INVEST North, Investment: Locate Stream
by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
Also known as: Investment – Locate Stream · NOHFC Locate Stream
NOHFC's Locate stream funds businesses establishing new operations in Northern Ontario, up to $5 million as a conditional contribution (sometimes paired with a term loan, case-by-case). Combined federal and provincial funding cannot exceed 50% of eligible project costs. Retail, accommodation/food service, and wholesale-focused businesses are ineligible. A pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff (1-800-461-8329) is mandatory before applying; intake is continuous.
Key facts
- Amount
- Up to $5,000,000 Combined federal and provincial government funding may not exceed 50% of eligible project costs. Marketing capped at the lesser of 20% of all other eligible project costs or $75,000; third-party training capped at 20% of all other eligible project costs.
Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
to a maximum of $5 million ... Combined Federal and Provincial government funding may not exceed 50% of eligible project costs
- Instrument
- Conditional contribution
- Status
- Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
- Your share
- Applicant must secure the balance of funding/financing necessary to implement the project; combined federal + provincial funding capped at 50% of eligible project costs, so at least 50% must come from non-government sources.
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Who qualifies
- Businesses
- businesses locating new operations to Northern Ontario
- Ineligible: retail, accommodation and food service, and wholesale-focused businesses
- Ineligible costs include ongoing operating costs, land purchase/lease, working capital, R&D, and acquisitions
- Pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff is required before applying
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Applicants are required to have a pre-application consultation session with NOHFC staff prior to applying
- 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 District
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
Do you have to pay this back?
Default structure: conditional contribution (non-repayable if conditions met). Case by case: combination of conditional contribution and term loan.
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
How do you apply?
Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.
- Pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff (1-800-461-8329)
- Initial online application via myportal.nohfc.ca for eligibility determination
- If eligible, submit a detailed business proposal
myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Can you combine this with other funding?
- FedNor, Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI), Federal funding such as FedNor may be stacked, but combined federal and provincial government funding may not exceed 50% of eligible project costs.
Common questions
How much funding can a relocating business get?
Up to $5 million per project, with combined federal and provincial government funding capped at 50% of eligible project costs. Eligible costs include capital construction, leasehold improvements, land servicing, and ICT investments.
Do I have to repay Locate stream funding?
The base form is a conditional contribution (non-repayable if you meet your agreement conditions). NOHFC may structure part of larger awards as a term loan on a case-by-case basis.
What businesses are ineligible?
Retail, accommodation and food service, and wholesale-focused businesses. Ongoing operating costs, land purchase/lease, working capital, R&D, and acquisitions are also ineligible costs.
How do I apply?
Start with a mandatory pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff (1-800-461-8329), then submit an initial online application at myportal.nohfc.ca; if deemed eligible you submit a detailed business proposal.
Other streams of INVEST North Program
Funders publish these as one program with several streams. The terms differ by stream.
- INVEST North, Innovation Stream, Up to $2,000,000
- INVEST North, Innovation: Industrial Research Chair Program, Up to $1,000,000
- Regional Tile Drainage Program, Up to $1,000,000
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.
-
Rural Enhancement Funding Stream
Open, continuous intake same funder (NOHFC); nohfc, capital projects — Up to $500,000
-
Broadband and Cellular Expansion Projects
Open, continuous intake same funder (NOHFC); nohfc — Up to $1,000,000
-
Cultural Supports, Community Events Stream
Open, continuous intake same funder (NOHFC); nohfc — Up to $15,000
-
NOHFC Invest North, Investment: Grow
Open, continuous intake same funder (NOHFC); both for small business, expansion — Up to $1,000,000
Guides that cover this program
Notes on this record
Sibling of the already-authored nohfc-invest-north-launch and nohfc-invest-north-grow streams under the INVEST North Program.
Apply
Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: