Top Grants and Loans for B.C. Agriculture & Agri-Food Businesses

Top Grants and Loans for B.C. Agriculture & Agri-Food Businesses

Please Note: Government funding information within this article was accurate as of February, 2014 but may no longer represent the funding landscape. For current B.C. grants and loans, please explore Western Canada small business funding. Agriculture and Agri-Food businesses in British Columbia have access to a number of lucrative funding programs on both federal and…

saveONenergy: 4 Energy Efficiency Resources for Manufacturers

saveONenergy: 4 Energy Efficiency Resources for Manufacturers

If you are in the manufacturing sector, there are several ways your business can save money with the support of the Ontario Power Authority. From Audit Funding to incentives to upgrade capital equipment, it’s worth investigating to determine how these programs could benefit your business. SaveONenergy Audit Funding The Ontario Power Authority’s Audit Funding will…

$50K Online Competition for Ontario Energy App Development

$50K Online Competition for Ontario Energy App Development

MaRS Discovery District and the province of Ontario have invited the public to vote online for their favourite app in the Energy Apps for Ontario Challenge in a news release earlier this week.  The challenge offers $50,000 in support for best new app using electricity collected by smart meters –as voted on by members of…

Update: GF2 Ontario Organizations & Collaborations Program: Project Implementation

Update: GF2 Ontario Organizations & Collaborations Program: Project Implementation

With funding through the 5 year Growing Forward 2 Ontario program expected to exceed $400 million, Mentor Works is constantly building its knowledge-base of programs available to its agriculture and agri-food clients. Important Updates for Growing Forward 2’s Organizations and Collaborations –Project Implementation Organizations and Collaborations Project Implementation stream offers Ontario agriculture and agri-food SMEs…

Qualify for Investing in Business Growth and Productivity Ontario Small Business Loans

Qualify for Investing in Business Growth and Productivity Ontario Small Business Loans

Investing in Business Growth and Productivity (IBGP) is issued by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).  IBGP is a part of the $530 million suite of programs called Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives (SOPIs). Small Business Loans Ontario –Funding Details IBGP small business loans offer up to $20 million of funding per…

MaRS Start-up Funding Program Offers Opportunity to Hire Experienced Executives

MaRS Start-up Funding Program Offers Opportunity to Hire Experienced Executives

Earlier this week, Jacob Serebrin of TechVibes reported on Toronto MaRS Discovery District’s plan to support as many as 30 start-ups expand their business by hiring on an outside executive. The program is being dubbed, “The Embedded Executive Program,” and offers small businesses up to $50,000 to fund the hiring of a new “C-level or…

2014 Business Funding Forecast: A Great Year to Access Government Grants & Loans

2014 Business Funding Forecast: A Great Year to Access Government Grants & Loans

Since its’ creation in August 2009 and result of partnerships with more than 5300 businesses and organizations, $1.1 billion has been invested by FedDev Ontario. This has supported additional leveraged investments at a 1:1 match with non-government sources to support businesses, organizations and communities in southern Ontario. It was a great year for our clients to…

Update: Growing Forward 2 Ontario Business Grants for Food Processors

Update: Growing Forward 2 Ontario Business Grants for Food Processors

As a food processor in Ontario, you should be familiar with the Growing Forward 2 government funding initiative for SMEs. There have been a few updates for the Ontario provincial stream, particularly with the Project Implementation sub-stream in the last month that may renew your interest in the program. Updated Definition of a Processor eligible…

Premier’s Innovation Awards Program Invites New Applications

Premier’s Innovation Awards Program Invites New Applications

The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program is now accepting applications.  Innovative businesses in Ontario’s agriculture and food industry are encouraged to apply until the closing date of February 28, 2014. The Premier’s award recognizes innovative businesses that improve existing products, create jobs and help drive economic growth. Premier’s Award Offers Agriculture and Agri-Food…

Would You Move Your Start-up to A Small Town in Eastern Ontario for $100K?

Would You Move Your Start-up to A Small Town in Eastern Ontario for $100K?

34 Companies responded “yes” last year.  After the dust settled Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation won for its voice-activated computer, “Ubi.”  The competition is called “N100”, a Start-up Funding competition led by Northumberland CFDC in partnership with Spark Centre.  Northumberland, in case you were wondering, is a town approximately 1 hour east of Toronto, Ontario.  But…