Ontario Marketing Grants 2026
Comprehensive guide to 12 marketing funding programs in Ontario
Ontario Marketing Funding
This guide covers 12 specialized marketing programs for Ontario businesses (10 still running), combining federal and provincial funding opportunities. GrantCompass tracks live intake status and deadlines for every export-marketing, digital-marketing, and creative-sector program open to Ontario businesses — see today’s full list at grantcompass.ca/ontario-marketing-grants.html.
Available Programs (12)
Organization: Business Development Bank of Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Provides financing, advisory services and venture capital to Canadian small and medium-sized businesses.
Organization: Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $15,000
Pays an approved Digital Adoption Consultant to write a digital plan for an Ontario for-profit business with 1 to 499 employees: your current systems, at least three digital options, a costed roadmap and the likely return. It pays for the plan, not for the tools or ads it recommends. Open, first come, first served while funds last (checked October 4, 2026).
Organization: Ontario Creates
Level: provincial
Amount: $15,000 to $50,000 (up to 75% of costs)
A marketing grant for interactive digital media projects that already received Ontario Creates production investment: activity that grows the project’s audience and revenue. Talk to a Program Consultant first; continuous intake until December 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Organization: Ontario Creates (Ontario Music Office)
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $12,500 (50% of costs)
For Ontario music companies: business travel and market development abroad, including marketing materials made for the trip. The second 2026–27 deadline is November 5, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $100,000 per project at 70% (SME stream)
Supports the development of export markets for Canadian agricultural products through contribution funding for marketing activities and trade shows. A single agri-food business uses the Market Diversification SME stream (open until September 30, 2030); the core stream, up to $2,000,000 a year, is for national industry associations.
Organization: Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $100,000
Supported the development of Indigenous tourism experiences and businesses through project grants. Discontinued: its Micro and Small Business Stream finished its four funding rounds in February 2025 and is permanently closed.
Organization: Canadian Heritage (Creative Export Canada)
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $90,000 a year (Export Development) or $2,500,000 (Export-Ready)
Helps Canadian creative industry companies (film, music, books, etc.) expand to international markets through project funding for export-ready content and marketing initiatives. Both 2026–27 intakes are closed; Canadian Heritage will announce the next one in fall 2026.
Organization: Canada Media Fund
Level: federal
Amount: Varies (grant or recoupable investment)
Supports the creation of Canadian content in television, digital media and interactive platforms through various funding streams (development, production, marketing).
Organization: Telefilm Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Supports the Canadian audiovisual industry through investments and funding for film, television, and digital media projects (production, development, marketing funds). Its Marketing Program is a repayable advance, not a grant.
Organization: Digital Main Street Ontario
Level: provincial
Amount: $2,500 (closed)
Provided main street businesses with a $2,500 grant to adopt new technologies and embrace digital marketing. Closed: Digital Main Street’s portal says the grant funded more than 3,800 businesses and is no longer taking applications; its free digital assessment and online training remain.
Organization: Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $200,000
For a new business launching in Northern Ontario. Marketing is an eligible cost, capped at 20% of eligible costs or $75,000, as part of the launch project. Rolling intake.
Organization: Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF)
Level: private
Amount: Up to $99,999 (individuals) or $249,999 (community-owned)
Provides non-repayable contributions (grants) alongside loans to Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses for start-up, acquisition, expansion, marketing, and technology adoption.
Is there a digital marketing grant in Ontario?
Not for ads. As of October 4, 2026, no open program pays a general Ontario business to run online ads, SEO or social media campaigns. The two that used to come closest are gone: Digital Main Street’s $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant has closed (its portal says it funded more than 3,800 main street businesses), and the federal Canada Digital Adoption Program ended on March 31, 2025. CanExport SMEs, often described as a digital marketing grant, lists online advertising (including social media), SEO, online store development and e-commerce platform fees as ineligible in its 2026–27 applicant guide.
