The province is now accepting applications to a $20-million fund designed to help boost economic development in rural communities.
First announced in January, the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program (formerly known as the Rural Economic Development program) is open to rural municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous communities and small businesses that meet certain eligibility criteria.
Applicants can apply to one of four funding streams:
- Economic Diversification, Competitiveness and Capacity Building: building economic development capacity and implementing strategies that increase competitiveness to retain businesses, attract investment and enhance growth;
- Workforce Development, Attraction and Retention: investing in strategies and/or to undertake initiatives for attracting and retaining workers;
- Community Infrastructure Enhancements: investing in community infrastructure and improving public spaces or existing community assets; and
- Business Development: investing in projects that support businesses to be financially sustainable and competitive, including cyber security initiatives, accessibility enhancements or expansion to new markets.
Applications for the first intake are now open. The deadline to apply is Sept. 24, 2025, at 5 p.m.
