NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Scored mainly on the jobs it creates for other people. 22 lead with that.
- Only 2 written answers, against a median of 5.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Supports businesses expanding existing operations in Northern Ontario. Funding is a conditional contribution of up to 20% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $400,000; optionally combined with a term loan of up to 30% to a maximum of $600,000; or taken as a term loan only of up to 50% to a maximum of $1,000,000.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business must be located in Northern Ontario
- Must be expanding existing operations in Northern Ontario — Invest North Grow supports the growth of existing businesses
- Funding options: conditional contribution up to 20% of eligible costs (max $400,000); contribution plus a term loan of up to 30% (max $600,000); or a term loan only of up to 50% (max $1,000,000)
- Must demonstrate positive economic impact for Northern Ontario communities
- Business must not be primarily involved in wholesale activities, mineral exploration/mine development/milling, electricity generation, or cellular and internet service projects
- Research and development is an ineligible activity under this stream
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Conditional contribution up to 20% of eligible costs (max $400,000); or contribution plus a term loan of up to 30% (max $600,000); or a term loan only of up to 50% (max $1,000,000)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 20% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Quarterly Grow stream rounds: Apr 30, Jul 31, Oct 31, Jan 31 (next: Oct 31, 2026); other streams rolling
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Difficult — significant preparation needed
High competition — many applicants
Complex — detailed documentation needed
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipBook a consultation call with a NOHFC advisor (1-800-461-8329) before applying — they'll tell you which stream fits and whether your project is competitive.
Rejection Pitfalls 18
- Startup or business not already operating in Northern Ontario (Grow supports expansion of existing operations; NOHFC's Launch stream is the startup path)
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
How NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 4 source documents, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-07.
4 sources
- Investment – Grow Program fact sheet nohfc.ca
- Invest North – Grow nohfc.ca
- Grow Program FAQ nohfc.ca
- NOHFC portal support myportal.nohfc.ca
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The form
Project case
- 1Detailed business planshort answer
- 2Job creation or retentionwritten answer
Show the full-time equivalent jobs the project is expected to create or retain in Northern Ontario.
- 3Other financingtable
- 4Northern Ontario economic benefitwritten answer
Explain the net economic benefits for Northern Ontario and why the project will not unreasonably impact existing Northern Ontario businesses.
NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream states no length limits for these answers.
Judged against
- 1
How many Northern Ontario jobs will this create?
Show them State the full-time equivalent jobs the project creates or retains in Northern Ontario and how the project produces them.◦
In the funder’s words · 1
- Job creation
- 2
Is the plan credible and the money lined up?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
- 3
What does Northern Ontario gain, and who is harmed?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
Premium · the rest of this brief
See every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
4 more criteria · 2 more prompts
The money
Option 1: contributionUp to 20%/$400,000
conditional contribution up to 20%/$400,000
Option 2: contribution + loanTerm loan up to 30%/$600,000
term loan up to 30%/$600,000
Option 3: term loanTerm loan up to 50%/$1,000,000
term loan up to 50%/$1,000,000
What it pays for · 6
- Capital construction
- Leasehold improvements
- Land servicing costs
- ICT investments
- Marketing for new products/business initiatives, maximum 20% of other eligible costs or $75,000, whichever is less
- Third-party training, maximum 20% of other eligible costs
What it does not pay for · 15
- Retail and consumer service businesses
- Ongoing operating costs
- In-kind contributions
- Restructuring/refinancing
- Accommodation and food service
- Wholesale
- Business/strategic plans and feasibility studies
- Operating-lease assets
- Research and development
- Land purchase/lease
- Rolling stock
- Project management/consulting/administration
- Working capital
- Inventory
- Acquisitions and buyouts
From application to money
- Submit by round deadlineSubmit detailed plan by round deadline
- Board evaluationBoard evaluates after round closes
- Balance of fundingSecure balance of funding
In the funder’s words · 3
- Submit by round deadline
- Submit a detailed business plan by the applicable competitive-round deadline. (April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31)
- Board evaluation
- Applications are evaluated by the NOHFC Board after the round closes.
- Balance of funding
- The applicant is expected to secure balance of funding/financing necessary to implement the project.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to win NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 18 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 10-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 10
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 19
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream | Conditional contribution up to 20%... | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Quarterly Grow stream... |
| Northern Ontario Development Program ... | Rates vary by component. Business... | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Ontario Job Grant (formerly Canada-On... | Up to $10,000 per employee | Easy | Varies | Ongoing — year-round... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NOHFC INVEST North — Grow Stream