What is left pays for the plan, the systems, or marketing in one sector. The table shows which part of digital marketing each one covers.
| Program | What it pays for | Who and how much | Status and verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCI DMAP | A consultant’s digital plan (systems, options, costed roadmap) | Ontario for-profits, 1 to 499 employees; up to $15,000 | Open, first come, first served.The first stop if you do not know what to buy. |
| OCI RMPG | Point-of-sale, inventory and CRM systems | Storefronts selling to the public, 1 to 50 staff, $100,000+ revenue; up to $5,000 | Open. You can take DMAP or RMPG, not both.For a shop’s customer systems, not its ads. |
| AgriMarketing SME stream | Market development including in-market promotion and social media campaigns | Agri-food, fish and seafood SMEs targeting new markets; 70%, normally under $100,000 | Open until September 30, 2030.The only open grant here that names social media, if you sell food. |
| Ontario Creates Screen Marketing and Discoverability | Marketing that grows an interactive project’s audience and revenue | Interactive projects Ontario Creates already invested in; $15,000 to $50,000, up to 75% | Open until December 16, 2026.A true marketing grant, for a narrow group. |
| OMIF Live Music | Advertising, including digital, for festivals and concert series | Ontario presenters and promoters with revenue over $125,000; up to $125,000 per cycle | Deadline October 22, 2026.For festival and concert promoters. |
| CanExport SMEs | Trade shows, travel, market research, materials for meetings abroad. Not ads, SEO or online stores | 3 to 500 staff, $300,000+ revenue; $10,000 to $50,000 at 50% | Closed; the 2026–27 intake ended August 31, 2026.Export marketing, offline. |
| BDC Small Business Loan | Lists marketing campaigns and advertising as uses | Up to $350,000, repayable | Year-round.Borrowing is the realistic way to fund an ad budget. |
Sources: Digital Main Street’s Ontario grants page and ISED’s CDAP history (checked October 4, 2026); CanExport SMEs applicant guide 2026–27 (modified August 31, 2026); OCI Digital Competence Centre page (checked October 4, 2026); Ontario Creates and AAFC program pages via our catalogue (checked August to September 2026); BDC from our catalogue (July 31, 2026).
Looking for a website development grant or Grow Your Business Online? Grow Your Business Online, the federal $2,400 e-commerce micro-grant, stopped taking applications on September 30, 2024. Students running a summer business can get up to $3,000 through Summer Company, which counts a basic website among its costs. The 2026 deadline was May 15, 2026; 2027 dates are not posted yet.
You likely qualify for more than the digital list. A few questions check your business against every Ontario and federal program we track, in about a minute.
Check what you qualify for →What marketing support can an Ontario small business get?
For a local business that does not export and is not in a creative sector, the help that exists is advice, a small start-up grant, and loans you may spend on marketing.
- Free advice. Ontario’s Small Business Advisory Centres (the former Small Business Enterprise Centres) give one-on-one guidance, including on marketing. Digital Main Street still offers its free digital assessment, online training and the DMS Squad, without the grant.
- Starter Company Plus. A grant of up to $5,000 with training and a mentor if you are starting, expanding or buying a business in Ontario. You must put in at least 25% of the grant in cash or in kind, and you apply through a Small Business Enterprise Centre, which sets its own intake dates.
- Loans that allow marketing. BDC’s Small Business Loan (up to $350,000) lists marketing campaigns and advertising as uses; Futurpreneur lends up to $75,000 to founders aged 18 to 39 and names marketing and customer acquisition; Community Futures offices lend to rural and small-town businesses for marketing and business development.
- Northern Ontario. NOHFC’s INVEST North streams count marketing as an eligible cost inside a larger launch, growth or innovation project (capped at 20% or $75,000 in the Launch Stream).
- Corporate contests. Several corporate small-business grants let winners spend the prize on marketing; most run once a year and are between rounds.
Sources: ontario.ca Starter Company Plus page and Digital Main Street, checked October 4, 2026; BDC, Futurpreneur, Community Futures and NOHFC terms from our catalogue (checked June to August 2026).
Most Ontario businesses qualify for more than they expect once location, stage and sector are known. Answer a few questions and see your list.
Check what you qualify for →Marketing and Export Promotion Funding in Ontario
Ontario businesses looking for marketing grants will quickly discover a crucial distinction: pure domestic marketing grants are rare. The federal and provincial programs that exist almost always require a funding hook — export market development, digital adoption, or sector-specific content creation. Understanding this structure upfront will save you time and direct you to the programs most likely to approve your application.
