Grants are a wonderful opportunity to help further stimulate your business. They can also be overwhelming and intimidating, after all, you're an expert in running your business, not in grant writing.

In collaboration with the City of Pembroke and the Town of Petawawa, we've put together this resource to help set you up for success.

What you should have ready for grants

1. Register your business with your municipality

  • Each municipality is different, some require a licence, others have a registration, and some may have nothing. If your municipality has an Economic Development Officer, they are a great first contact. If they do no have an EDO, someone in the Planning Department is likely the next best contact.

2. Register your business with the Province of Ontario

  • There are certain instances where you must register your business with the province, but in general, it is a good idea to do this regardless. By doing this you will receive a ‘Master Business Licence (MBL)' which will give you proof of business name registration for financial purposes. An MBL is often required when applying to grants.
  • The cost is $80 and the registration is valid for 5 years.
  • This process can be done online.

3. Have a separate business bank account

  • This can be required for some grants. It is also good to do this as soon as possible, to keep your business and personal finances separate and will help as your business expands.

4. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business Number

  • This is a requirement for some grants, including the current Ontario Small Business Support Grant. To obtain a CRA Business Number, please visit the Business Registration Online.

5. Articles of Incorporation – if Incorporated

  • If you are incorporated, ensure you have this on-hand when applying for funding. You should have a certified copy of a resolution of directors and shareholders authorizing you to obtain financing.

6. Ready to go projects

  • Many grants come with short notice and require quotes, mock-ups and plans to be submitted along with the grant. If your business has a dream project or expansion idea, begin collecting information and putting together a plan including drawings, mock-ups, plans, and quotes. Having these on-hand will make it much easier to apply for a grant when the time comes.

 

Where to find grants

Government of Canada Business Benefit Finder

This platform allows you to find the right programs and services, whether you're starting out or scaling up.

Go to Business Benefit Finder

Province of Ontario Small Business Access

Get support, information and advice to run your small business.

Go to Ontario Small Business Access

Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation (RCCFDC)

A local funding agency that provides business support, grants, and loans.

  • Contact: Kelley Lemenchick

Go to RCCFDC website

Email Kelley Lemenchick

Enterprise Renfrew County

A provincially funded organization that hosts training sessions and often has grant programs for small businesses.

  • Contact: Colleen Sadler

Go to Enterprise Renfrew County's website

Email Colleen Sadler

Canada-Ontario Job Grant 

(COJG) provides opportunities for employers to invest in their workforce, with help from the government.

 

  • Employers can get up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs.
  • The training has to be delivered by an eligible, third-party trainer.
  • Employers with 100 or more employees need to contribute 1/2 of the training costs. Small employers with less than 100 employees need to contribute 1/6 of training costs.
  • Most organizations acting as an intermediary are eligible for administrative funding equal to 15% of the government contribution.

If you're an employer with a particular skills demand, the Canada-Ontario Job Grant might be right for you. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

 

Go to Canada-Ontario Job Grant

Business owner holding a door open with an open sign.

Learn more about our Community Improvement Plan (CIP) which is a set of grants available to businesses and commercial/industrial/agricultural property owners from the Township of Laurentian Valley.

Learn More

Other support services

Local Employment Services

These organizations provide support for training and hiring employees and often have grant programs. One is for Pembroke and area employers, the other is for Petawawa and area employers.

Algonquin Employment Services

For Pembroke and area

Go to Algonquin Employment Services website

ces@algonquincollege.com

613-735-4308

Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre

For Petawawa and area

Go to Petawawa Employment website

es-program@pmfrc.org

613-687-1717

Business Development Bank of Canada

Federally funded organization that provides information on business planning, term loans, working capital and venture loans to Canadian small businesses.

Go to BDC's website

613-995-0234

PARO – for Women's Enterprises

Provides support services and in some cases, grants and loans to women entrepreneurs.

Go to PARO's website

807-625-0328

Invest Renfrew County

Is an organization here to help you bring your business to Renfrew County and can assist you with:

  • Resettlement and business start-up counseling
  • One-on-one business consultation
  • Networking and support services
  • Connections to potential employers
  • Matchmaking for business ideas and opportunities

Visit Invest Renfrew County's website

The Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce (UOVCC)

The mission of the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce is to be a coordinating body providing a cooperative environment to support member businesses in the quest for growth and economic success by providing leadership, education, advocacy, communication, interaction opportunities and tangible financial benefits.

Go to the UOVCC website

Futurpreneur

Futurpreneur Canada has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada's young enterprise for two decades. We are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 3,000 volunteer mentors.

Visit the Futurpreneur website