NOHFC INVEST North Program

Receive up to $5,000,000 in Government Funding.

The NOHFC Invest North Program is provided by the Northern Ontario Heritage Corporation (NOHFC) and is intended to increase economic growth in Northern Ontario by inspiring businesses to invest in transformative business development opportunities in Northern communities. The program will support productivity, innovation, business competitiveness, revenue growth, export capacity development, and job creation and retention.

There are six streams offered through the INVEST North Program, each having its own specific criteria and eligibility factors.

Funding Amount

Access up to $1-5 million in government funding from the NOHFC Invest Program, various streams offer varying amounts of funding.

Eligible Applicants

Private and public businesses, colleges, universities, non profit and community organizations, start ups, and other businesses located in Northern Ontario.

Eligible Activities

Research and development projects focused on enhancing economic growth in Northern Ontario, projects vary by funding stream.

Deadline to Apply

Out of the six NOHFC Invest North Program streams, five have ongoing intakes. One program has an intake of four competitive rounds.

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Give your application the best chance at approval. Mentor Works has an 86% approval rating across all Canadian funding programs.

NOHFC INVEST North Program

Amount of Funding

Innovation Stream

A conditional contribution of up to 50% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $500,000 for R&D only projects and up to $2M for combined R&D and demonstration & commercialization projects.

Innovation – Industrial Research Chair Stream

Up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $1M as a conditional contribution for the duration of the project.

Investments – Launch Stream

A conditional contribution of up to 50% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $200,000.

Investment – Grow Stream

Funding can be provided through three options:

Conditional contribution only of up to 20% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $400,000.
Conditional contribution of up to 20% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $400,000, plus a term loan of up to 30% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $600,000.
Term loan only of up to 50% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $1M.

Investment – Locate Stream

A conditional contribution or a combination of a conditional contribution and term loan, on a case-by-case basis based on net economic benefit to Northern Ontario, to a maximum of $5M.

Regional Tile Drainage Stream

Conditional contribution up to 50% to a maximum of $1M, consisting of the following breakdown:

50% of tile drainage contractor costs to a maximum of $500 per acre, and
100% of the project management/admin fees which is calculated as 10% of the contactor costs to a maximum of $100 per acre.

Amount of Funding from the Canadian Government

NOHFC INVEST North Program

Eligible Applicants

Innovation Stream

Private sector businesses alone, or in partnership with a public sector academic or research institution.

Innovation – Industrial Research Chair Stream

Northern Ontario universities, colleges, and research institutions.

Investments – Launch Stream

Businesses starting-up operations in Northern Ontario.

Investment – Grow Stream

Businesses expanding operations in Northern Ontario.

Investment – Locate Stream

Businesses locating new business operations in Northern Ontario.

Regional Tile Drainage Stream

Not-for-profit, agricultural or community organizations that would, on behalf of an identified consortium, develop and administer a project to install tile drainage within a specific region.

Eligible Applicants for Canadian Government Funding

NOHFC INVEST North Program

Eligible Activities

Innovation Stream

Applied research & development projects, and demonstration & commercialization of new and innovative technologies. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to: technical labour costs, prototyping costs, product testing, IP costs, and R&D services.

Innovation – Industrial Research Chair Stream

Must fit with the applicant institution’s strategic research plan, have a private sector partner, and be focused on business problem solving, and/ or working towards the commercialization of a product or process in Northern Ontario.

Investments – Launch Stream

Expenses related to starting-up operations in Northern Ontario, including capital construction, leasehold improvements, new or used equipment, land servicing costs, information & communication technology investments, marketing for new products and services (capped at 20%), and training costs incurred with third parties (capped at 20%).

Investment – Grow Stream

Expenses related to expanding operations in Northern Ontario, including capital construction, leasehold improvements, new or used equipment, land servicing costs, information & communication technology investments, marketing for new products and services (capped at 20%), and training costs incurred with third parties (capped at 20%).

Investment – Locate Stream

Expenses related to locating operations in Northern Ontario, including capital construction, leasehold improvements, new or used equipment, land servicing costs, information & communication technology investments, marketing for new products and services (capped at 20%), and training costs incurred with third parties (capped at 20%).

Regional Tile Drainage Stream

Land to be tiled can be in production or new acreage. Eligible expenses include tile drainage contractor costs and project management/administration fees.