CanExport SMEs: Offline Export Marketing (Between Intakes)
For Ontario companies looking to enter new international markets, CanExport SME is the main federal grant for offline export marketing. Administered by the Trade Commissioner Service, it provides non-repayable contributions covering up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $50,000 per application. Eligible activities include trade show attendance and booth fees, travel to meet buyers, promotional materials needed to present your products in the target market (and their translation), market research and B2B facilitation in target countries, and IP protection. The 2026–27 applicant guide lists online advertising (including social media), SEO, online store development and e-commerce platform fees as ineligible, so it is an offline export-marketing grant.
Ontario businesses qualify if they are incorporated entities, LLPs or co-operatives with 3 to 500 full-time employees and revenues between $300,000 and $100 million, targeting a market where their sales were under $100,000 or under 10% of total sales last year. Applications go through the Trade Commissioner Service online portal during an intake (the 2026–27 intake ended August 31, 2026), with decisions within 60 business days (90 for the U.S.). Multiple applications per year are permitted, each targeting a different market — making CanExport stackable across a global expansion strategy.
Ontario Creates — Marketing Support for Creative Industries
Ontario Creates is the provincial agency supporting Ontario's cultural economy across film and television, music, book and magazine publishing, and interactive digital media. Several of its programs directly fund marketing activities for Ontario-based creative businesses:
- Screen Marketing and Discoverability Program: $15,000 to $50,000 (up to 75%) for marketing interactive digital media projects that already received Ontario Creates production investment; continuous intake until December 16, 2026
- Global Market Development Fund: up to $15,000 (50%) for Ontario book, film/TV and interactive companies attending international markets, trade fairs and showcases (e.g., MIPCOM, London Book Fair); one round per sector a year, and the 2026–27 rounds closed in April and May
- Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF): its Global Market Development (Music) stream pays up to $12,500 (50%) toward market development abroad (next deadline November 5, 2026), and its Live Music stream covers festival and concert-series marketing (deadline October 22, 2026)
Programs require Ontario residency or a registered Ontario office. Application windows vary by program and fiscal year — check the Ontario Creates website for current intake dates.
Ontario's Global Growth Program and Trade Office Network
The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade operates the Ontario Trade Office Network — a global network of offices in key markets including the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. While not a grant program per se, the network provides Ontario businesses with market intelligence, introductions to buyers and partners, and co-sponsorship of provincial trade missions. Ontario trade missions are organized several times per year, particularly to the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and India, and offer subsidized participation for qualifying Ontario businesses.
The ministry's Global Growth program periodically provides targeted co-investment for Ontario exporters expanding to strategic markets — funding amounts and eligibility criteria vary by intake. Businesses should monitor the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre for current offerings.
Digital Main Street — Ontario's Digital Marketing Grant (closed)
For brick-and-mortar and main street retailers, the Digital Main Street Digital Transformation Grant provided $2,500 to Ontario small businesses adopting digital tools — including e-commerce platforms, digital advertising accounts, and social media marketing infrastructure. It is closed: Digital Main Street’s portal says it funded more than 3,800 main street businesses and no longer takes applications. The free digital assessment and online training are still available. For money, the Ontario Centre of Innovation’s DMAP (up to $15,000 for a digital plan) and RMPG (up to $5,000 for a storefront’s point-of-sale and CRM systems) are open; see the digital marketing question above.
AgriMarketing — Export Market Development for Ontario Agri-Food
Ontario's large agri-food sector has dedicated marketing funding through the federal AgriMarketing Program, administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It has two doors. Individual agri-food, fish and seafood SMEs use the Market Diversification SME stream: 70% of eligible costs, normally under $100,000 per project, open until September 30, 2030. National industry associations use the core stream (up to $2,000,000 a year at 50%). Eligible activities include international trade show participation, in-market promotional activities (including social media campaigns in the SME stream), buyer missions, and development of export-market marketing materials.
