An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Open, continuous intake Repayable

CFDC Business Loans (Community Futures Program)

by Community Futures Development Corporations of Northern Ontario

Also known as: Community Futures loans · Community Futures Development Corporation financing

Northern Ontario's 24 FedNor-funded Community Futures Development Corporations lend to small and medium businesses and social enterprises that can't get full financing elsewhere, typically up to $300,000 on commercial terms (caps vary by CFDC), with six Northwestern Ontario CFDCs pooling loans up to $600,000. Decisions are made by a local volunteer board after bank-style due diligence on your business plan. Intake is continuous; start with your local CFDC's loans officer. Free business counselling comes with it.

Amount
Up to $300,000 Typical per-CFDC cap of $300,000 (verified at Superior North CFDC); caps vary by corporation. Six Northwestern Ontario CFDCs jointly lend up to $600,000 through the Northwestern Ontario Investment Pool. This award range, $300,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

sncfdc.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

repayable financing of up to $300,000 on commercial terms through loans, loan guarantees or equity investments

Instrument
Loan (repayable)
Status
Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Who qualifies
Businesses Nonprofits and charities
  • small-business
  • medium-business
  • social-enterprise
  • Business must be in the local CFDC's service area (24 CFDCs cover Northern Ontario)
  • Project must create or maintain local jobs
  • Applicant needs appropriate unencumbered investment or sufficient existing equity, CFDCs do not finance 100% of a project
  • Viable business with reasonable expectations of repayment; used when financing from other sources is insufficient

fednor.canada.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

access to capital for small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises

Where
Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): eligibleKenora District: eligibleManitoulin District: eligibleNipissing District: eligibleParry Sound District: eligibleRainy River District: eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): eligibleThunder Bay District: eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Small business, expansion Startups & new entrepreneurs Tourism operators Indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses

Do you have to pay this back?

Repayable: Fully repayable on commercial terms (loans, loan guarantees or equity investments). Non-repayable: None, CFDC financing is not a grant.

sncfdc.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

How conditional contributions and repayable splits work

How do you apply?

Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.

  1. Find your local CFDC (cfontario.ca/directory)
  2. Discuss the project with a loans officer
  3. Submit a comprehensive business plan
  4. CFDC due diligence (comparable to a bank's)
  5. Local volunteer board approves; funds advance

sncfdc.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Common questions

Is a CFDC loan a grant?

No, it is fully repayable financing on commercial terms (loans, loan guarantees or equity investments). The advantage is flexibility and local decision-making for projects banks won't fully finance, plus free business advisory support.

How much can I borrow?

Commonly up to $300,000, though each of the 24 CFDCs sets its own cap. In Northwestern Ontario, six CFDCs jointly lend up to $600,000 through the Northwestern Ontario Investment Pool.

Do I need my own money in the project?

Yes. CFDCs do not finance 100% of a project, expect to show unencumbered investment or existing equity, plus security, working capital access, tax compliance and a reasonable credit history.

How long does approval take?

Local loans move at each CFDC's pace; larger pooled loans quote 4-10 weeks from receipt of a comprehensive business plan.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

Guides that cover this program

Notes on this record

Amounts envelope is 'reported' as a generalization: the $300,000/$600,000 figures were verified on Superior North CFDC's page 2026-08-17, but each of the 24 CFDCs sets its own lending limits, confirm with your local corporation. Muskoka's CFDC is FedDev-funded, not part of FedNor's 24.

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

www.cfontario.ca