What grants, incentives and rebates can your organization access in Toronto?

Piggybank image by Assorted Canadian Bills and Coins, via Unsplash

As you look to expand your operations to Toronto or scale it in the city, it would be wise to be aware of the grants, incentives and rebates offered by the City of Toronto to business owners, associations and not-for-profit organizations:

IncentiveDescriptionRecipient type
Brownfield Remediation Tax Assistance
Brownfield property owners can offset the remediation costs incurred at sites where contamination has rendered the property vacant, under-utilized, unsafe, unproductive or abandoned.Developer, land owner or property owner
Business Incubation & Commercialization Grant Program
Not-for-profit organizations including incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurial organizations aimed at creating business formation, innovation and job creation may receive grants to help provide programming to nascent entrepreneurs, businesses and startups.Not-for-profit organization
CaféTO Dining District Program
Provides grant funding to BIAs, business associations, and other non-profit organizations for projects aimed at supporting restaurants and bars with expanded outdoor dining opportunities.BIA (Business Improvement Area), not-for-profit organization, or business association
CaféTO Property Improvement Program
Business operators can receive matching funding of 50 per cent for the cost of improvements to café spaces on City property (where a valid permit has been issued) or on private property.Business owner/tenant or property owner
Capacity Buyback Program
Organizations can receive a free water audit to learn how to reduce water use and be a candidate for a one-time cash rebate of up to 30 cents per litre of water saved per average day.Business owner/tenant or property owner
Circular Food Innovators Fund
Businesses and not-for-profit organizations can receive between $5,000 and $35,00to to implement reuse systems that replace single-use and takeaway items with reusable foodservice ware that is collected and redistributed for further use.Business owner, not-for-profit organization, charity or BIA
Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program
Commercial property owners can receive up to half of the costs of improvements to redesign, renovate or restore commercial building façade up to a maximum $12,500 grant for $25,000 worth of improvements.Business owner/tenant or property owner
Commercial Space Rehabilitation Grant Program
Commercial business operators and owners of storefronts that are vacant (or at risk of becoming vacant) may receive matching funding of 50 per cent to undertake interior improvements.Business owner/tenant or property owner
Creative Co-Location Facilities Property Tax Subclass Designation
Creative enterprises and live music venues can apply for to be included under the Creative Co-Location Facilities Property Tax Subclass.Business owner/tenant, entrepreneur, not-for-profit organization or property owner
DMZ Black Innovation Program
Tech startups led by Black entrepreneurs can apply for $250,000 over five years, or $50,000 annually.Business owner or entrepreneur
Eco-Roof Incentive Program
Residential, industrial, commercial and institutional buildings can receive grants for the installation of green roofs and cool roofs.Developer or property owner
Energy Retrofit Loans
Building owners can receive low-interest financing for building retrofits that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.Developer or property owner
Heritage Tax Rebate Program
Property owners may receive rebates for eligible maintenance and conservation work done on designated heritage properties.Developer or property owner
High-Rise Retrofit Improvement Support Program
Apartment building owners can access low-cost financing to make energy-saving retrofits and upgrades to their buildings.Developer or property owner
Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation and Technology Program
New building construction and/or building expansion in targeted sectors can benefit from a grant of 60 per cent of the increase in the municipal taxes attributable to the eligible development over a 10-year period.Business owner/tenant or property owner
Indigenous Arts & Culture Partnership Fund
Individuals, groups, collectives or organizations can apply for funding up to $10,000 for pilot projects or $30,000 for longer-term projects centred on Indigenous-led arts and culture initiatives.Indigenous individual, group, collective or organization
Industrial Water Rate Program
Manufacturers can receive a discounted water rate to to help support economic growth and encourage water conservation (also called the Block 2 water rate).Business owner/tenant or property owner
Main Street Innovation Fund
Organizations can receive funding for projects costing $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000 to address main street challenges, engage in innovative place-making and animate main streets to support business recovery and success.BIA, business association, charity or not-for-profit organization
Outdoor Mural & Street Art Program
Business associations and community groups with strong business participation can receive one-time funding up to $7,500 for outdoor mural projects that help promote a local theme and facilitate commercial or industrial neighbourhood identity.BIA, business association or community group
Property Tax Rebate for Registered Charities
Registered charities may be eligible for a rebate of 40 per cent of their property taxes.Charity
Sewer Surcharge Rebate Program
Businesses may be eligible for a rebate on water that is used on-site for their industrial or commercial processes.Business owner/tenant or property owner
Small Business Property Tax Subclass
BIAs may receive matching funding of 50 per cent for capital projects ranging in cost from $10,000 to $1 million.BIA
Starter Company Plus Grant
Small business entrepreneurs may be eligible to apply for a micro-grant of $5,000, mentoring and advice to assist with growth and expansion of their business.Business owner
Streetscape Improvement Program
BIAs may receive matching funding of 50 per cent for capital projects ranging in cost from $10,000 to $1 million.BIA
Streetscape Master Plan Program
BIAs may receive one-time cost-matched funding up to $25,000 to acquire consulting services to create comprehensive streetscape plans that guide future improvements.BIA
Summer Company Grant
Student entrepreneurs, aged 15 to 29, can receive mentorship, training and up to $3,000 to launch and operate a small business during the summer.Business owner
Toronto Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative
Small business operators, community business associations, streetscape animation and retail innovation organizations may receive grants, training and resources.BIA, community or business association or not-for-profit organization
Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Grant Program
BIAs and business associations may be eligible for grants of $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000 for community-driven initiatives that mitigate the impacts of multi-year transit construction on local businesses.BIA or not-for-profit organization

