Ontario Training Grants: 118 Grants, Loans & More to Improve Your Employees’ Skills

The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program provides funding to organizations to deliver a range of activities that help youth (aged 15 to 30) overcome barriers to employment. The Program supports a flexible approach that offers services tailored to each individual youth to gain the skills and experience they need to find and keep good quality jobs.

The Program also supports innovative cross-sectoral initiatives that aim to address complex, systemic challenges in the youth employment sector and

The intent of the Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce through business partnerships by offering internships.

Invest Ottawa’s vision is for Canada’s Capital to be the best city in the world for all women founders and business owners to launch, grow and scale commercially successful, globally oriented and sustainable companies.

We are on a journey that we know will take time, long-standing leadership, and extensive community collaboration. But we’re determined to move the dial and to create long-lasting change.

As TechAlliance takes bold steps towards equitable growth, we continue to unlock opportunities for some of Canada’s most promising startups and fastest-growing innovation companies with the i.d.e.a. Fund™ to foster a vibrant, inclusive and green ecosystem.

In Cohort 3, we will distribute up to a maximum of $20,000 in matching seed funding and up to 30 hours of expertise from our Venture Growth team to select innovative businesses in various sectors.

The TalentEdge Internship Program (TIP) stream of Ontario’s Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) program provides support for current college and university students and recent undergraduate or Masters graduates, to work on industry-driven research and development projects related to automotive and smart mobility technology such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) technologies, Electric Vehicles (EV), battery technologies,

The TalentEdge Fellowship Program (TFP) stream of Ontario’s Vehicle Innovation (OVIN) program provides support for PhD graduates and post-doctoral fellows, to work on industry-driven research and development projects related to automotive and smart mobility technology such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) technologies, Electric Vehicles (EV), battery technologies,

Through a process led by facilitators from across disciplines and sectors, participants in the TAC Leaders Lab will enhance the skills, tools, networks and knowledge that will support personal leadership growth and new collaborative opportunities.

The Support Organizations component of Supporting Artistic Practice provides grants to Canadian arts organizations that reinforce Canadian art practice through a range of targeted activities and services, including those that bolster the creative and professional capacities of artists working in all disciplines.

The Strategic Partnerships Initiative (SPI) helps Indigenous communities participate in complex economic opportunities.
SPI promotes partnerships between federal and non-federal groups in key economic areas. This allows SPI to support opportunities that are not eligible for other federal funding. SPI initiatives can span multiple years, have regional economic impacts and serve multiple communities.

The Small-Scale Activities component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing provides funding to First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, artistic groups, collectives and organizations working in all disciplines for activities that will advance their artistic career or practice. This may include acquiring materials for artistic production, engaging in career or artistic development activities or benefitting from specific expertise, advice or training from a professional artist or cultural carrier.

This program supports Ontario-based Indigenous arts professionals and arts professionals of colour, or ad hoc groups and collectives made up of Indigenous arts professionals or arts professionals of colour for professional development and skill-building opportunities that advance applicants’ work and careers. It funds all contemporary and traditional art practices that are supported at OAC. Projects can include: study and training, mentorship, internship and apprenticeship and documentation of art work.

SheBoot is tackling the funding gap facing women entrepreneurs by increasing the number of women making and receiving investment. We’re charting a new path for women founders—to grow, scale and compete globally.

The Sector Innovation and Development component of Supporting Artistic Practice provides grants to projects by Canadian and First Nations, Inuit and Métis arts professionals, cultural connectors, groups, and organizations. These projects must grow and improve the arts sector.

The Science and Technology (S&T) Internship Program provides wage subsidies to encourage organizations to hire and mentor interns and invest in the workforce of tomorrow.
It also provides opportunities for youth to gain relevant work experience and skill development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields in the natural resources sectors: energy, forestry and mining, earth sciences, and clean technology.

Get ahead with energy management training for your business! Save on Energy offers incentives of up to 50 percent for a range of industry-leading training courses for energy professionals.

Save on Energy offers a broad range of educational tools, resources and training programs to help businesses and professionals across Ontario build and enhance their competencies in energy efficiency and energy management practices. By expanding your organizational and professional capabilities, you’ll be able to undertake initiatives to save energy, reduce costs and meet your sustainability and carbon reduction goals.

Save on Energy’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program is a transformational new program, designed to help organizations improve their energy performance by implementing an integrated system of organizational practices, policies and processes to achieve persistent energy savings.

The SEM program will provide your organization with knowledge, expertise and training in energy management that can help increase your profitability through reduced energy costs and productivity, build organizational skills, and help your organization achieve your carbon reduction and environmental goals.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream will provide financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ontario. It will provide investments in capital equipment, technology adoption and skills development.

