Business Development (BD)

Overview

Business Development funds will be invested behind projects that will lead to the growth of new and existing businesses primarily throughout Northumberland County with secondary though equally important emphasis on Eastern Ontario. These activities include an array of initiatives that support skills development, youth attraction, innovation and information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption.

Preference will be given to projects that enhance job creation/sustainment, innovation, research and development, commercialization and business practices that work to position the area for global markets and competitiveness. Concurrently the Northumberland CFDC will be sensitive to key economic drivers of individual communities such as the creative/cultural sectors.

Guidelines

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Commercial Enterprises including individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives or trusts
Non-profit organizations including municipalities and municipal organizations, corporations and community economic development organizations
Aboriginal organizations

What types of projects and activities may be considered eligible?

Business Development activities may include but are not limited to:

business planning initiatives (business development, expansion, marketing, export and strategic plans), feasibility studies
research & development initiatives, research analysis
internship/job placements such as youth internships and non-youth internships**
trade show attendance in support of market expansion
skills development and training such as incremental on-the-job training, in-house or outsourced classroom training, business management skills development, workshops, seminars
business and trade opportunity development
marketing projects
economic/tourism and/or business development activities
innovation initiatives including commercialization of new technologies, innovation and technology research and development, technology/ICT and knowledge-based economy studies and plans
technology enhancement initiatives such as advanced innovative web enhancements, e-commerce, e-learning platforms, intranet/extranet portals, geographic information systems, customized software development and installations that improve efficiencies and productivity
ICT infrastructure projects including telecommunications improvements, broadband and internet access
applications in ICT which may include development of networks, ICT education and awareness, facilitating or hosting conferences and workshops
other incremental activities designed to stimulate business opportunities in the knowledge based economy.

** Of special note on Internship/job placement initiatives-**Youth Interns employed through agreements with Eligible Project Recipients will normally be graduates with a degree, diploma or Ontario Ministry Certificate from a post secondary institution and be under 30 years of age. Each intern and intern project/position will not exceed 12 months in duration. Non-Youth Interns employed through agreements with Eligible Project Recipients will normally be graduates from a secondary/post secondary institution and be over 30 years of age. Each intern and intern project/position will not exceed 12 months in duration.

What are ineligible activities?

Hiring of interns for administrative and/or operational activities considered part of regular operations
Hiring of interns that displace existing employees
Repayable financial assistance and
Internships that do not comply with labour union agreements

What costs are eligible? What costs are not?

Eligible Costs will be reasonable, incremental and required to achieve the approved activity. They may include salaries, wages/employee benefits; communications, publicity and promotion; consultant and other professional services; environmental assessments; training; equipment purchases or leases; information technology; telecommunications network services; transportation and administrative expenses. Eligible costs may also include the cost of equipment and buildings, but will not include the cost of land.

Ineligible Costs are those that are deemed unreasonable, not incremental and/or not directly related to the eligible project activities. Costs incurred outside of the eligibility dates as defined in the Northumberland CFDC Letter of Offer will not be supported. EODP project support is not intended to fund ongoing core operational costs.

What funding can EODP contribute to the project?

Funding contributions to Private Sector For-Profit Eligible Project Recipients will be non-repayable contributions, not normally to exceed 50% of total Eligible Costs, of the approved funding amount, to a maximum contribution of $100,000 per Eligible Project Recipient, with the exception of Internship funding.

Funding contributions to Not-for-Profit Eligible Project Recipients will be non-repayable contributions toward direct eligible project costs, and may be up to 100% of total Eligible Costs, of the approved funding amount, to a maximum of $100,000 per Eligible Project Recipient, with the exception of Internship funding. Not-for-Profit organizations are encouraged to contribute 50%.

Of special note:

Skills Development funding contributions will not normally exceed $5,000.00 per employee with a maximum of $25,000.00 to any one business/organization per year. Skills Development activities relate to incremental training for new hires, existing employees, entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises. Training for summer students, temporary jobs or part times jobs less than 20 hours per week are not eligible. Training that supports global business practices (such as Lean™, Six Sigma™) or innovation is encouraged.

Intern Placements

Private Sector For-Profit Eligible Project Recipients funding contributions will be non-repayable contributions not normally to exceed 50% of the total Eligible Costs, up to a maximum of $2,500.00 per month for a maximum 12 month term per Eligible Project Recipient.
Not-for-Profit Eligible Project Recipients funding contributions will be non-repayable contributions up to 100% of the total Eligible Costs, up to a maximum of $2,500.00 per month for a maximum 6 month term per Eligible Project Recipient. Not-for-Profit organizations are encouraged to contribute 50% to the Project.

Consultants must operate at arm’s length of the Secondary Recipient and should be experienced, professional and recognized as providing high quality work.