Eastern Ontario Development Program Guidlines

The Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) is a Government of Canada funded initiative designed to promote economic development in rural eastern Ontario by contributing to the development of businesses and communities.

This program will serve as a catalyst to encourage new project development, funding of strategic and planning studies for communities, mobilizing broader community participation and helping to form partnerships that lead to establishing competitive, sustainable local economies.

EODP funding will serve as a lever for additional investment by utilizing the three following program components.

• The Business Development (BD) component will promote growth of new and existing businesses in rural eastern Ontario communities.
• The Community Innovation (CI) component will advance community led economic development to enhance and diversify local economies.
• The Collaborative Projects (CP) component will support collaborative economic development projects that benefit multiple communities. This component is for larger initiatives that have broader implications to eastern Ontario as a whole. We are pleased to assist applicants who wish to pursue this opportunity but would first advise a visit to the Eastern Ontario Network of CFDC’s at www.eocfdc.ca for more details.

Our office will work with successful applicants to undertake projects that address local and regional issues, challenges and opportunities in the 1000 Islands region.

Eligible applicants include:

• not-for-profit organizations including municipalities and municipal organizations, corporations and community economic development organizations;
• commercial enterprises including individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives and trusts;
• aboriginal organizations; and
• post-secondary institutions.

Eligible activities under Business Development (BD) will include:

• enhancements to productivity including information and communications technology, energy, new technologies, productivity assessments;
• market diversification and/or expansion;
• product innovation and/or development
• process innovation;
• skills training and mentoring to improve competitiveness, facilitate expansion or integrate new processes;
• industry cluster development;
• business and marketing plans for growing business;
• succession planning to ensure long term viability of business;
• business start-ups;
• supply chain analysis and development; and
• any other efforts designed to enhance productivity, increase profitability and generate employment.

Eligible activities under Community Innovation (CI) will include:

• expansion and/or development of community economic assets;
• projects that advance, enhance and diversify the local economy;
• initiatives designed to improve competitiveness and sustainability of the local economy;
• labour market strategies and development including skills gap analysis and worker transition strategies;
• research to develop community resources;
• creation of business incubators; and
• support for business accelerators.

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis on a first come, first served basis. We will allow the process to remain open until all funds have been fully allocated. All applications will normally be reviewed within four weeks of receipt and we strongly encourage that you complete every section as fully and completely as is possible as incomplete applications cannot be assessed or considered for funding. Please feel free to contact us as you develop your application and please ensure that all required documentation is accurate and verifiable. Click below for the application and for further program terms and conditions.

On-Line EODP Application EODP Recipients