Resources
Funding Opportunities
Business Expansion
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
- Supports companies investing in new facilities and equipment to advance regional priorities
- Up to 15-50% of expenses to a max of $500,000 to $5,000,000 in grant or loan funding depending on stream
- Helps to offset upfront project costs and helps southern Ontario businesses grow more quickly
- Access repayable funding from $125,000 to a max $10,000,000
- $50 million government funding program aimed at helping businesses make near-term investments to serve more interprovincial customers
- Receive up to 75% of eligible expenses to a max of $5,000,000
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
- Financing, capital and advisory services to help small- and medium-sized enterprises start, grow or transition their businesses, including loans, venture capital, and business consulting
Export Development
- Offering financial support over two years to help Canadian exporters and their suppliers manage global economic uncertainty
- Backed by $5 billion in additional financial capacity
- Supports global expansion projects including participation in trade shows and government-led trade missions
- Up to 50% to a max $50,000 in grants
Innovation and Productivity
National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program
- Designed to accelerate the research and development projects of Canadian innovators
- Access up to 60-80% of costs to a max $10,000,000 per application
Ngen Advanced Manufacturing Projects
- Designed to accelerate commercialization and scale-up in the Canadian manufacturing sector
- Funding will vary by applicant
CME Technology Investment Program
- Aims to help SME manufacturers in southern Ontario automate production, reduce their environmental footprint and increase their global competitiveness
- Receive up to 50% of eligible costs to a max of $50,000
Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness
- AMIC is designed to help Ontario SMEs in advanced manufacturing industries with grant and loan support for cap & tech adoption
- Up to 15% of eligible project costs to a max of $5,000,000 in loan funding
Canada Digital Adoption Program
- Designed to support small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that need to make digital adoptions in their businesses to be able to remain competitive in this new digital age
- Up to 90% of eligible costs up to $15,000 grant
Hiring and Training
- Support for employers providing supervised career-related work experience for youth employees
- Up to 50% of employee minimum hourly rate; Non-profits can receive grants up to 100% of minimum wage; Amount is capped at a max $300,000 per employer
- Administered by the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA), the hiring grant supports Ontario’s precision metalworking sector with youth hires
- Funding 50% of wages paid to a max of $5,000 for each placement
Youth Employment Program (IRAP)
- Designed to assist funding of hiring young Canadian post-secondary graduates
- Provides up to $30,000 per graduate (up to two) for a period of 6 to 12 months
Development Charges
This information is coming soon.
Local Municipal Information
The Niagara region is comprised of the Regional Municipality of Niagara and the following 12 area municipalities (in alphabetical order):
Workforce & Labour Information
The Niagara region has a workforce of over 250,000 people. The following includes a breakdown of the workforce by sector and occupation.
Workforce by Sector
| Sector | People | Percentage |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 6,230 | 2% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 487 | 0% |
| Utilities | 1,793 | 1% |
| Construction | 20,777 | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 22,307 | 9% |
| Wholesale trade | 8,339 | 3% |
| Retail trade | 30,721 | 12% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11,352 | 5% |
| Information and cultural industries | 2,906 | 1% |
| Finance and insurance | 8,312 | 3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4,169 | 2% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 13,931 | 6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 407 | 0% |
| Administration, waste management and remediation services | 11,801 | 5% |
| Educational services | 17,528 | 7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 32,053 | 13% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 7,316 | 3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 21,039 | 8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10,335 | 4% |
| Public administration | 11,287 | 5% |
| Not applicable | 6,915 | 3% |
Workforce by Occupation
| Occupation | People | Percentage |
| Legislative and senior management occupations | 2,542 | 1% |
| Business, finance and administration occupations | 35,982 | 14% |
| Natural and applied sciences and related occupations | 13,578 | 5% |
| Health occupations | 20,563 | 8% |
| Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services | 27,590 | 11% |
| Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport | 6,251 | 3% |
| Sales and service occupations | 72,622 | 29% |
| Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations | 44,245 | 18% |
| Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations | 7,573 | 3% |
| Occupations in manufacturing and utilities | 12,138 | 5% |
| Not applicable | 6,915 | 3% |
NIA Event Summaries
This information is coming soon.