Creative Export Canada — For Content and Creative Sector Companies
Creative Export Canada, administered by Canadian Heritage, supports Canadian creative industry companies exporting cultural content internationally. Its Export Development Stream provides up to $90,000 a year and its Export-Ready Stream up to $2,500,000 per application (government funding capped at 75% of costs) for activities including international marketing campaigns, export strategy development, and promotional activities that position Canadian creative content in foreign markets. Ontario's strong creative sector — particularly in film, music, gaming, and publishing — makes this a particularly relevant program for Toronto and Ottawa-based creative businesses. Both 2026–27 intakes are closed; the next is announced in fall 2026.
Regional Economic Development Support
Beyond the major federal and provincial programs, Ontario businesses can access marketing co-funding through regional economic development organizations. The Toronto Region Board of Trade periodically offers trade programming and export market development support for Toronto-area businesses. Ontario's Regional Development Corporations and municipal economic development offices in cities like Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and Waterloo Region sometimes co-fund marketing activities as part of broader business development support packages. These programs are typically smaller and locally focused, but can complement federal funding with minimal additional paperwork.
What You Won't Find: Pure Domestic Marketing Grants
It is worth being direct: if your goal is funding a purely Canadian marketing campaign — social media ads, a rebrand, a trade show in Toronto — government grant programs will largely not cover it. The rationale is that domestic marketing benefits individual businesses competitively and is expected to be self-funded. The programs above exist because governments view export market development and digital adoption as creating broader economic benefits (jobs, foreign exchange earnings, economic modernization) that justify public subsidy. If domestic marketing funding is your priority, consider a loan that allows marketing (BDC’s Small Business Loan lists marketing campaigns and advertising), BDC Advisory Services (paid consulting that can include marketing strategy), the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre network (free advisory services and Starter Company Plus), or CFIB member resources.
Which Ontario Businesses Qualify for Marketing Grants?
Marketing funding in Ontario is not one-size-fits-all. Eligibility depends heavily on your industry, business size, and whether you are targeting export markets. Here is how the major programs break down by business type:
Technology and SaaS Companies
Ontario tech companies — particularly SaaS, cybersecurity, cleantech, and AI firms — have strong access to marketing funding via CanExport SME. Because software is inherently exportable, most Ontario tech companies can structure their international market development (conference and trade show attendance, travel to meet buyers, market research, translated sales materials) as CanExport-eligible activities; online advertising and SEO are not eligible. Ontario Creates’ IP Fund (Interactive Content Stream) and Screen Marketing and Discoverability Program are additionally available for companies in the gaming, interactive learning, and entertainment software sectors. Ontario tech companies with US market ambitions also benefit from the Trade Commissioner Service's Silicon Valley and New York offices, which actively support Canadian tech market entry. For more sector-specific funding, see technology grants in Ontario.
Food and Beverage Producers
Ontario's food and beverage sector has the most complete marketing grant ecosystem of any industry in the province. The federal AgriMarketing Program’s SME stream covers 70% of international marketing costs (normally under $100,000 per project), including trade show attendance and in-market promotional activities. AgriMarketing’s SME stream is the export grant for food producers: CanExport SMEs no longer covers agri-food (agtech and food-technology firms remain eligible). Industry associations (Ontario Craft Brewers, Food and Beverage Ontario, Foodpreneur) sometimes also negotiate group AgriMarketing applications that allow small producers to participate in international trade shows under an umbrella submission — worth investigating before applying individually.
Creative Industries: Film, Music, Publishing, Games
Ontario's creative sector has the most specialized set of marketing-adjacent funding programs. Ontario Creates programs are sector-specific and provide meaningful funding for export market development, international promotion, and trade event attendance. Creative Export Canada (federal, up to $90,000 a year or $2.5 million per project) specifically targets companies bringing Canadian creative content to international markets. The Canada Media Fund has streams for content development and promotion. Toronto-based companies additionally have access to the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Office for local initiatives. Companies operating in this space should map their activities across all three levels of government — municipal, provincial, and federal — as stacking opportunities are genuine and regularly used.
Retailers and Main Street Businesses
For retail and service businesses without an export focus, the funding landscape is narrower. Digital Main Street's $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant has closed, though its free assessment and training remain. Storefronts with $100,000 or more in revenue can apply to OCI’s RMPG (up to $5,000 for point-of-sale and CRM systems), and any Ontario business with 1 to 499 employees to OCI’s DMAP (up to $15,000 for a digital plan). Beyond those, retailers should explore their local Business Improvement Area (BIA), municipal economic development office, or your local Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre for co-funded marketing advisory programs. While the dollar amounts are smaller, these programs are lower-competition and can be a practical starting point.
