The provincial government is launching new funding programs and streams through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) in an effort to increase economic development and promote job creation in the north.
Ontario’s Energy Minister Greg Rickford says the revamping of NOHFC programs was the result of more than two years of provincial engagement with northern communities, Indigenous partners, not-for-profit organizations and businesses in order to get feedback on how to modernize and improve funding mechanisms.
Four new NOHFC programs were introduced by Rickford Thursday:
- Community Enhancement Program - upgrades and repairs to existing community assets, such as recreational facilities, community centres and broadband infrastructure that contribute to improved quality of life and support economic development. All communities in the north are eligible, including not-for-profit organizations, local services boards and Indigenous communities
- Cultural Supports Program - promotion of northern Ontario's culture, geography, and talent through the production of films and television series and by supporting events, such as conferences and festivals that boost the profile of communities
- Invest North Program - boost economic growth and attract investment to northern Ontario by supporting business development and expansion, as well as support for the research and development sector. Designed to support businesses throughout the entire business life cycle. NOHFC will accept applications throughout the year, but will introduce four annual competitive rounds of funding for this program
- People and Talent Program - attract, develop, and retain a strong northern workforce by supporting a broader range of internships and apprenticeships and providing more opportunities for Indigenous people to gain job experience. The program now includes support for businesses in order to hire apprentices under registered apprenticeship programs, and a dedicated stream for enhanced support of Indigenous workforce development.
The majority of funding streams through the new NOHFC programming will be a combination of conditional grants and term loans. The application process is now open to the public.
“We’ve heard your feedback loud and clear, and that’s why our teams developed the new Northern Ontario Heritage Fund programs that support more projects in rural and northern communities, target existing and emerging industry sectors, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage across the north, finally making it easier for more people, more communities and more businesses to apply for funding,” said Rickford during the announcement. “With these new programs in place today, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund will have a renewed and refocused set of programs that will continue to build strong and resilient communities, and create an environment where businesses thrive, grow and create jobs.”
More detailed information on the new funding programs and the application process can be found on the revamped NOHFC website.
