The Tourism Relief Fund (TRF), administered by Canada’s regional development agencies and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), is a $500-million national program to support the tourism sector in Canada.

The TRF will help position Canada as a destination of choice when domestic and international travel is once again deemed safe, by:

• empowering tourism businesses to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract more local and domestic visitors
• helping the sector reposition itself to welcome international visitors, by providing the best Canadian tourism experiences we have to offer the world

Initiatives under this fund will help tourism businesses and organizations:

• adapt their operations to meet public health requirements
• improve their products and services
• position themselves for post-pandemic economic recovery

Indigenous applicants

A minimum of $50 million of the TRF will specifically support Indigenous tourism initiatives. For more information and to apply, contact your regional development agency.

Click here for link to FedNor 

Tourism Relief Fund

The Government of Canada has launched the Tourism Relief Fund, to be delivered through FedDev and FedNor Ontario. The Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. This fund has a $500 million budget (ending March 31, 2023) and will focus on product development and destination development. The fund will empower businesses to create or enhance tourism experiences and products to attract visitors and to help the sector provide the best Canadian tourism experiences. 

Contributions to businesses will be either non-repayable contributions up to $100,000 for up to 50% of eligible costs OR fully repayable contributions up to $500,000 for up to 75% of eligible costs. 

The fund will offer a minimum of $50 million to support Indigenous tourism initiatives and $15 million will be dedicated to national initiatives that support the advancement of national tourism priorities. Eligible applicants include tourism entities that cater mainly to visitors, such including businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and band councils or other Indigenous organizations and cooperatives.  

To be considered eligible for this fund, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Be a key supplier or operator in the visitor experience; 
• Be part of a defined tourism cluster or a tourism dependent community, including supporting downtown cores; or 
• Provide an anchor product or service in a tourism destination. 

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please consult the Tourism Relief Fund – Application guide – FedDev Ontario  or Tourism Relief Fund – FedNor

Carrot Cache is a non-profit organization that supports small projects in Ontario working toward a sustainable and just regional food system. 

Over the last 18 years Carrot Cache granted over $2.1 million to organizations and individuals. These monies are given to people who are working on organic agriculture initiatives and developing regional food economies.

Link & Funding Criteria

Your workplace may be eligible for two days of services tailored to your COVID-19 workplace needs worth $2,000 – paid for by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Available until February 28, 2022.  Through the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), get help to manage and identify transmission risks to protect your workforces from COVID-19 by accessing professional advice and consulting services.  Employers, farm sector organizations and farm associations, provincially licensed meat plants, food processors who employ 1-49 employees are eligible. 

Contact WSPS by: ·     
Telephone: 1-877-494-9777 to speak with a customer service representative ·     
E-mail: agriculture@wsps.ca 

Small or medium-sized food manufacturers can apply for Innovation Booster funding if your high potential project is limited by lack of funds to: ·     Assess product market fit ·     Test your minimum viable product ·     Scale and expand globally ·     Prepare for investment ·     Leverage and protect your intellectual property  Application package available –

Week of Oct 4, 2021 Information sessions – Oct 18 and Nov 1, 2021 Projects awarded – Ongoing starting in November  More information visit the Canadian Food Innovation Network website.  

Nov. 1, 2021: Desjardins is proud to announce that it is bringing back the Desjardins GoodSpark Grants program for a second year. After the success of last year’s program, which supported 75 local businesses across Canada, Desjardins is increasing its investment in this year’s program to double the number of recipients and double the amount of the grant. A total of $3 million will be given to benefit 150 small businesses across the country. For over 120 years, Desjardins has been serving its communities and the GoodSpark Grants program is a testament to its ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of people and making a positive impact.

Click here for link to information

ontariobusinessgrants.com.  The Ontario Business Grants website will provide you with a drop down set of criteria to complete to help you find the type of funding, loans, grants that will suit your needs. HERE IS THE LINK

Examples of what you can find….

Female Entrepreneur Grants (2021) – there are currently 18 progams for Women-Owned Businesses – READ MORE

Ontario Startup Grants (2021) – there are currently 57 Start Up Business Grants for Ontario Enterepreneurs – READ MORE

Artist Grants (2021) – there are currently 171 Funding Programs for your Creative-Sector Business – READ MORE

For businesses that have been hit hardest by the pandemic, hiring the workers they need to grow is a cost they may worry about taking on. The federal government wants these businesses to be able to recover and grow by hiring more people.

The Hiring Program will help eligible employers hire the workers they need so that the economy can fully recover more quickly and without leaving people behind. The program will be available through the Canada Revenue Agency, just like the Wage Subsidy and Rent Subsidy. The application portal will open following Royal Assent of Bill C-30, the Budget Implementation Act.

