Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Growing Forward 2 Federal and Ontario Business Grants

Application for Ontario small business grants through Growing Forward 2 program is now available at the provincial level.  This government funding for business is a combination of federal and provincial funds to a total of $417 million over the next 5 years. It is targeted towards the government of Ontario’s objectives for the agriculture industry, including, improving business and leadership skills, adapting to climate change, developing markets and investing in research and innovation for the agriculture industry.

Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants Streams

Choose from one of the below for more details pertaining to the particular stream you are interested in, each contain an overview as well as eligibility and application process information.

  1. Small Business Grants for Capacity Building Stream
  2. Small Business Grants for Project Implementation Stream

Focus of Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants Streams

These Ontario government funding streams are targeted towards the following applicants:

  1. Organizations and Collaborations: An Organization is a legal, not-for-profit organization, based in Ontario in the agriculture, agri-food, agri-products industry. A Collaboration is a partnership between any two or more, legal, for-profit business, not-for-profit organizations/associations, and academic institutions.
  2. Processors: Processors are involved in the processing, modifying or transforming agriculture commodities, food, beverage, or agricultural based bio-products in Ontario; file business and/or farm income/loss taxes in Ontario or are a new processor
  3. Producers: Producers produce agricultural commodities in Ontario; file business and/or farm income/loss taxes in Ontario; new farmers and first nations farm businesses

growing forward 2 chart

Ontario Small Business Grants Project Eligibility

Projects must fit within one of the following focus areas:

  1. Environment and Climate Change Adaptation
  2. Animal and Plant Health
  3. Market Development
  4. Labour Productivity Enhancement
  5. Assurance Systems (Food Safety, Traceability and Animal Welfare)
  6. Business and Leadership Development

Small Business Grants for Organizations and Collaborations

Capacity Building projects include: strategic planning, training, audits or assessments. Funding will be provided, on a cost-sharing basis, up to 75% of the eligible costs, to a maximum of $3 million. For this stream of funding, in-kind contributions are not eligible and priority will be given to those applications that demonstrate a high level of industry-leveraged cash contributions.

Small Business Grants for Organizations and Collaborations Application Process & Deadlines

The small business grants application process involves a Pre-Proposal and a Full Application with deadlines in 2013 of September 5, October 24 and December 12, 2013. Projects must be completed within 18 months of approval.

Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants for Processors

Capacity Building projects include: strategic planning, training, audits or assessments.  Government funding for business will be provided, on a cost-sharing basis, for up to 50% of the project costs.

Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants for Processors Application Process & Deadlines

The government grants for small business application process for Capacity Building is ongoing and involves one application. During September 9, 2013 to October 24 and December 16, 2013 to January 30, 2014 cost-share opportunities for Project Implementation will be available to eligible processors and new processing businesses. Funding for these projects will be on a cost-sharing basis of 35% or up to 50% of total project costs for innovative projects. More information on the Project Implementation stream for Producers will be available in August.

NOTE: The maximum amount of funding available to a single processing business covering both Capacity Building activities and Project Implementation is $350,000 over the 5-year timeframe of the program (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2018)

Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants for Producers

Capacity Building projects include: strategic planning, training, audits or assessments. Government small business grants will be provided, on a cost-sharing basis, for up to 50% of the project costs.

Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants for Producers Application Process & Deadlines

The application process for Capacity Building is ongoing and involves one application.  During September 9, 2013 to October 24 and December 16, 2013 to January 30, 2014,

Project implementation small business government grants will be available to eligible producers and new Ontario farm businesses.  Small business funding grants for producers will be available in a cost-sharing arrangement for up to 35% of project costs to 50% cost-share for innovative projects. More information on the Project Implementation stream for Producers will be available in August.

NOTE: The maximum amount of funding available to a single farm business covering both Capacity Building activities and Project Implementation is $350,000 over the 5-years timeframe of the program (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2018)

Contact a Growing Forward 2 Small Business Grants and Loans Expert

If your agricultural business has at least 15 employees and has been incorporated for at least 3 years get in touch with a Canadian government funding expert for more information about these and other small business grants and loans for agriculture.   Also, please follow us on LinkedIn and sign up for our Canadian small business grants and loans e-newsletter in order to stay up to date on all things related to Canadian government funding for agriculture.

