 2027 · Application deadline, Period 25. Until Sep 21, 2027 · Application deadline, Period 26. Until Jan 11, 2028 · Application deadline, Period 27. |
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
Interest-free loans of up to 15% of costs, to $5 million.
“Up to 15% funding to a maximum of $5M, interest free during the project period (up to 4 years).” Community projects: grants of up to 50%, to $1.5 million.
“Up to 50% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of up to $1.5 million.” Source: ontario.ca · Checked today
Who qualifies
At least 3 years of operations or financial statements.
“have at least 3 years of operations/financial statements” At least 10 employees (5 in rural Ontario).
“employ at least 10 people (or 5 if you are in rural Ontario)” Invest at least $500,000 ($200,000 in rural Ontario).
“invest at least $500,000 in their project (or $200,000 if you are in rural Ontario)” Be in, or moving to, a community in southwestern Ontario.
“be located in, or plan to locate in, a community in southwestern Ontario” Source: ontario.ca · Checked today
How to apply
Do the online self-assessment, talk to a regional advisor, register with Transfer Payment Ontario, then complete and submit the application on TPON with your advisor. Start about two weeks before a deadline. Decisions come about 60 business days after each deadline.
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 $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.
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.
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. ontario.ca · Report a mistake