Posted: Monday July 14, 2025
The Rural Ontario Development Program provides cost-share funding for projects that help rural communities. Small brick and mortar businesses in rural Ontario with 1 to 20 employees can apply through the business development stream. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, to a maximum of $10,000. Intake 1 is now open, with a deadline of September 24 at 5:00 pm.
Important note:
Please note that the business development stream funding will be awarded on a first come first served basis. If you wait until the deadline, you will likely be too late! Apply as soon as possible and don’t delay. This is not a competitive stream, which means that your project is not being scored and ranked against other applicants, so proposals will be assessed as they are submitted.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to apply to the Rural Ontario Development Program – Business Development, an Applicant will be a Currently Operating Business that:
- has 1 to 20 employees on its current payroll and for the duration of the Project, excluding the owner(s) of the business
- is physically located in Rural Ontario (Brockville falls under this definition)
- is paying agricultural, commercial or industrial property tax, either directly or through rent or lease (Indigenous businesses are exempt from this requirement)
- is not occupying a property that is considered solely residential under its municipality’s Official Plan and zoning bylaw (Indigenous businesses are exempt from this requirement)
- is open for business/operating at the time of application
- is in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law and at the time of application and for the duration of the Project, has no outstanding fees, levies or taxes owed to the governments of Ontario and Canada, or has made and maintained satisfactory arrangements for their payment
The Province is committed to supporting the success of Indigenous businesses in Rural Ontario. Indigenous business Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff within the intake period, to discuss opportunities for Rural Ontario Development Program flexibility at: RODprogram@ontario.ca or 1-877-424-1300.
For full eligibility details, please click here to visit the eligibility section of the program website.
Program goals
The program goals are to help rural communities:
- address barriers and build capacity for economic development
- to attract, retain and expand businesses
- attract and retain investment and jobs
- strengthen regional partnerships and economic resilience
- address workforce development challenges
- transform community assets to drive economic development
Eligible Project types
Applicants are required to identify the Project type they are applying for. There are 4 Project types and multiple Project types can be identified.
- Market diversification or product diversification: Projects to support small Rural Ontario businesses to increase their competitiveness. Examples:
- Complete a market analysis, and/or a marketing plan for a new product and/or a new or expanded existing market
- Development of new marketing collateral
- Implementation of a business or marketing plan to access or expand into a new market
- Enhancing cyber security: Projects to support small Rural Ontario businesses to increase their cyber security. Examples:
- Implementation of activities to increase cyber security measures within a business
- Cyber security analysis
- Succession planning: Projects to support small Rural Ontario businesses to increase their readiness for business succession. Examples:
- Succession plan for business
- Accessibility: Projects to support small Rural Ontario businesses to increase their accessibility. Examples:
- Improve accessibility infrastructure (ramps, door opener, etc.)
For more information on eligible and ineligible projects, please click here to visit the program website and eligibility criteria.
The program will have 4 intake periods over 2 years:
Application intakes
These are the upcoming intake periods for the Rural Ontario Development Program between 2025 and 2027. Each intake has its own application window and deadline. These dates are subject to change.
Intake 1:
- Application intake period: June 24, 2025 to September 24, 2025
- Deadline: September 24, 2025, at 5:00 pm
Intake 2:
- Application intake period: January 19, 2026 to February 26, 2026
- Deadline: February 26, 2026, at 5:00 pm
Intake 3:
- Application intake period: August 17, 2026 to October 1, 2026
- Deadline: October 1, 2026, at 5:00 pm
Intake 4:
- Application intake period: January 18, 2027 to February 25, 2027
- Deadline: February 25, 2027, at 5:00 pm
Get help with your application
Attend an information webinar
Learn more about the Rural Ontario Development Program by attending a free information webinar. Find more information on their registration page.
Upcoming sessions:
- August 20, 2025
- 10:00 am to 11:30 am (English)
- 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm (French)
- September 10, 2025
- 10:00 am to 11:30 am (English)
- 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm (French)
Book a coaching session
Applicants for rural community development projects can book a free, one-on-one coaching session with a regional advisor.