Quebec Fisheries Fund’s Infrastructure stream is designed to encourage the use of new technologies or processes to support the sustainable development of the sector.

The Professional Development for Arts Professionals component of Supporting Artistic Practice supports the career growth of Canadian arts professionals by encouraging knowledge-sharing and participation in a wide range of development opportunities. Grants fund activities that contribute to the advancement of Canadian arts professionals.

The Department is accepting applications from organizations interested in receiving funding from the new Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program (PSW-RSIP). Eligible organizations can apply for funding between $1 million and $30 million. Projects must operate for 24 months over the 2026 and 2027 calendar years. The objective of this CFC is to invite eligible organizations to submit applications that outline concepts for pilot projects focused on retirement savings incentives targeted at PSWs lacking workplace retirement security coverage. The program seeks to help the government test various approaches for encouraging private retirement savings among personal support workers and evaluate the most effective parameters. Additionally, it aims to enhance the financial security of participating PSWs in preparation for retirement and support their retention in the long-term care sector.

The Ontario Labour Market Partnerships program provides financial assistance to local communities, sector groups, employee/employer associations, and employers in developing and implementing strategies for addressing and responding to local economic (employment) development, labour force adjustments and human resource planning. The program is intended to help partners to:
1. promote the creation of broad industry/community partnerships necessary to address labor market issues,
2. assist local communities with the development of innovative strategies to prepare for future skills requirements and prevent skills shortages within new and emerging industries and organizations,
3. plan for effective utilization of local human resources,
4. develop and promote labor market intelligence and its use in labor market development.

The program supports the creation, production and presentation of live and virtual dance and other initiatives that benefit the Ontario professional dance community.

The Northern Arts Projects program supports the creation, production and presentation of artwork; professional development; and community arts engagement initiatives that benefit communities in Northern Ontario. The program has four categories:
– New works: to help cover the costs of creation and production of new works in all artistic disciplines;
– Presentation: to help cover the costs of presenting artistic work;
– Skills/Career development: for artists to undertake skills and career development projects and for groups presenting projects that will benefit northern Ontario artists;
– Working with community: to help cover the costs of community-engaged arts projects.

The Next Level program provides funding for Northwestern Ontario businesses with an innovative product or service and looking to expand. The support may be applicable to contracted expertise, services or direct costs in any of the following areas: equipment purchase, expansion to new markets, conference & tradeshows costs ($1,000 max), training & certification costs.

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program provides support for newcomer and refugee artists to develop their artistic practice and to further their integration and inclusion to Toronto. We define a newcomer as: an immigrant or refugee who has lived in Canada for less than 7 years; a refugee is a person who was forced to leave their home country and is now located in Canada.

Through the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF), the Government of Canada is investing $200 million to support projects that use natural or hybrid approaches to protect the natural environment, support healthy and resilient communities, and contribute to economic growth. Natural infrastructure, particularly in urban areas, creates a connection to nature that contributes to wellness and mental health, and increased access to green spaces promote recreation and social connection.

The Investment – Locate Stream provides financial support to businesses locating new business operations to Northern Ontario.

The Investment – Grow Stream provides financial support to businesses expanding existing operations in Northern Ontario.

The Investment – Launch Stream provides a conditional contribution of up to 50% of total eligible project costs to a maximum of $200,000 for businesses starting-up operations in Northern Ontario.

The intent of the Indigenous Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s Indigenous workforce through business partnerships by offering internships to Indigenous persons.

The program supports Ontario-based First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists working in the visual arts, crafts or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms to create artwork. Grants of $500 help cover the cost of buying art materials and supplies.This is a third-party recommender program. Artists apply to the Indigenous organizations designated as recommenders for the program. Recommenders assess applications and submit grant recommendations to OAC.

The Creating, Knowing and Sharing program provides grants to support activities in three broad areas:
1. Creating provides support for research, production and creation of new works of art. 2. Knowing provides support for the retention, maintenance, innovation and transmittal of cultural knowledge and creative practice.
3. Sharing provides support for the dissemination, exhibition, presentation and distribution of works of art by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, which enrich and engage communities in Canada and abroad.

The Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF) provides grants and financing to Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, communities and organizations. The fund helps promote economic development and improve employment opportunities for Indigenous people.

The Indigenous Arts and Culture Partnerships Fund supports partnerships and collaborations that create new opportunities and visibility for Indigenous-led arts and culture. The fund aims to spark new relationships between Indigenous artists, arts and culture leaders and professionals, and potential partners at both the grassroots and institutional levels.

