INVEST North — Locate Stream
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Conditional contribution or combination of conditional contribution and term loan of up to $5M for businesses relocating operations to or establishing new facilities in Northern Ontario. Covers capital construction, equipment, leasehold improvements, ICT, and limited marketing.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business must be relocating operations to Northern Ontario or establishing new operations there
- Must be located in an eligible Northern Ontario postal code
- Private-sector businesses only
- Must demonstrate net economic benefit to Northern Ontario (job creation, local procurement)
- Pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff is mandatory
- Combined federal and provincial government funding may not exceed 50% of eligible project costs
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $5,000,000 (50% of eligible costs; combination of contribution and loan on case-by-case basis)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipNOHFC weights 'net economic benefit' heavily for Locate applicants — quantify projected jobs, payroll, and local supply chain spending in your application. Pre-application consultation is mandatory; use it to get unofficial feedback on whether the project size and structure aligns with what the Board typically approves.
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Success Profile
Southern Ontario or out-of-province manufacturer or processor relocating a facility to Northern Ontario, with documented plans to hire locally. Distribution centres and resource-sector operations with clear footprint in the region score well.
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Evaluation Criteria
Net economic benefit to Northern Ontario is the primary criterion. Key factors: number of jobs created or retained, payroll value added to the region, local procurement and supply chain spending, strategic fit with Northern Ontario economic priorities, and demonstration that the relocation genuinely places new operations (not just administrative functions) in the North. Board of Directors makes final decisions.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 7
- Capital construction costs for new Northern Ontario facilities
- Leasehold improvements to adapt rented premises for new operations
- Land servicing and site development costs (excluding land purchase or lease)
- New or used equipment purchases
- Information and communications technology (ICT) investments
- Marketing for new products or the new business (up to 20% of eligible costs or $75,000, whichever is less)
- Third-party training costs for new positions (up to 20% of project costs)
Ineligible Expenses 8
- Ongoing operating costs and routine maintenance
- Working capital
- Land purchase or lease costs
- In-kind contributions
- Restructuring or refinancing of existing business operations
- Commercial or industrial land/building development for resale or lease
- Proposal development costs
- Costs incurred before application approval
Intake Periods
Rolling — no fixed intake windows. Applications accepted year-round subject to board meeting schedules.
Deadline Notes
Rolling intake. Mandatory pre-application consultation with NOHFC staff required before submitting. Large projects reviewed on net economic benefit to Northern Ontario. Board of Directors makes final decisions.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Retail and consumer service businesses earning revenue primarily from direct sales to individuals
- Accommodation and food service businesses (hotels, motels, restaurants)
- Wholesale businesses as the primary activity
- Beverage alcohol manufacturers (distilleries, breweries, wineries, cideries)
- Organizations developing commercial or industrial land/buildings for resale or lease
- Businesses already operating in Northern Ontario (use Grow Stream instead)
- Non-profits and public sector entities (Locate is private sector only)
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskMedium. If NOHFC-funded assets are sold or disposed of after project completion, a proportional share of the conditional contribution may be required to be repaid. The contribution agreement specifies asset retention requirements. Projects that fail to materialize the committed economic benefit (jobs, payroll) also risk clawback under agreement terms.
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How INVEST North — Locate Stream Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INVEST North — Locate Stream | Up to $5,000,000 | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Commercial Façade Improvement Grant P... | Up to $12,500 (50% of costs) | Easy | Reimbursement | Annual Intake |
| Creative Industries Funding | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing (multiple... |
| FedDev Ontario Funding | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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