Views: 502

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

BC farmers gearing up for collection of pesticides and livestock medications this Fall

This October, Vancouver Island and Fraser Valley farmers in BC are readying to participate in Cleanfarms’ longest running environmental stewardship initiative: the Unwanted Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications (UPLM) program. Operating on a rotating schedule year-over-year, this well-loved Canada-wide program helps farmers in BC (and in other regions) protect their land and communities by accepting unwanted commercial-class pesticides and obsolete livestock/equine medications for safe disposal, free of charge. This year in BC, there are eight single-day collection events from October 6 to October 16, operating 9AM to 4PM daily: four in the Fraser Valley and four on Vancouver Island, including a first-time event in Port Alberni. “The reach of this year’s events means even greater convenience to BC farmers,” says UPLM’s Program Coordinator Heather Bradley. “Greater program participation, combined with the promotional work of our agricultural retail and regional district par

U.S. Winter Wheat Planting, Emergence Lagging

U.S. winter wheat planting made decent progress this past week but continues to lag last year and the five-year average. Emergence is also running behind. According to Monday’s USDA crop progress, 27% of the American winter wheat crop was planted as Sunday, up 10 percentage points from a week earlier. That was below both the 32% planted at the same point last year and the 2021-25 average of 34%. Meanwhile, winter wheat emergence also increased nationally, with 8% of the crop emerged, up from 2% the previous week. That remained below 12% last year and the five-year average of 11%. Kansas planting advanced to 18% from 10% the previous week, compared with 16% last year and the five-year average of 24%. Oklahoma reached 7% planted, up from 4% a week earlier, but well behind 30% last year and the 25% average. Michigan moved to 18% planted from 14%, ahead of 15% last year and equal to the five-year average. No planting progress was reported for Ohio as of Sunday; the state was 10% p

FCC Economists Examine Trade, Interest Rates and Economic Risks Facing Agriculture

Farm Credit Canada is highlighting trade uncertainty, interest rates and broader financial conditions as key economic issues for Canadian farmers and agribusinesses through the remainder of 2026. In an economic update webinar released Tuesday, FCC’s economics team reviews the major economic and financial variables affecting farms, food and beverage manufacturers and agribusinesses, while providing its outlook for the months ahead. The 39-minute presentation features FCC chief economist Craig Johnston, principal economist Krishen Rangasamy and deputy chief economist Desmond Sobool. The update comes amid a challenging backdrop for the Canadian economy, including renewed U.S. trade barriers, geopolitical uncertainty and elevated borrowing costs. FCC has previously estimated Canadian economic growth at around 1% for 2026, with trade restrictions weighing on non-energy exports and contributing to weaker business conditions. Interest rates are another important consideration. Alth

Manitoba Harvest Passes Halfway Mark

The Manitoba harvest passed the halfway mark this past week, although rainfall, fog and heavy dews continued to limit fieldwork in several parts of the province. Tuesday’s weekly crop report showed the Manitoba harvest at 51% complete as of Monday, up from 43% a week earlier. The largest regional advance came in the Northwest, where overall harvest progress jumped to 40% from 24%. The Central region moved to 71% from 64%, the Eastern region to 66% from 62%, the Interlake to 59% from 56%, and the Southwest to 32% from 27%. Provincially, spring wheat harvest reached 77%, up from 71% a week earlier. Barley advanced to 81% from 76%, oats to 72% from 66%, and canola to 57% from 43%. Peas remained at 96% complete, while soybean harvest increased to 5% from 1%. Dry bean harvest doubled to 32% done. Quality concerns are becoming more prominent in later-harvested cereals, with sprouting, weathering, and bleaching causing downgrades in some areas, the report said. Canola yields are gener

Secretary Naig Welcomes Applications for Urban Water Quality Project Grants

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is accepting pre-applications for cost-share grants to support urban conservation and water quality projects. The locally led projects, available to Iowa communities of all sizes, support implementation of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and are part of the state’s continued efforts to improve water quality. “Communities – big and small – have been putting proven conservation practices to work to improve water quality across Iowa since 2015,” said Secretary Naig. “From managing stormwater to reducing nutrient loss and protecting local waterways, these locally led projects help improve water quality and mitigate urban flooding. Many of these projects also become attractive community features that enhance quality of life. IDALS will continue working alongside communities to deliver cleaner water for Iowans because there is no finish line when it comes to cons

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service