INVEST North Program — Investment — Locate Stream
Secure up to $5 million to build or expand your Northern Ontario operations. This program covers up to 50% of eligible costs via a conditional contribution or a mix of contribution and repayable loan, but you must complete a mandatory pre-application consultation before applying. Verified against the official source on July 2, 2026; you can apply anytime.
How we verify funding records →
“Businesses locating new business operations to Northern Ontario.”
Before you spend a dollar
Talk to NOHFC first: a pre-application consultation with their staff is required before you apply, so do not start, commit, or spend on the project until you have had that conversation and confirmed eligibility.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, 2-minute read on whether this program fits your business. No obligation.
Check your fit →Is this for you?
- You operate or are establishing a non-retail business in Northern Ontario that brings new economic benefit to the region, such as manufacturing or value-added production.
- You are planning a significant capital project like construction or ICT investment and can cover at least half of the eligible costs yourself or through other non-government sources.
- You are ready to attend a mandatory pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff before you spend money or commit to the project.
Probably not the right fit if
- You run a retail store, salon, clinic, or any consumer-service business that earns revenue by serving individuals directly, as these are explicitly excluded.
- You operate a restaurant, cafe, hotel, or other accommodation and food service business, since this sector is not eligible.
- You need funding for working capital, inventory, ongoing operating costs, refinancing, a business purchase, land purchase, or research and development, as none of these qualify.
How much you'd realistically get
For example, on a $10,000 eligible project, that's up to about $5,000 back.
The combined federal and provincial share is capped at 50% of your eligible project costs, so plan to cover at least half yourself. The maximum is $5 million, but support is decided case by case based on the net economic benefit to Northern Ontario, and part of it can come as a repayable term loan rather than a contribution, so do not assume the full amount or that all of it is non-repayable. Confirm what applies to your project on the official page.
What may be supported
- Building or construction work for your operations (capital construction)
- Leasehold improvements to a commercial space
- Servicing land for your project
- Technology and software investments (ICT)
- Marketing to launch new products or business initiatives (capped at 20% of other eligible costs, or $75,000, whichever is less)
- Training delivered by a third party (capped at 20% of other eligible costs)
What's excluded or restricted
- Retail and consumer service businesses that primarily earn revenue by providing products and services directly to individuals
- Ongoing operating costs including maintenance
- In-kind contributions
- Restructuring or refinancing of existing business operations
- Accommodation & food service businesses and related business activities
- Businesses that are primarily involved in wholesale activities
- Business plans / strategic plans / feasibility studies etc.
- Assets acquired through operating leases
- Research and development
- Land purchase/lease
- Rolling stock (e.g. cars, trucks & boats and motors)
- Project management costs / consulting costs / administration costs
- Mineral exploration, mine development and milling operations
- Working capital
- Cost of inventory
- Cellular and internet service projects
- Capital projects or leasehold improvements to residential or personal properties
- Acquisitions and buy-outs of existing businesses
- Electricity generation projects
- Beverage alcohol manufacturing companies
How applying works
Effort: involvedThis is a major-project program with a required staff consultation, a detailed eligibility screen, and case-by-case review, so expect real preparation and back-and-forth, not a quick form.
- 01Confirm your business and project are eligible by checking the official page, paying close attention to the long exclusion list and the Northern Ontario location requirement.
- 02Book and complete the required pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff before you spend or commit to anything.
- 03Define your eligible project costs and confirm you can fund at least 50% from your own or other non-government sources.
- 04Prepare your application with the documentation NOHFC requests through their portal.
- 05Submit through the official NOHFC portal and respond to any follow-up questions during their case-by-case review.
- 06Wait for a written decision before starting or committing project spending, and confirm whether any part of the support is a repayable loan.
Documents commonly required
- Business details and proof your operations are in or locating to Northern Ontario
- A project plan describing the capital construction, leasehold improvements, land servicing, ICT, marketing, or training involved
- An itemized budget separating eligible costs from excluded costs
- Proof of your matching funds covering at least 50% of eligible costs
- Any additional documents NOHFC requests during the pre-application consultation or review
How BBN Labs helps
- BBN builds your modern business website and e-commerce store, turning the grant's technology funding into a digital storefront that captures orders and leads while you focus on production.
- BBN sets up your Local SEO and Google Business Profile, designed to help buyers find your new Northern Ontario operations when searching for regional suppliers.
- BBN launches targeted digital marketing campaigns to introduce your new products or services, designed to drive immediate awareness and sales.
- BBN implements a streamlined POS and automation system, using the technology funds to modernize your workflow, reduce manual errors, and speed up daily operations.
- BBN coordinates your interior build-out and construction trades, managing the project timeline and documentation so you stay on track for funding approval without the stress.
What to know before you count on it
- This is not all free money: support can be a conditional contribution combined with a term loan, and the loan portion is repaid, so confirm exactly how much of your offer is repayable before you commit.
- It is cost-shared, meaning government funds cover at most 50% of eligible costs and you must bring the rest from your own or other non-government sources.
- A pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff is mandatory before applying, and approval is not guaranteed; it depends on the economic benefit your project brings to Northern Ontario.
- The exclusion list is long: retail, consumer services, accommodation and food service, wholesale, working capital, inventory, land purchase, R&D, and more are all out, so check your project against it carefully.
What are your odds?
This is selective and discretionary: funding is decided case by case based on the net economic benefit your project brings to Northern Ontario, so there is no guaranteed approval even if you meet the basic criteria. The pre-application consultation is your chance to gauge fit early.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a grant or a loan?
It can be either or both. Support comes as a conditional contribution, or a combination of a conditional contribution and a term loan, decided case by case. The loan portion is repaid. Confirm the exact split offered for your project on the official page.
How much of my project costs will it cover?
Combined federal and provincial funding may not exceed 50% of eligible project costs, so you need to fund at least the other half. The maximum support is $5 million, but the actual amount depends on the net economic benefit to Northern Ontario.
My business is retail or a restaurant. Can I apply?
Most likely not. Retail and consumer-service businesses that earn revenue by serving individuals directly, as well as accommodation and food service businesses, are explicitly excluded. Check the full exclusion list on the official page before spending any time on it.
Do I have to do anything before I apply?
Yes. A pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff is required before you apply. Do not start or commit to the project until you have had that conversation and confirmed eligibility on the official page.
Related BBN services
Automation & AI Workflows
Follow-ups, reminders, lead routing and reporting that run themselves. Practical automation without the AI theatre.
Business Websites
Fast, search-ready websites your customers can actually use. Built, hosted and maintained by one accountable team.
Branding, Print & Promotional Materials
Logos, brand guidelines, menus, cards and print that match your storefront. One consistent identity everywhere.
What you can combine it with
Because the cap counts combined federal and provincial funding at no more than 50% of eligible costs, other government funding you receive for the same project counts against that ceiling, so you generally cannot stack your way past it. Confirm how any other funding interacts on the official page before you apply.
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Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Record last updated July 3, 2026; last verified July 2, 2026 against the official source. Source: official program page.