Ontario Forest Biomass Program
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A $60M provincial initiative (2024-2027) funding innovation, modernization, and Indigenous participation in Ontario's forest bioeconomy across four streams: Exploring Biomass Pathways (up to $130K), Indigenous Bioeconomy Partnerships (up to $250K), Innovative Bioproduct Manufacturing (up to $5M, TRL 5+), and Modernization (up to $10M for existing wood manufacturers). Grants cover 35-80% of eligible costs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Project must be Ontario-based and expand forest biomass use
- Exploring stream: for-profit or non-profit in feasibility/exploration phase
- Indigenous stream: Indigenous communities or 51%+ Indigenous-owned organizations
- Manufacturing stream: for-profit companies producing bioproducts in Ontario at TRL 5+
- Modernization stream: existing Ontario wood products manufacturers
- Must demonstrate financial, technical, and operational capacity
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $100,000-$10,000,000 depending on stream (35-80% of eligible costs)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 80% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Rolling intakes (April 15, 2026; October 15, 2026)
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 TipFour distinct streams with very different targets: Exploring is for feasibility studies, Indigenous requires 51%+ Indigenous ownership, Manufacturing needs TRL 5+, and Modernization is only for existing wood products manufacturers. Over $55M of $60M already committed — apply quickly for remaining budget. The Modernization stream (up to $10M, 35% of costs) is the largest per-project amount. All applications go to [email protected].
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Success Profile
Ontario forestry companies expanding biomass utilization, wood products manufacturers modernizing operations, Indigenous communities developing bioeconomy projects, cleantech startups commercializing bioproducts.
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Evaluation Criteria
Assessed on alignment with Ontario's Forest Sector Strategy, project feasibility, biomass utilization impact, economic benefit, and environmental outcomes.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 5
- Equipment for biomass processing
- Facility construction and renovation
- Feasibility studies
- Technology development and testing
- Training and capacity building
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Land purchases
- Working capital
- Owner labour (>10% ownership)
- Office equipment
- Vehicles
Intake Periods
Rolling with periodic dates: April 15 and October 15, 2026.
Deadline Notes
Applications accepted via email to [email protected] on rolling basis with periodic intake dates. Next dates: April 15 and October 15, 2026. $60M total over 3 years; $55M+ already committed.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses outside Ontario
- Projects not related to forest biomass
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Low RiskStandard grant — clawback if project not completed or funds misused.
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How Ontario Forest Biomass Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Forest Biomass Program | $100,000-$10,000,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Rolling intakes (April... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
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