Regional Funding

Regional Technology Development Site of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia

The Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to advanced research and innovation programming, applied research and prototyping support, functional testing environments, accelerator and commercialization programming, and access to municipal infrastructure to accelerate automotive and smart mobility innovation and product development.

County of Simcoe – Social and Community Investment Fund

The Social and Community Investment Fund (SCIF) supports community organizations delivering targeted, evidence-informed programs that reduce poverty and strengthen stability across Simcoe County. To learn more about the fund, including the different funding streams and eligibility criteria, please visit the program webpage.

Community Futures Development Corporations and Small Business Enterprise Centres

Community Futures Development Corporations can provide a loans to start or grow small businesses in Northern Ontario or rural Southern Ontario. They also provide access to business training and planning support. The purpose of these centres is to specifically cater to the localized needs of each community.

Small Business Enterprise Centres offer the Starter Company Plus and Summer Company programs.

• Are you an entrepreneur who is starting, growing or buying a business? Through Starter Company Plus, you could be eligible to apply for this mentorship and training program. Once participants have completed this program, they may be eligible to apply for a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to put towards the business.
• Summer Company will provide accepted students mentoring, business training and up to $3,000 in funding to start and run their business for the summer. The Small Business Centre will assist you in the development of your business plan and throughout your business operations during the whole summer.

The Small Business Enterprise Centres also provide free consultations with a qualified business consultant, internet and computer access for business research and planning, review of business plans, consultations through a lawyer/accountant referral service, up-to-date, leading-edge information geared to the needs of the entrepreneur, access to current resource materials, including directories, trade indexes and books that entrepreneurs can peruse on-site, workshops and seminars, guidance on licenses, permits, registration, regulations and other forms and documents required to start and build a business, import and export information, information on patents, copyright and trademarks, and mentoring and networking opportunities.

Visit our Partners page for listing and contact information for Community Futures Development Corporations and Small Business Enterprise Centres in Simcoe County.

County of Simcoe – Entrepreneurial Innovation Fund

The Entrepreneurial Innovation Fund has been established as an annual fund to support Simcoe County-based organizations to create partnerships and enhance service offerings for area entrepreneurs. All supported activities must be non-profit in nature. To qualify, at least one Small Business Enterprise Centre and one Community Futures Development Corporation must be partners on the project and the service must be delivered in Simcoe County. Applications are evaluated by the County’s Economic Development Office with approvals from the County’s Economic Development Sub-Committee and Committee of the Whole.

Georgian Angel Network

Provides angel investment and business development support to high-growth potential firms in Simcoe County.

LSRA Aerospace Development Fund

The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport (LSRA) Aerospace Development Fund is established on a three-year basis (2024-2026), with maximum funding of up to $100,000 per year (with unallocated funds to be rolled over to the next year). Grants up to 20% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $100,000 will be considered.

It provides funding support for manufacturing, flight operations (corporate charter/management/flight department), AMO (Aircraft Maintenance Organization), R&D and scheduled passenger service-related investment projects at the LSRA.

Eligible projects will attract private sector investment; develop the aerospace sector in Simcoe County; create jobs and build talent; lead to broad positive economic impacts; and encourage research and development, innovation and collaboration.