Indigenous-Owned Businesses
Indigenous entrepreneurs in Ontario have access to sector-specific programs including the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) for businesses in Northern Ontario, and the Waubetek Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship Program; the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s small business stream is permanently closed. Indigenous-owned businesses in any sector also qualify for mainstream programs like CanExport SME and OCI’s DMAP. The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) periodically offers business development support that includes marketing guidance and small co-investment. Indigenous entrepreneurs in Ontario should additionally engage their regional Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI) — there are 11 in Ontario — for program navigation support.
Which Ontario funding programs pay for marketing, and which refuse it?
We read the eligible and ineligible cost lists of every program an Ontario business can apply to, then checked each match by hand.
| Kind | Programs | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Loans and repayable contributions | 24 | BDC, Futurpreneur, Community Futures, FedDev Ontario. Marketing is allowed; you pay it back. |
| One creative work or company | 21 | Ontario Creates, FACTOR, Canada Media Fund, Creative Export Canada. Film, music, books, games only. |
| Contests and corporate grants | 13 | Prize money you may spend on marketing; 10 of the 13 are between rounds. |
| Associations, municipalities or non-profits only | 8 | Not a single business. Includes Toronto’s Transit Construction Mitigation Fund, which funds BIAs. |
| Reserved for a named group | 6 | Indigenous and women entrepreneurs, for example NADF and Waubetek. |
| Northern Ontario projects | 5 | NOHFC INVEST North and FedNor’s NODP: marketing as a capped part of a bigger project. |
| Festivals and events | 3 | Experience Ontario, the Marquee Event Program and local festivals. |
| Export marketing | 2 | CanExport SMEs (closed until its next intake) and AgriMarketing’s SME stream (agri-food). |
| Students and tax credits | 4 | Summer Company (two delivery partners); the interactive media and book publishing tax credits. |
The gap is a general business marketing at home. Take away loans, the creative sector, contests, groups and Northern Ontario, and our catalogue has no open program that gives an ordinary Ontario business non-repayable money for its own domestic advertising. That is why the honest first move for most readers is a loan, advice, or a program built around something else you are doing (exporting, launching up north, a creative property).
Who refuses marketing. The 61 programs that rule it out are mostly innovation money: IRAP, SR&ED, Mitacs Accelerate, CanExport Innovation, OCI’s innovation programs and Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness stream. Budget marketing separately when you apply to any of them. Another 260 programs say nothing either way, so check their guidelines before you count on it.
Method: data/catalog-master.json, records whose provinces include Ontario or all of Canada and whose status is not closed or discontinued, on October 4, 2026. A program counts when its eligible-cost list names marketing, advertising, promotion, branding or publicity; every match was read and labelled by hand (scripts in our QA folder). 43 programs carry no cost lists. 27 more mention marketing in their cost lists but, read in full, do not pay for a business’s own marketing (86 + 61 + 260 + 43 + 27 = 477). A program we have not catalogued cannot appear here, and a cost list is our summary of the funder’s rules, not the rules themselves.
Whether any of the 86 fit depends on your sector, location and stage. A few questions sort them for your business.
Check what you qualify for →Ontario Marketing Grants — Quick Eligibility Comparison
Use this table to identify which programs match your business type and marketing objective before you invest time in a full application.
| Program | Max Funding | Cost Share | Best For | Export Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport SME | $50,000/application | 50% | Any Ontario SME targeting new export market | Yes — new market required |
| Creative Export Canada | $90,000/year (Export Development); $2.5M (Export-Ready) | Up to 75% | Film, music, books, games companies | Yes — international markets |
| AgriMarketing Program | Under $100,000/project (SME stream) | 70% (SME stream) | Ontario agri-food SMEs (associations: core stream) | Yes — export market development |
| Digital Main Street Grant | $2,500 (closed) | 100% (no cost share) | Ontario main street/retail businesses | No — domestic digital adoption |
| Ontario Creates Global Market Development Fund | $15,000 | 50% | Ontario creative sector (film, music, IDM) | Yes — international events/markets |
| Canada Media Fund | Varies by stream | Varies | TV, digital media, interactive platforms | Not always — Canadian content focus |
| NADF Business Financing | Up to $249,999 | Varies | Indigenous entrepreneurs in Northern Ontario | No — domestic eligible |
Funding amounts and terms change. Verify current program details directly with the administering agency before applying.
