An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Aug 17, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants

Small business, expansion

If you run an established Northern Ontario business and want to expand, there is real money on the table, but almost none of it is a simple grant. The two anchors are NOHFC's Invest North (Grow) stream and FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program, and both come with strings: NOHFC packages mix contribution and loan, with much of the funding repayable, and FedNor contributions, reported at up to 33% of capital or 50% of non-capital costs, are repayable for profit-generating projects. Plan to carry half or more of the project cost yourself. Most significant northern projects stack NOHFC and FedNor together, but one approval can be contingent on the other, which adds months. The closest thing to easy money is payroll support: NOHFC and FedNor internship subsidies, reported at up to roughly $35,000 per intern per year.

Start with the two anchors

NOHFC Invest North (Grow) takes continuous applications through the MyNOHFC portal, with approvals at periodic board meetings. FedNor's NODP is officer-mediated, FedNor's own site says to contact an officer before applying because budget availability is limited. Neither is fast; budget months, not weeks.

Call before you write anything

For FedNor, the officer conversation is effectively the intake. For smaller capital needs, your local Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) offers repayable loans, typically reported up to about $150,000, varying by corporation, plus free business counselling, and is usually faster than the big agencies.

The easy wins are payroll and export

NOHFC's Workforce Development internships (reported up to roughly $35,000 per intern per year, the employer applies) and FedNor youth internships (reported at 90% of salary) are the least painful money in the region. CanExport SMEs offers $10,000–$50,000 non-repayable at up to 50% for developing new export markets, but allocations are reported to run out before windows close.

Sector programs can beat general ones

Forestry and wood processing: FSIIP. Mineral exploration: OJEP. Technology innovation: NRC IRAP, which works through a relationship with an Industrial Technology Advisor rather than a form. If your project fits a sector program, it often carries better terms than the general streams.

Programs for you (45)

Open, continuous intake

BOOST Program (Innovation Link)

Timmins Economic Development Corporation

Up to $10,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

timminsedc.com · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Closing soon

CanExport SMEs

Global Affairs Canada, Trade Commissioner Service

$10,000 – $50,000

closes Aug 31, 2026 (12:00 ET (noon)) (14 days left)

tradecommissioner.gc.ca · Last verified Aug 16, 2026 · Reported, verification pending

Status unconfirmed

Canada Summer Jobs

Employment and Social Development Canada

Varies; see program

confirm with funder

canada.ca · Last verified Aug 16, 2026 · Reported, verification pending

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

Community Futures Program (Northern Ontario)

Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Varies; see program

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

fednor.canada.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

DNO Partnership Initiatives

Destination Northern Ontario (RTO13)

Varies; see program

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

destinationnorthernontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intake

FedNor, NODP Youth Internships

Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Up to $52,500

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

fednor.canada.ca · Last verified Aug 16, 2026 · Reported, verification pending

Next intake not announced

Forest Biomass Program

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Up to $10,000,000

watch this page or subscribe to the calendar

ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

INVEST North, Innovation Stream

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

Up to $2,000,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

INVEST North, Investment: Locate Stream

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

Up to $5,000,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakeRepayable

MVDF Business Financing

Métis Voyageur Development Fund

Up to $1,500,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

mvdf.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intake

NADF E-Commerce Grant

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund

Up to $8,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

nadf.org · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open while funds lastPartly repayable, check terms

NADF Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Program

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund

Up to $25,000

allocations can run out before the window closes; confirm before applying

nadf.org · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

NOHFC Invest North, Investment: Grow

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

Up to $1,000,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Aug 16, 2026 · Uncertain: confirm with funder

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

NRC IRAP, Innovation Funding

National Research Council, Industrial Research Assistance Program

From $10,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

nrc.canada.ca · Last verified Aug 16, 2026 · Reported, verification pending

Next intake not announcedPartly repayable, check terms

Ontario Creates IP Fund

Ontario Creates

$5,000 – $500,000

watch this page or subscribe to the calendar

ontariocreates.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakeRepayable

PARO Peer Lending Circles

PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise

$1,000 – $5,000

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

paro.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Next intake not announced

Starter Company Plus

Grants Ontario / Transfer Payment Ontario

Up to $5,000

watch this page or subscribe to the calendar

ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open while funds last

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Employment and Social Development Canada

Up to $5,000

allocations can run out before the window closes; confirm before applying

canada.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Reported, verification pending

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

Tourism Excellence North

Destination Northern Ontario (RTO13)

Not published

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

Waubetek Business Financing Program

Waubetek Business Development Corporation

Up to $99,999

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

waubetek.com · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Common questions

  • How much of my expansion will NOHFC actually cover, and is it a grant or a loan?
  • Can I stack NOHFC and FedNor funding on the same project?
  • Do I need to talk to someone before applying?
  • What funding exists for hiring as I grow?
  • Is there anything for expanding into export markets?

Longer answers are in the guides.

Common questions

Is NOHFC money free?

No. NOHFC uses conditional contributions, the Grow stream is reported as a mix of contribution and loan, with much of the funding repayable and conditions attached. Treat it as cheap capital with obligations, not a grant.

How long does approval take?

NOHFC's preliminary application is reported to get a response in about 10 business days, followed by a full proposal, board approval, and a contract reported 6–8 weeks after approval. Stacked NOHFC + FedNor projects can take months longer when one approval is contingent on the other.

What match should I budget?

Expect to fund 50% or more of the project yourself on most streams, NOHFC tops out at a reported 50% of eligible costs and FedNor at a reported 33% of capital costs. Cost overruns are yours.