INVEST North Program — Investment — Locate Stream

For businesses planning to establish new operations in Northern Ontario, the INVEST North Program — Investment — Locate Stream can play a meaningful role in reducing the upfront cost of expansion. Delivered by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation on behalf of the Government of Ontario, this stream is designed to attract new economic activity to the region by supporting companies that are prepared to make significant, long-term investments in facilities, equipment, and workforce development.

The program can provide substantial funding support, with assistance reaching up to around $5 million per project through a conditional contribution or a mix of contribution and repayable financing. Support is typically tied to major capital investments such as building or renovating facilities, acquiring new or used equipment, improving serviced land, upgrading information and communications technology, and covering certain third-party training and early-stage marketing costs. Projects are assessed on their overall economic benefit to Northern Ontario, including job creation, investment leverage, and the strength of the business plan, rather than simply meeting a checklist of expenses.

This Locate Stream is best suited for established small, medium-sized, and larger enterprises that are serious about setting up new operations in the region and securing the remaining financing needed to complete their project. With applications currently being accepted and funding decisions made on a competitive basis, understanding how this program fits your expansion plans is an important next step worth exploring in more detail.