How to Build a Strong Ontario Marketing Grant Application
Marketing grant applications are evaluated differently from R&D or capital investment grants. Reviewers are assessing whether your proposed marketing activities will achieve measurable market development outcomes — not just whether the marketing itself is well-designed. Here is what separates funded applications from rejected ones:
1. Lead with Market Evidence, Not Creative Strategy
For export-focused programs like CanExport SME and Creative Export Canada, the most common reason for rejection is insufficient market validation. Before writing your application, gather concrete evidence for your target market: size of the addressable market, existing competitors, why your product has a viable path to market entry, and any early signals of demand (inbound inquiries from abroad, distributor interest, trade show expressions of interest). Programs fund market development — they expect you to demonstrate that a market exists and that your strategy is realistic, not just aspirational.
2. Budget to the Program's Cost Share Structure
Most programs require you to cover a share of costs — typically 50%. A common mistake is building a budget that is too ambitious for your available matching funds. CanExport SME requires you to have or commit to spending at least double the amount you request in grants. Budget your marketing activities at a level where you can genuinely absorb your share of costs, and demonstrate in the application that this spending is already planned (ideally with a board-approved marketing budget or signed vendor quotes).
3. Use the Trade Commissioner Service Before Applying
Ontario businesses applying for CanExport SME can significantly improve their approval odds by engaging a Trade Commissioner before submitting. Trade Commissioners are government advisors assigned to specific international markets — they can validate your market choice, provide referrals to in-market contacts, and sometimes co-sign letters of support for your application. The service is free, and a Trade Commissioner's endorsement signals to reviewers that your export strategy is credible. Contact the Trade Commissioner Service through the TCS Portal or through your nearest Canadian consulate or trade office.
4. Stack Programs Strategically
Ontario businesses targeting international creative or agricultural markets have genuine stacking opportunities. For creative companies: CanExport SME + Ontario Creates’ Global Market Development Fund is a well-worn combination for international trade market attendance. For agri-food companies, AgriMarketing’s SME stream is the export grant: since 2026–27, CanExport SMEs no longer covers agri-food (agtech and food-technology firms remain eligible). When stacking, disclose all funding sources in every application and confirm your total government funding percentage stays within each program's stated limit — typically 75% of total eligible costs per activity.
5. Maintain a Reporting-Ready Budget
Grant-funded marketing activities require detailed financial reporting with supporting receipts, vendor invoices, and a clear mapping of every expense to the approved budget line. Before starting any funded activity, set up a dedicated project cost centre or folder for receipts. Programs that fund international travel or trade shows are particularly scrutinized — maintain boarding passes, hotel receipts, and booth confirmation documents. Poor documentation is a common reason for clawbacks and disqualification from future applications.
For step-by-step guidance on the full grant application process, see our how to apply for grants guide and grant writing guide.
Which Ontario businesses received export marketing grants?
The federal government publishes its grant agreements over $25,000, and some departments list smaller ones too. We counted the Ontario ones for the two federal programs that pay for marketing abroad.
| City | Agreements |
|---|---|
| Toronto | 564 |
| Mississauga | 161 |
| Ottawa | 114 |
| Markham | 59 |
| Kitchener | 58 |
Manufacturers lead in Ontario too. 500 of the 1,758 agreements (28%) went to manufacturers, 337 to professional, scientific and technical services and 264 to software publishers and data or online services; 360 carry no industry code. No agreement exceeded the $50,000 cap.
Ontario wins a large share of Creative Export Canada. From April 2023 to December 2025, Ontario companies signed 83 of the 223 Export Development Stream agreements (37%, median $55,000) and 33 of the 71 Export-Ready Stream agreements (46%, $8.6 million of $21.0 million, median $219,000). Toronto companies hold 45 and 25 of those.