Additional funding opportunities that are available for small businesses and startups:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
AAGEF Ontario 
AllCompetition
Access Community Capital Fund
Creative, Professional Services, TechnologyLoans
Active Impact Investments
Social InnovationEquity
Alate Partners
TechnologyEquity
Alborz Venture Capital
AllEquity
Altos VenturesAllEquity
Amplify Capital
Life Sciences, TechnologyEquity
Angel One Investor Network (Southern Ontario)
AllEquity
BDC Capital
TechnologyEquity
BDC Small Business Loan
AllLoans
BEST Funds
TechnologyEquity
Birch Hill Equity Partners
All
Equity
BMO Small Business Loans & Lines of Credit
All
Loans
BrandProject
All
Equity
Canada Council for the Arts
CreativeGrants
CapitalG
TechnologyEquity
Celtic House Venture Partners
TechnologyEquity
CIBC Business Loans
All
Loans
Clearspring Capital Partners
All
Equity
Desjardins Accord D Business Financing
All
Loans
Desjardins Financing & Credit
All
Loans
Driven
All
Loans
Easly
All
Grants, Tax Credits
Equivesto
All
Equity
Espresso Capital
All
Loans
Eventi Capital Partners
All
Equity
Extreme Venture Partners
TechnologyEquity
FundThrough
All
Loans
Futurpreneur
All
Loans
Gibraltar Ventures
Technology
Equity
Globalive
Technology, Life Sciences
Equity
Golden Ventures
Technology
Equity
Government of Canada, Innovative Solutions Canada
Technology, Life Sciences
Grants
Government of Canada, National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program 
Biotechnology, Creative, Finance, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Manufacturing & Hardware, Natural Environment, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, Professional Services, TechnologyGrants
Government of Canada, Provincial and Territorial Foreign Tax Credits
All
Tax Credits
Government of Ontario, Hire an Apprentice Program
All
Grants
Government of Ontario, Hiring & Training Incentives for Employers
All
Grants
Government of Ontario, Innovation Tax Credit
All
Tax Credits
Government of Ontario, Job Creation Partnerships
All
Grants
Government of Ontario, Research & Development Tax Credit
All
Tax Credits
Hedgewood
Food & Beverage, Life Sciences, TechnologyEquity
Highline Beta
TechnologyEquity
HSBC Small Business Lending
AllLoans
iGan Partners
Life SciencesEquity
Kensington Capital Partners Private Equity
All
Equity
Laurentian Bank
All
Loans
Luge Capital 
Finance, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
Lumira Ventures
Biotechnology, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
Mantella Venture Partners
TechnologyEquity
Maple Leaf Angels
Finance, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund
Biotechnology, TechnologyEquity
McLean Watson Venture Capital
Natural Environment, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
McRock Capital
Manufacturing & Hardware, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
Merchant Growth Small Business Loans
AllLoans
Merck Global Health Innovation Fund
AllEquity
Mistral Venture Partners
Life Sciences & Healthcare, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund
All
Equity
Novacap Investment
All
Equity
OMERS Ventures
All
Equity
ONCAP
All
Equity
OnDeck
All
Loans
Ontario Centre of Innovation, Ready 4 Market Fund
Biotechnology, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Natural Environment, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyGrants
