Grey County Shares New Funding and Training Opportunities for Small Businesses
Grey County is highlighting several funding and workforce training programs available to local small businesses, including support for digital adoption, rural development, and CNC upskilling.
Grey County Economic Development is highlighting a number of new provincial funding and training programs now available to small businesses in the region. The supports are aimed at helping businesses grow, modernize, or train their workforce, with options for sectors ranging from retail and agriculture to manufacturing.
One of the new options is a Business Development Funding Stream under the Rural Ontario Development Program.
The funding is available to rural businesses with between 1 and 20 employees and is designed to support growth, adaptation, or future planning. Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and funding is limited.
Also now available is support through the province’s Digitalization Competence Centre (DCC), an initiative delivered by the Ontario Centre of Innovation. It includes up to $115,000 in grants to help small businesses improve productivity through digital tools and training.
Programs include up to $15,000 for developing a digital modernization plan, up to $100,000 for implementing new technologies, and a $5,000 grant specifically for retail businesses investing in tools like e-commerce, customer management systems, or artificial intelligence.
In addition to funding, several training programs are also available at no cost to employers. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is offering a 12-week online training program called Seeding Digital Skills, targeted at workers in farming, greenhouse operations, and food and beverage processing.
Locally, the WBLC (Whatever Builds Learning & Careers) is offering a CNC Machinist Level 1 Rapid Upskilling Program. The 12-week training program is fully funded and includes a $2,000 bonus per employee for participating businesses.
Employers interested in registering are encouraged to contact Reema Duggal for more information.
Details about all these opportunities are available through Grey County Economic Development’s most recent monthly newsletter.