The Applicant is required to identify the program stream and Project type in the application. The program stream and Project type selected will impact the provincial Cost Share, the maximum provincial funding, and the eligible expenses for the Project.

Economic diversification, competitiveness and capacity building stream

Strategies and plans

This sub-stream funds strategies and plans and has a provincial Cost Share of up to 50% and maximum provincial funding of $50,000.

Projects in this sub-stream will develop strategies or plans that will build community capacity and enhance the ability of communities to be prepared for and engage in Economic Development activities.

Example Projects

  • Economic Development strategy
  • housing plans for attracting and retaining workers
  • feasibility or business plans
  • community improvement plans

Economic diversification and competitiveness

This Project sub-stream has a provincial Cost Share of up to 50% and maximum provincial funding of $150,000.

Projects in this sub-stream must implement an existing plan or strategy.

Business retention and expansion

Projects that proactively engage the local or regional business community to identify and implement actions that address barriers to growth

Example Projects: Projects that are part of MRA's Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR+E) or similar to such Projects with activities including:

  • collecting business and market data
  • writing and implementing action plans
  • executing actions to support local businesses in the community

Downtown revitalization

Projects that focus on identifying and implementing actions that improve and promote traditional downtowns.

Example Projects: Projects that are part of MRA's Downtown Revitalization Program (DR) or similar to such Projects with activities including:

  • growing customer traffic
  • attracting business to locate in downtowns through marketing activities

Entrepreneurship or business succession

Projects that support business start-up or succession in the community.

Example Projects:

  • coaching/mentorship
  • business succession support (for example, connecting buyers and retiring business owners)
  • familiarization tours

Regional marketing and outreach

Projects that implement marketing or promotional activities outlined in an existing marketing or communications plan that will have an impact across multiple communities in a region.

Example Projects: Promotional campaigns across at least 2 communities (for example, investment attraction)

Technology adoption or innovation initiatives

Projects that support businesses and/or communities to improve their digital capabilities and participate in the information economy.

Example Projects:

  • digital and cyber security training for businesses
  • new technology to improve coordination of business approvals

Capacity building events

This sub-stream has a provincial Cost Share of up to 35% and maximum provincial funding of $10,000.

This sub-stream funds events to strengthen rural individuals, organizations and communities’ knowledge and skill sets, to undertake and manage their Economic Development efforts. Events must have an Economic Development skill development and/or training component.

Events that target tourists or general community events are not eligible Projects.

Project examples:

  • asset based community development training
  • summits/conferences related to community Economic Development
  • community Leader skill development
  • regional Economic Development capacity building events

Workforce development, attraction and retention

This Project stream has a provincial Cost Share of up to 50% and maximum provincial funding of $150,000.

This stream funds Projects that support communities to implement strategies and/or to undertake initiatives for attracting and retaining workers.

Attraction, retention, and training of workers

Implementation of strategies to attract, retain and train workers, immigrants or youth.

Example Projects:

  • collaborative labour attraction marketing campaigns
  • workforce-oriented policy/regulatory improvements
  • career days/events
  • network development (service providers / businesses/ schools/ post-secondary)
  • workforce or sector-based training
  • youth training
  • intern/apprentice matching system
  • welcoming community Projects

Community infrastructure enhancements

This stream funds Projects that update or transform Community Assets that have been identified as important to the community’s economy. There are small or large Projects in the community infrastructure enhancements stream, and small or large Projects are eligible for all 3 Project types.

The large Projects sub-stream has a provincial Cost Share of up to 35% and maximum provincial funding of $250,000.

The small Projects sub-stream has a provincial Cost Share of up to 35% and maximum provincial funding of $25,000. Small Projects have a streamlined application and assessment process.

Rehabilitation of cultural, heritage or tourism attractions

Minor Capital Costs Projects that rehabilitate an existing cultural, heritage, or tourism attraction, as identified through previously completed strategies and Projects that establish its significance for Economic Development.

Example Projects:

  • rehabilitation of a historic building or structure
  • rehabilitation of an established tourism asset
  • rehabilitation of a recreational trail

Redevelopment of vacant and/or underutilized buildings

Minor Capital Costs Projects to redevelop vacant and/or underutilized buildings to achieve an Economic Development outcome.

Example Projects:

  • expansion of an incubator or innovation hub
  • development of a co-working space
  • youth centre
  • agri-food hubs

Streetscaping and landscaping

Minor Capital Costs Projects identified through previously completed strategies that improve the design quality of public areas.

Example Projects:

  • wayfinding signage
  • beautification (for example, decorative lighting, banners, murals, street furniture, public art, trees)
  • wi-Fi equipment for public use

Ineligible Projects

The following Projects are ineligible:

  • submissions with incomplete applications
  • Projects that do not meet the outcomes of the ROD Program (as outlined in the “Program outcomes and performance measures” section below) or align with the program streams
  • Projects that do not benefit Rural Ontario
  • Projects receiving any amount of other provincial funding
  • Projects seeking funding for academic research
  • debt restructuring, fundraising, or financing (for example, re-granting ROD Funds)
  • Projects that will influence or lobby any level of government
  • Projects seeking funding for major capital Projects (for example, new building construction, roads, bridges, paved or concrete surfaces, water/wastewater treatment facilities, utility distribution, broadband)
  • regional marketing and outreach Projects that do not have an impact across at least 2 lower-tier or least 2 communities within a single-tier Municipality, or that focus exclusively on tourism events
  • Projects that host events with the intent to primarily attract tourists or general community attendance
  • those primarily benefitting an individual business
  • Projects that the primary purpose is to ready a property or asset for immediate or imminent sale
  • Projects that the primary purpose is to support compliance efforts with current Requirements of Law