The Industrial Facility track offers financial assistance for projects that enhance energy efficiency. You could receive up to 50% of eligible costs (up to 100% for Indigenous or not-for-profit organizations), from a minimum of $40,000 to a maximum of $10 million per proposal. Eligible recipients are Canadian facilities engaged in energy-consuming processes that transform materials into new products. Apply now for the opportunity to make your facility more energy-efficient with the Industrial Facility track.

The Energy Efficiency Solutions Track supports the industrial energy efficiency initiatives undertaken by those entities that align with Government of Canada objectives. Under the Energy Efficiency Solutions Track, eligible projects include those that support the implementation of energy efficiency and energy management solutions. These activities are intended for industrial facilities that are engaged in energy consuming processes that involve the physical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products.

The First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program is part of the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy.

Projects under the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program allow youth to learn about career options and earn an income that can contribute to a university or college education.

The program supports First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students in acquiring work experience
assists First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students prepare for future entry into the labour market by facilitating access to summer employment
supports First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students in financing and furthering their education
provides First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students with career and labour market information and assistance in finding summer employment
Funding is provided to eligible First Nations and Inuit communities, governments and organizations, as well as not-for-profit associations, private sector employers and schools and employers who then provide activities for First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students.

The First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program is 1 of 2 programs under the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy.

This program supports activities that assist First Nations and Inuit youth in gaining the essential skills to help them with gaining employment, performing effectively in workplace settings, and learning about job and career options.

Activities can include career promotion, science and technology activities, co-operative education placements, internships and mentored work placements.

The program supports the development and enhancement of essential employability skills and knowledge among First Nations and Inuit youth that equip them to participate and succeed in the current and future labour markets, such as communication, problem-solving and working with others
exposes First Nations and Inuit youth to a variety of career options
helps First Nations and Inuit youth acquire skills by providing wage subsidies for mentored work experiences
supports the provision of mentored school-based work and study opportunities such as co-operative education and internships
helps First Nation and Inuit youth overcome barriers to employment
promotes science, technology and other fields in high demand as an education or career choice
Funding may be provided to eligible First Nations and Inuit communities, governments and organizations, as well as not-for-profit associations, private sector employers and schools and employers who then provide activities for First Nations and Inuit youth.

The Export Development Stream (EDS) of the Creative Export Canada (CEC) program offers funding in the form of grants and contributions for:

new and early-stage exporters to build capacity and expand into international markets;
seasoned exporters to expand into new international markets and build business networks.

The Professional Development for Artists component of Explore and Create supports the career growth of Canadian artists and artistic groups by encouraging participation in a wide range of development opportunities. Grants fund activities that contribute to the professional advancement of Canadian artists working in all artistic disciplines.

The Student Work Placement Program provides wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements. It gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study. I-WIL focuses on short and intensive activities that use technology.

Digital Greenhouse is a digital innovation initiative for Canadian individuals, groups and organizations. It supports short-term projects that leverage digital technology to address sectoral and digital challenges, including:
1. the development of new digital tools and solutions that increase the resilience, sustainability, and discoverability of the arts sector,
2. the development of sector-wide and cross-sector collaborations, partnerships, and networks to support innovative digital business models, revenue models and monetization strategies,
3. sectoral approaches aimed at strategically increasing the digital/data literacy and ongoing digital transformation of the arts sector,
4. addressing challenges and exploring digital solutions related to accessibility, equity, diversity, decolonization, social justice, and climate responsibility created by, or relevant to, the digital world,
5. addressing challenges and exploring solutions related to the lack of access to digital infrastructure for remote regions and Northern and under-represented communities.

The Dedicated Fund for the English-speaking communities of Quebec subcomponent supports engagement by community organizations and strengthens their ability to act while encouraging innovation and excellence.

The program supports Ontario-based artists and arts professionals who are Deaf and/or have a disability, or ad hoc groups/collectives and arts organizations mandated to serve and led by artists and/or arts professionals who are Deaf and/or have a disability. It funds all contemporary and traditional art practices that are supported at OAC.

Signature Project applicants should be established organizations with a proven track record to successfully deliver mid to large-sized community-based arts and cultural projects. Youth workforce development opportunities via job placements and/or paid mentorship are a mandatory component of each Signature Project with priority given to youth from equity-deserving communities.

Live Arts Mentor (LAM) funding seeks to build the capacity of IBPOC-led or serving arts organizations that deliver innovative, engaging arts programming and services in neighbourhoods that have been animated by the Cultural Hotspot. Smaller or newer organizations will partner with established arts organizations through a mentorship program to strengthen emerging organizations and to build the infrastructure of Toronto’s community arts sector.

