Open, continuous intake

Northern Ontario Resource Development Support Fund

by Grants Ontario / Transfer Payment Ontario

Also known as: NORDS Fund · NORDS

The NORDS Fund shares resource-development benefits with Northern municipalities: $15 million per year over five years starting 2026-27, allocated among all 144 Northern Ontario municipalities to help offset resource development's impact on municipal infrastructure. Every Northern municipality has an identified allocation (sized by factors like municipal size and capacity) - this is allocation-based, not competitive. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis via Transfer Payment Ontario; questions to nords@ontario.ca.

Amount: $15 million per year over five years starting 2026-27, allocated among all 144 Northern Ontario municipalities; each municipality has an identified allocation reflecting factors such as municipal size and capacity - no fixed per-project min/max
forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca · Last verified Oct 2, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Starting in 2026-2027, $15 million per year over five years will be allocated amongst the 144 municipalities in Northern Ontario.
Instrument: Grant (non-repayable)
Status: Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Who qualifies: Municipalities and local boards
municipalities
All 144 municipalities in Northern Ontario are eligible
Northern Ontario defined as the territorial districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming, consistent with the Places to Grow Act delineation (O. Reg. 416/05)
forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca · Last verified Oct 2, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
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: Municipalities & Local Services Boards

How do you apply?

Ongoing intake - apply via Transfer Payment Ontario against your municipality's identified allocation
General questions to nords@ontario.ca

forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca · Last verified Oct 2, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Common questions

Does my municipality have to compete for NORDS funding?

No - each of the 144 Northern Ontario municipalities has an identified allocation amount it is eligible for, factoring in municipal size and capacity. You apply on an ongoing basis via Transfer Payment Ontario to access your allocation.

How much is available?

$15 million per year over five years starting in 2026-27, split across the 144 municipalities. Individual allocations vary - contact nords@ontario.ca or check the NORDS Fund Program Guidelines for your municipality's amount.

Which municipalities count as Northern Ontario?

Those in the territorial districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury (including Greater Sudbury), Thunder Bay and Timiskaming - the Places to Grow Act delineation. Muskoka is not included.

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.

Winter Roads Program: Bridges and Culverts Stream Open, continuous intake
same funder (TPON); both for municipalities & local services boards; infrastructure, continuous intake — Not published
Ontario Transit Investment Fund Open, continuous intake
same funder (TPON); both for municipalities & local services boards; continuous intake — Not published
Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund Next intake not announced
same funder (TPON); both for municipalities & local services boards; infrastructure — $150,000 – $500,000,000
Enhancing Access to Spaces for Everyone (EASE) Grant Next intake not announced
same funder (TPON); both for municipalities & local services boards — Up to $60,000

Notes on this record

Delivered by the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth. Verified 2026-08-17 from the official ontario.ca available-funding-opportunities listing (page updated 2026-08-11). New program - first funding year is 2026-27.

Facts on this page were read from the funder's PDF documentation rather than a web page, so they can lag a mid-cycle change.

Apply

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