Mississauga Small Business Grants (2023): 13 Best Funding Programs for Mississauga Entrepreneurs
Mississauga is one of the largest business hubs in Ontario, and with its location right next to the City of Toronto, there are lots of business opportunities.
In this complete guide to Mississauga small business grants, we cover grants, loans, entrepreneurship programs…and more!
City of Mississauga Mandate
The City of Mississauga’s vision is to inspire the world as a dynamic and beautiful global city for creativity and innovation, with vibrant, safe and connected communities, and to be a city that celebrates the rich diversity of its cultures, its historic villages, Lake Ontario and the Credit River valley. A place where people choose to be.
The city’s economic development vision is elevating Mississauga’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem by collaboratively supporting businesses to launch and grow, striving for inclusivity, diversity, sustainability and global engagement.
In its next phase of growth, the city will strengthen its role in the Greater Toronto economy, inspire businesses to innovate, and building a resilient talent pool which can adapt to change.
City of Mississauga Priorities
The City of Mississauga’s priorities include;
- Supporting globally minded businesses,
- Developing distinctive places, and
- Delivering durable infrastructure.
You can learn about City of Mississauga’s priorities by reading its 2020-25 Economic Development Strategic Framework.
What Can Mississauga Small Business Grants Be Used For?
Mississauga small business grants can be used to pay for many aspects of starting or running a business. Here are some of the uses that are covered by programs in our grants database:
And that’s just a sample! See the section below with a complete list of Mississauga small business grants available.
Am I Eligible for a Mississauga Small Business Grant? Common Eligibility Criteria
We analyzed the Mississauga small business grants in our grants database, and these are the most common qualifications we identified:
Note: these are just the most common eligibility criteria – there are many grants with different requirements.
Best Mississauga Small Business Grants, Loans & More
While there are lots of good programs available, below we highlight some of the best grants, loans & more for Mississauga small businesses:
Best Government Grants for Mississauga Small Businesses
City of Mississauga – Digital Main Street Program Mississauga
Digital Main Street is a program that helps brick-and-mortar businesses achieve their digital transformation goals. This program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and our Digital Service Squad, a team of digital experts who help brick-and-mortar businesses grow and manage their operations through digital tools and technologies.
Our DSS can provide one-on-one assistance with:
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade – Starter Company PLUS Program
Starter Company Plus provides a grant of up to $5,000 to start a new company, expand an existing company or buy a business in Ontario. Besides grant money, the program also provides free training and business skills development and free mentorship and guidance.
The Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC) is the one delivering the program for the Mississauga area.
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Retrofit Program
Get even more money to make your business more energy efficient and save you money with this program from IESO’s Save on Energy.
This one has 2 options: the prescriptive track and the comprehensive track. The prescriptive is your best bet for quick projects and upgrades such as improved lighting, though the minimum incentive amount is $500. The comprehensive track is a better fit for larger, more comprehensive projects with lots of components. This one will get you an incentive of up to 50% of project costs.
Chances are you qualify since most buildings are eligible: commercial, industrial, food services, agricultural, and more.
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Energy Performance Program
Sign up to continually improve your energy usage and you could be rewarded for it with this program.
As long as you’re not an industrial or manufacturing business, you could receive a pay-for-performance financial incentive, plus a modelling incentive of $1,500 for each enrolled building, up to a maximum of $15,000 for 10 approved buildings.
You get to choose which improvements and investments to make to achieve your improved energy efficiency, and your payments end up equal to 20% of the annual baseline electricity consumption of your building(s).
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Small Business Program
The Save on Energy Small Business program is designed to help small businesses across Ontario make equipment improvements to reduce their energy consumption, at no cost. Leveraging the success of the former Small Business Lighting program, this new and improved program offers small businesses direct-install incentives on an expanded range of equipment – both lighting and non-lighting.
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (IEEP)
IESO’s Save on Energy Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (IEEP) supports industrial customers across Ontario in improving their industrial processes and implementing system optimization projects. The program offers organizations up to $5 million in financial incentives for each large, complex industrial energy-efficiency project accepted into the program.
Best Non-profit Loans for Mississauga Small Businesses
Fondation Franco-Ontarienne – Micro-credit Funds
With support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and in partnership with the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation (SDCPR), the Franco-Ontarian Foundation (Foundation) supports Francophone entrepreneurs girls from Southern Ontario (Windsor to Hawkesbury). The micro-credit program provides borrowers with repayable financial assistance, offered in the form of loans.
Best In-kind Support Programs for Mississauga Entrepreneurs
Accelerator
IDEA Mississauga – My Main Street Local Business Accelerator
The My Main Street Local Business accelerator program provides eligible small businesses and entrepreneurs in Mississauga communities with market research and insights, on-demand training, and non-repayable funding contributions. Each community has a dedicated My Main Street Ambassador who supports their main street by providing insight and support to help grow and establish new local businesses.
Incubator
Altitude Accelerator – Altitude Accelerator Incubator
Altitude Accelerator’s flagship Incubator program is for innovative tech solutions looking to scale. The intensive program helps applicants build their market traction to set them up for accelerated growth and future investment. Applicants are offered access to top-tier mentors and advisors, expert-led workshops, and peer support.
Entrepreneurship Programs
EDGE (Sheridan College) – Explore
Explore is a program for current Sheridan students who are curious about making an impact using entrepreneurial approaches and keen to explore how they might create a new venture or practice their innovation skills with an existing venture.
EDGE and ICUBE UTM (University of Toronto Mississauga) – Leap Startup League
Leap Startup League is offered as a partnership between EDGE and the University of Toronto Mississauga’s ICUBE incubator. This is designed for an aspiring social enterprise founder or impact start-up team looking to take the leap on an idea. The Leap Startup League offers the resources and teaches the skills you need to map out a sustainable business or organization.
Altitude Accelerator – Investor Readiness
The Investor Readiness Program is an exclusive 6-week program for high potential technology startups looking to raise a seed round. The program offers:
Other In-kind Support Program
Altitude Accelerator – RevUP
RevUP is a self-directed learning module for early-stage startup founders who are looking to test their new business idea – from problem identification to market sizing, customer persona development, competitive analysis, and more.
City of Mississauga Contact
Mississauga Economic Development Office
(inside the City Hall)
300 City Centre Drive,
Mississauga, ON, L5B 3C1
3rd Floor, Tower Elevators
Phone: 905-615-4311
Fax: 905-615-4081
TTY: 905-896-5151
1-800-456-2181