The Cooperation with the Community Sector subcomponent supports engagement by community organizations and strengthens their ability to act while encouraging innovation and excellence.

Communitech’s Pro Squad allows member companies to access trusted advice from pre-vetted sources without the need to shop around

The Growth Coaches act as mentors to qualifying, referred Communitech startups and scale-ups.

Between Communitech staff and our Growth Coaches, our team’s diverse competencies and deep networks help you tackle a range of challenges, including fundraising, sales, marketing, intellectual property management and product development.

The program supports professional development for Ontario artists and arts administrators who want to gain new skills – or improve existing skills – to advance their practice at any stage of their career. It funds all contemporary and traditional art practices that OAC supports in other project programs.

All learning must be led by a specialist who gives feedback throughout the training period. Specialists include mentors, teachers, trainers and Elders. Projects may include study, training, mentorship, internship, apprenticeship, or any combination of these activities.

Chalmers Arts Fellowships provide Ontario artists with a significant block of time to undertake an investigation or examination of their artistic practice instead of creating or producing work. The program provides support at a time in an artist’s career when a concentration on artistic growth will have a transformative impact on their long-term artistic development.

The Canada-Ontario Job Grant provides direct financial support to individual employers or employer consortia who wish to purchase training for their employees. It is available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees.

The Canada Summer Jobs program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students — all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants.

The Black Arts Projects Program provides support to individual artists, artist collectives of 2 or more Black artists working on a non-profit basis and incorporated non-profit Toronto Black arts organizations.
The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.
TAC recognizes the need to respond to barriers that Black arts communities face due to anti-Black racism. The program seeks to address these barriers by providing pathways to sustainable support to Toronto’s Black-led arts organizations serving Black artists. The program is designed to increase access to, awareness of, and participation in Toronto Arts Council funding by Black artists, while amplifying the work of Black artists in the city and creating avenues for sustainable art practice.
This program is multidisciplinary and recognizes a diversity of art practice, including new and emerging art forms, culturally relevant art practices, and multi/ interdisciplinary arts projects. Applicants can apply for projects that engage one or multiple arts disciplines.

The purpose of this Project Category is to reduce animal health risks in a measurable and proven way through physical set up of production areas, practices, testing, monitoring and management along with operations assessments/plans and education or training.

The purpose of this Project Category is to build farm-specific knowledge and expertise in support of plant health (for example, conducting pest risk assessments, developing biosecurity procedures and integrated pest management plans, and participating in plant health training).

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is intended to help the fish and seafood sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to transition to meet the growing demand for seafood globally. Its aim is to bring high value, high quality and sustainable products to markets at home and around the world.
It supports: innovation to encourage new products and technologies, infrastructure to encourage capital investments in new products, processes or technologies, and science partnerships between industry, academia, and other research institutions to improve knowledge.

This Call for Proposals (CFP) will provide funding to intermediaries that have the capacity to support SMEs to hire new, first-year apprentices by:

providing a financial incentive to SMEs to hire new, first-year Red Seal apprentices in 1 or more of the 39 construction and/or manufacturing Red Seal trades
offering additional supports to SMEs to recruit and encourage employment of first-year apprentices, such as:
help to onboard apprentices
help to create an inclusive workplace
provide workplace diversity and sensitivity training
support to hire and retain apprentices from key groups
monitoring and reporting on the use of that funding
evaluating and reporting on results

The African Swine Fever Prevention and Preparedness investment aims to enhance efforts to prevent African swine fever (ASF) from entering Canada and prepare for a potential outbreak.

As part of the investment from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP) will provide up to $23.4 million over 3 years. The program supports the pork industry to:

address identified gaps in prevention and mitigation efforts
develop the tools, partnerships, and activities needed to ensure the early detection of ASF and an effective emergency response in case of an outbreak. The ASFIPP offers support under 2 streams:

Welfare Slaughter and Disposal Stream
Prevention and Preparedness Stream
Note: There is a separate application process for the African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program: Prevention and Preparedness Stream.

The Achievement Incentive is a grant program that helps employers train apprentices by reducing some of the cost of training and that supports apprentice progression by giving grant payments to employers when their apprentices reach major milestones. The program offers up to $17,000 to eligible employers when apprentices meet training and certification milestones.

This program promotes entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities and seeks to increase the number of viable Indigenous-owned businesses. The program has 2 components: access to capital and business opportunities.
The Access to Business Opportunities stream provides national level funding to promote a culture of entrepreneurship through national Indigenous organizations to improve access to business opportunities and to enhance the capacity of Indigenous businesses. Support will vary depending upon the needs of the recipient, the availability and sources of funding, the eligibility of costs, the economic benefits, and the project viability.