The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) provides assistance to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. Valued at $700 million nationally over three years, JGF is being delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) to help job creators to future-proof, build resiliency and prepare for growth by adopting clean technology, increasing diversity, implementing new digital technologies and strengthening capacity in critical sectors. This includes up to $70 million in funding dedicated to supporting businesses created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria.
In southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario is delivering $224 million in JGF funding.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.
On July 13, 2021, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, announced that southern Ontario businesses and support organizations can now apply for the JGF through FedDev Ontario.
Who can apply?
- Businesses, including co-operatives, including those created after January 2020.
- Not-for-profit organizations and community economic development partners.
- Indigenous-led organizations and/or businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.
What activities are supported?
Activities that support the transition to a green economy, including those that:
- Support the development and adoption of clean technology.
- Help communities and businesses plan and drive clean, sustainable economic growth.
- Partner with organizations to catalyze the development of green regional clusters.
- Work with organizations supporting businesses to transition to a green economy.
Activities that foster an inclusive recovery, including those that:
- Support businesses owned or majority-led by underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities, women, youth, LGBTQ2, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, and members of official language minority communities.
- Increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the economy by supporting not-for-profit organizations that provide funding, business services, training and access to resources to build a more inclusive and equitable workforce.
Activities that preserve Canada’s competitiveness and future-proof SMEs through digital adoption, including those that:
- Support the development or adoption of digital and technological solutions (i.e., Industry 4.0 solutions) to increase and promote business productivity.
- Invest in technologies that help scale businesses, enhance their capabilities and increase resilience.
Activities that strengthen capacity in sectors critical to Canada’s recovery and growth, including those that:
- Support scale-up and market expansion activities that bolster traditional areas of strength.
- Develop emerging areas of global competitive advantage.
- Support supply chain adaptation and diversification opportunities to build Canadian capacity in critical sectors such as food production, medical supplies and biomanufacturing.
What assistance is available?
- Eligible businesses could normally receive interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50 percent of authorized costs.
- Eligible not-for profit organizations could normally receive non-repayable contributions for up to 90 percent of authorized costs.
- Indigenous-led organizations and/or businesses may be eligible to receive up to 100 percent of eligible project costs.
For more information on the application process, eligibility criteria and eligible expenses, or to apply, please visit the FedDev Ontario website, and contact FedDev Ontario by telephone should you have additional questions.
FedDev Ontario is accepting applications on an ongoing basis and will review on a first-come first served basis until funding is fully committed.
If this fund is not right for you, visit FedDev Ontario’s Funding Opportunities page to learn more about other support available. To learn more about Government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures, visit Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan page.