It is estimated that this program will cost $595 million in 2021-22.

LINK

The PARO program  offers a grant/loan program.  The first level is $1000 (50% grant that is not paid back, 50% paid back), the second level is $2000 (50% grant and 50% paid back).  The program is managed through PARO who provide the grant and LAMBAC who manage the loan portion. For Manitoulin Island contact barbara.baker@sumthing.ca  705-368-3114

NOTE:  As of June 28th, my company has been hired under a 1 year contract with the PARO organization in the role of Business Growth Advisor.  My goal with this position is to be able to identify and promote all of the things that can be offered to WOMEN through the PARO network.  I have always promoted PARO, now I will have more details on all of the services, other than just Peer Circles.

$5,000 Stream 1: Growth, Scale-up and Recovery. If you are an existing women owned business in Northern Ontario and are looking to grow, scale-up, or expand BizGrowth may be for you. Businesses may have difficulty moving their business to the next level and this program is designed to help businesses increase and capitalize on market opportunities to grow and expand. The purpose is to assist businesses to expand into new markets, implement innovative plans, including recovery from Covid19 Pandemic impacts. For this stream, applications will be accepted until March 31, 2022 or until all funds have been committed.

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IFundWomen is the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses and the people who want to support them with access to capital, coaching, and connections.

We offer immediate access to capital through a premium online fundraising experience, access to small business grants from corporate partners, expert business coaching on all the topics entrepreneurs need to know about, and a network of women business owners that sparks confidence, accelerates knowledge and ignites action.

Northern Ontario Women – NOW program A Project to stimulate women-owned and women-led business start-ups and scale-ups by increasing access to business development supports throughout the Northern Ontario region. – http://lambac.org/now/ . This is a grant program that has an open periods that you must work within, the current intake closes November 30th. Sue Whynott is the liaison and her email is now@lambac.org

Programs for Ontario Businesses As part of a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, Digital Main Street is proud to announce three new programs to support businesses across Ontario.  Digitalmainstreet.ca

LAMBAC.  The contact person is Carolyn and she can be reached at 705-282-3215.  Email carolyn@lambac.org.  LAMBAC is a Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) sponsored by Innovation Science And Economic Development / FedNor, created to support small and medium-sized business and community economic development. LAMBAC supports businesses through small business loans and resources. The organization administers local investment funds to help finance new or existing small and medium sized business and social enterprises for start-up, expansion or stabilization that will maintain or create jobs. LAMBAC is a one-stop source for information and guidance on starting, expanding and operating a business in the LaCloche Manitoulin region. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or existing business owner, we are here to help.

FedNor to check out their programs. FedNor is the Government of Canada’s economic development organization for Northern Ontario. Through its programs and services, and through its financial support of projects that lead to job creation and economic growth, FedNor works with businesses and community partners to build a stronger Northern Ontario.   The contact person is Arik Theijsmeijer and he works out of the LAMBAC office in Gore Bay and he can be reached at 705-665-3185 or 1-877-333-6673  arik.theijsmeijer@canada.ca

Nohfc The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) was established in 1988 with a mandate to promote and stimulate economic development initiatives in Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify and foster the economic growth and diversification of the region. Contact person is Kristen Luoma  (Gore Bay office)  Kristin.luoma@ontario.ca  705-282-1429

BTIF is a FedNor-funded initiative which assists businesses develop their capacity for e-business and in effect their ability to compete and thrive in the digital age. Blue Sky Net, through BTIF, is committed to helping small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Blue Sky Net region within Northeastern Ontario who are looking to enhance their capacity for business technology and their ability for technology adoption.  The BTIF grant helps to alleviate the costs of implementing innovative technology solutions for your business that will help take you to the next level.

BDC.ca.

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

If your business has been directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible to access these credit options:

• Up to $60,000 interest-free loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account
• Up to $12.5 million for operational cash flow through the BDC Co-Lending Program
• Junior loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million through the BDC Mid-Market Financing Program

 Learn More Here

waubetek.com.  The Waubetek Business Development Corporation is an Aboriginal-owned and controlled organization that delivers business financing and economic development services to First Nations and Aboriginal entrepreneurs in North-Eastern Ontario

NACCA.CA.  NACCA, the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, is a network of over 50 Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) dedicated to stimulating economic growth for all Indigenous people in Canada.

At Futurpreneur Canada, we support Indigenous entrepreneurs aged 18-39, helping them launch or buy their own business. With up to $60,000* in financing, an expert mentor for up to two years, and access to resources, we’re here to help young entrepreneurs bring their business plan to life.

Take the first step in turning your dream into reality.

Contact us today.