Ontario Creates
CreativeGrants, Loans, Tax Credits
Pangaea Ventures
Biotechnology, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Manufacturing & Hardware, Natural Environment, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
Pycap Venture Partners
AllEquity
Q1 Capital Partners Financing
AllEquity
R&D Capital
AllLoans
RBC Canada Small Business Financing Loan
AllLoans
Real Ventures Fund
AllEquity
Relay Ventures
TechnologyEquity
Sci Innovation Centre
Life Sciences, TechnologyCompetition
Scotiabank Credit Line for Business
All
Loans
SOCAN Foundation
CreativeGrants
Southwestern Ontario (SWO) Angel Group
AllEquity
TD Commercial Banking Financing Services
AllLoans
Tech Capital Partners
Biotechnology, TechnologyEquity
TiEQuest 
AllCompetition
Toronto Arts Council
CreativeGrants
Torquest Partners Equity Investment
AllEquity
TVM Capital Life Science
Life Sciences, TechnologyEquity
VantagePoint Capital Partners
All
Equity
Venbridge
All
Loans
Ventures Ontario
Biotechnology, Creative, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Natural Environment, Physical Sciences & Advanced Materials, TechnologyEquity
Version One Ventures
AllEquity
Victory Square Ventures
Creative, Life Sciences, TechnologyEquity
Vitality Capital Mid Market Growth Fund
All
Equity
Werklund Ventures
All
Loans
Wesley Clover Capital Investment
All
Equity
xiVentures Fund
Creative, Life Sciences, TechnologyEquity
Yaletown Partners
Green, Life Sciences, TechnologyEquity
York Angel Investors
All
Equity
Youth Social Innovation Capital
Social InnovationGrants, Loans
Youth Summer Company
Social Innovation
Grants, Loans

Additional funding opportunities are available for business and not-for-profit entrepreneurs via the Government of Ontario:
Indigenous economic development — support for business, employment and training for Indigenous peoples
Start a summer business — money and advice for students
Small and medium-sized businesses — advice, support and grants
Starter Company Plus — training, mentoring and grants for starting, expanding or buying a small business
Futurpreneur — financing, mentoring and support for aspiring business owners aged 18–39 to start, buy and grow a businesses
Canada-Ontario Job Grant Program — funding to support training or workforce development needs
(R.A.I.S.E) — funding to support Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs
Digitalization Competence Centre — help for businesses to adopt digital tools into their operations
Ontario Creates — services and funding for Ontario’s creative industries
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit — support for investments in buildings, machinery and equipment used for manufacturing or processing
A full list of funding opportunities available to businesses and not-for-profits from the Government of Ontario is available here.

The Government of Canada has developed a business benefits finder tool to help you find a more complete set of grants and contributions, loans, tax credits, wage subsidies and other business support.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Toronto is home to over 80 business incubators and accelerators that provide sector-specific support. You can start or further develop on your business journey with their assistance.