Yesterday’s announcement from Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fideli outlines a program allowing qualifying Huron County businesses to get financial support through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) and access to a range of complementary services and supports.
The objective of the Regional Development Program ““ Eastern Ontario Development Fund and Southwestern Ontario Development Fund is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern and southwestern Ontario make investments to:
“¢ Grow their businesses
“¢ Improve productivity.
“¢ Invest in innovation and skills development
“¢ Pursue new markets
“¢ Generate broad positive regional economic impact
“¢ Create new, good, sustainable jobs.
The news release can be found here: Ontario Launches Regional Program to Help Create Jobs
Overall documentation for the program: Regional Development Program
Specific portion of the program for Southwestern Ontario: Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
For anyone who is interested,, make sure you carefully check the guidelines to see if their proposed project will meet the criteria and be able to reach the prescribed outcomes.
There are 4 application intakes, so have a look and see if you qualify:
Application Period One
Application Opening: December 2, 2019-January 20, 2020
Application Deadline: January 20, 2020
Application Assessment Period (60 business days): January 21, 2020-April 16, 2020
Notification Date (last day to notify applicants): April 16, 2020
Application Period Two
Application Opening: March 5, 2020-April 20, 2020
Application Deadline: April 20, 2020
Application Assessment Period (60 business days): April 21, 2020-July 15, 2020
Notification Date (last day to notify applicants): July 15, 2020
Application Period Three
Application Opening: June 5, 2020-July 20, 2020
Application Deadline: July 20, 2020
Application Assessment Period (60 business days): July 21, 2020-October 15, 2020
Notification Date (last day to notify applicants): October 15, 2020
Application Period Four
Application Opening: September 3, 2020-October 19, 2020
Application Deadline: October 19, 2020
Application Assessment Period (60 business days): October 20, 2020-January 14, 2021
Notification Date (last day to notify applicants): January 15, 2021
If you have any trouble finding the information with the links above drop us a line.
Good Luck Huron!
Your Chamber of Commerce