Information

The application period for Rural Ontario Development Program is now open.

You have until September 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET to apply.

Overview

The Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program replaces the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program. We modernized and expanded the program to offer $20 million in funding over 2 years. This program supports the objectives of Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy.

The ROD Program provides cost-share funding for projects that help rural communities:

  • address barriers and build capacity for economic development
  • to attract, retain and expand businesses
  • attract and retain investment and jobs
  • strengthen regional partnerships and economic resilience
  • address workforce development challenges
  • transform community assets to drive economic development

Who is eligible

To qualify for the ROD Program, you must meet both of the following requirements:

  1. Your organization must be one of the following:
    • a municipality
    • a not-for-profit organization
    • an Indigenous community or organization
    • a local services board
    • a small business with 1 to 20 employees
  2. Your project must be within an eligible rural area of Ontario
  3. Your project must be within an eligible rural area of Ontario
Rural and Urban Areas map

How to apply

Rural communities

Municipalities, Indigenous communities, local services boards and not-for-profit organizations in rural Ontario can apply through the following streams:

  • Economic diversification, competitiveness and capacity building: projects that support communities to build economic development capacity and implement strategies that increase competitiveness to retain businesses, attract investment and enhance growth.
    • Strategies and plans: projects will develop strategies or plans that will enhance the ability of communities to be prepared for and engage in economic development activities. This stream offers up to 50% cost-share up, to $50,000.
    • Economic diversification and competitiveness: projects will support the implementation an existing economic development plan or strategy. This stream offers up to 50% cost-share, up to $150,000.
    • Capacity building events: projects that support organizations in building community capacity to deliver economic development activities. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, up to $10,000.
  • Workforce development, attraction and retention: This stream funds projects that support communities to implement strategies and/or to undertake initiatives for attracting and retaining workers. This stream offers up to 50% cost-share, up to $150,000.
  • Community infrastructure enhancements: This stream funds projects that update or transform community assets that have been identified as important to the community’s economy. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, with large projects eligible from $25,000 to $250,000 and for small projects eligible up to $25,000.

Rural businesses

Small brick and mortar businesses in rural Ontario with 1 to 20 employees can apply through the business development stream. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, to a maximum of $10,000.

Steps to apply

  1. Read the ROD Program guidelines for community development or business development to learn about:
    • eligibility
    • funding streams
    • cost-share amounts
    • application requirements
  2. Submit your completed application by email to RODprogram@ontario.ca on or before the intake deadline.

After you apply

After the intake period closes, we will:

  • assess eligible applications based on the criteria in the guidelines
  • notify applicants about funding decisions, usually within 3 months of the intake deadline (timing may vary)

Get help with your application

Attend an information webinar

Learn more about the ROD Program by attending a free information webinar. Find more information on our registration page.

Upcoming sessions:

  • July 8, 2025
    • 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (English)
    • 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (French)
  • August 20, 2025
    • 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (English)
    • 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (French)
  • September 10, 2025
    • 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (English)
    • 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (French)

Book a coaching session

Applicants for rural community development projects can book a free, one-on-one coaching session with a regional advisor.

See previously funded projects

Learn more about successful projects funded through our previous Rural Economic Development (RED) Program:

Contact us

If you need more help:

Application intakes

These are the upcoming intake periods for the ROD Program between 2025 and 2027. Each intake has its own application window and deadline. These dates are subject to change.

Intake 1

  • Application intake period: June 24, 2025 to September 24, 2025
  • Application Deadline: September 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET

Intake 2

  • Application intake period: January 19, 2026 – February 26, 2026
  • Application Deadline: February 26, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.

Intake 3

  • Application intake period: August 17, 2026 – October 1, 2026
  • Application Deadline: October 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.

Intake 4

  • Application intake period: January 18, 2027 – February 25, 2027
  • Application Deadline: February 25, 2027, at 5 p.m. ET.

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