Intake 1 - Application intake period: June 24, 2025 to September 24, 2025
Application Deadline: September 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET
Before applying, applicants are encouraged to contact our team of Economic Development Officers for complimentary support in assessing program fit and assistance on application preparation. This service is offered at no cost and can be accessed by calling (519) 332-1820 or emailing contact@sarnialambton.on.ca.
The information below is from https://www.ontario.ca/page/rural-ontario-development-program
Overview
The Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program replaces the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program. We modernized and expanded the program to offer $20 million in funding over 2 years. This program supports the objectives of Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy.
The ROD Program provides cost-share funding for projects that help rural communities:
- address barriers and build capacity for economic development
- to attract, retain and expand businesses
- attract and retain investment and jobs
- strengthen regional partnerships and economic resilience
- address workforce development challenges
- transform community assets to drive economic development
Who is eligible
To qualify for the ROD Program, you must meet both of the following requirements:
- Your organization must be one of the following:
- a municipality
- a not-for-profit organization
- an Indigenous community or organization
- a local services board
- a small business with 1 to 20 employees
- Your project must be within an eligible rural area of Ontario
How to apply
Rural communities
Municipalities, Indigenous communities, local services boards and not-for-profit organizations in rural Ontario can apply through the following streams:
- Economic diversification, competitiveness and capacity building: projects that support communities to build economic development capacity and implement strategies that increase competitiveness to retain businesses, attract investment and enhance growth.
- Strategies and plans: projects will develop strategies or plans that will enhance the ability of communities to be prepared for and engage in economic development activities. This stream offers up to 50% cost-share up, to $50,000.
- Economic diversification and competitiveness: projects will support the implementation an existing economic development plan or strategy. This stream offers up to 50% cost-share, up to $150,000.
- Capacity building events: projects that support organizations in building community capacity to deliver economic development activities. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, up to $10,000.
- Workforce development, attraction and retention: This stream funds projects that support communities to implement strategies and/or to undertake initiatives for attracting and retaining workers. This stream offers up to 50% cost-share, up to $150,000.
- Community infrastructure enhancements: This stream funds projects that update or transform community assets that have been identified as important to the community’s economy. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, with large projects eligible from $25,000 to $250,000 and for small projects eligible up to $25,000.
Read the community development guidelines
Rural businesses
Small brick and mortar businesses in rural Ontario with 1 to 20 employees can apply through the business development stream. This stream offers up to 35% cost-share, to a maximum of $10,000.
Read the business development guidelines
Steps to apply
- Read the ROD Program guidelines for community development or business development to learn about:
- eligibility
- funding streams
- cost-share amounts
- application requirements
- Submit your completed application by email to RODprogram@ontario.ca on or before the intake deadline.
After you apply
After the intake period closes, we will:
- assess eligible applications based on the criteria in the guidelines
- notify applicants about funding decisions, usually within 3 months of the intake deadline (timing may
Get help with your application
Attend an information webinar
Learn more about the ROD Program by attending a free information webinar. Find more information on our registration page.
Upcoming sessions:
- July 8, 2025
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (English)
- 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (French)
- August 20, 2025
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (English)
- 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (French)
- September 10, 2025
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (English)
- 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (French)
Book a coaching session
Applicants for rural community development projects can book a free, one-on-one coaching session with a regional advisor.
See previously funded projects
Learn more about successful projects funded through our previous Rural Economic Development (RED) Program:
Contact us
If you need more help:
- Call: 1-877-424-1300
- Email: RODprogram@ontario.ca
- Before applying, applicants are encouraged to contact the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership team of Economic Development Officers who can help assess the fit with the program and provide advice on application preparation by calling (519) 332 1820 or email contact@sarnialambton.on.ca
This information is from https://www.ontario.ca/page/rural-ontario-development-program
