Agribusiness Funding Resources
This page provides Perth County businesses and producers with access to provincial and federal funding programs that support growth, innovation, and long-term sector resilience. Below are funding support buttons to help you navigate available funding opportunities.
Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator (CATA) Program
Bioenterprise Canada's Clean Agri-Tech Accelerator (CATA) Program supports Canadian agri-food and agri-tech SMEs advancing pre-market clean technologies with strong potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental sustainability across the agriculture sector. Non-repayable, project-based matching funding of up to $200,000 is available per eligible project, requiring a 50% match from the applicant.
Letters of Intent are being accepted now, with a submission deadline of August 19, 2026, at 11:59 pm EDT.
Strategic Response Fund (SRF)
The Government of Canada is offering funding for food processing, manufacturing, and supply chain projects that build new domestic capacity, modernize operations, or strengthen supporting infrastructure. Support is structured as interest-free, project-based financing, with a portion potentially non-repayable depending on risk assessment, offering more favourable terms than a bank loan. Priority is given to projects that are ready to proceed.
First intake window: June 22 to August 4, 2026; a second intake will open in the fall.
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
Ontario is providing funding support to help businesses, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations grow, invest in innovation, and create jobs in southwestern Ontario, including Perth County. Support includes loans and grants covering up to 15% (business projects) or 50% (community economic development projects) of eligible project costs.
Next application deadline: September 23, 2026 (submission window opens June 30, 2026).
Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers
The Government of Canada's Worker Retention Grant (WRG) helps employers with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement provide additional income support to Employment Insurance (EI) eligible employees who are working reduced hours and participating in training. The grant helps keep employee earnings closer to their normal wages for the duration of the Work-Sharing agreement. Open to employers in all sectors with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement.
Application period: February 16, 2026, to December 31, 2026 (3 pm EST).