Source: Proactive Disclosure of Grants and Contributions, open.canada.ca, fetched October 4, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada). CanExport SMEs: agreements delivered by the National Research Council with for-profit recipients; Creative Export Canada: Canadian Heritage. Amendments are collapsed to one row per agreement. What this cannot show: applications that were refused, so no approval rate; what was paid out, since an agreement value is the approved maximum; and agreements signed after the latest published quarter.
More than 1,200 Ontario businesses got CanExport money in three years. Check which programs your business can get before the next intake opens.
Check what you qualify for →Ontario Marketing Funding by Business Type
The right marketing program depends heavily on who you are and where you’re taking your product. Find your situation below.
If You’re a Tech or SaaS Company Targeting the US Market
You have the widest set of options on this page. CanExport SMEs covers up to $50,000 per application (50% cost-share, median actual award closer to $25,000) for a single new export market — trade show attendance, travel to meet buyers, market research and translated sales materials qualify; online ads and SEO do not. Because software is inherently exportable, most Ontario tech companies can run several CanExport applications in parallel across different target markets. For early-stage international R&D partnerships specifically (not pure marketing), CanExport Innovation adds up to $37,500 per project at 75% cost-share.
- Stack CanExport SMEs (market development) with CanExport Innovation (partnership-building) if your expansion involves both a marketing push and a technical co-development relationship abroad
- If your product has an interactive or software component built in Ontario, check whether the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit applies — it refunds 40% of eligible Ontario labour, with marketing and distribution costs capped at $100,000 per product
If You’re an Ontario Food or Beverage Exporter
The federal AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream is for national industry associations, not single businesses: up to $2,000,000 per year (max $10M over 5 years) at 50% cost-share (70% for Indo-Pacific market activity or underrepresented-group applicants), covering trade shows, in-market promotion, and export-ready packaging. If you are one business, the AgriMarketing Market Diversification — SME Stream covers up to $100,000 per project at a more generous 70% cost-share. Both stack with CanExport SMEs for the digital and research-focused portions of the same export push.
If You’re a Creative-Industries Company (Film, Music, Games, Publishing)
Creative Export Canada splits into two federal streams by project size: the Export-Ready Stream funds up to $2,500,000 per application for larger international campaigns, while the Export Development Stream covers up to $90,000 (75% of eligible expenses) for smaller-scale market entry activity. Both streams are closed until an intake Canadian Heritage will announce in fall 2026. Toronto and Ottawa-based creative companies pair either stream with Ontario Creates’ sector-specific export and marketing funds (the Global Market Development Fund, OMIF Global Market Development for music, and the Screen Marketing and Discoverability Program) for a genuinely two-level federal-plus-provincial stack.
If You’re a Northern Ontario Business
Businesses in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Timmins, or North Bay have export help the rest of the province doesn’t: the Northern Ontario Exports Program — Trade Mission Support Program, funded by FedNor and NOHFC through Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation, gives trade associations, municipalities and non-profits up to $10,000 per project to run inbound buyer visits or export missions that local businesses join (it does not pay a business directly). It stacks cleanly with CanExport SMEs and with NOHFC’s own INVEST North Launch Stream (up to $200,000, marketing capped at 20% of costs or $75,000) if the export push is part of a broader new-business launch. For a full picture of every program you personally qualify for — not just the marketing-tagged ones — see every program you qualify for on the interactive eligibility map.
Ontario’s marketing-funding geography: Toronto and Ottawa concentrate the creative-sector programs (Ontario Creates, Creative Export Canada, Canada Media Fund applicants); the Guelph-KW food processing cluster and Niagara wine region drive most AgriMarketing applications; the Windsor-Oshawa automotive corridor and Hamilton steel sector rarely qualify for marketing grants directly but frequently combine CanExport with manufacturing-side programs for export-readiness projects; and Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Timmins, and North Bay access the Northern Ontario Exports Program and NOHFC in addition to every program open province-wide.
CanExport family at a glance — which stream fits which activity:
| Program | Max Amount | Cost-Share | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport SMEs | $50,000 | 50% | Market development, trade shows, materials for the target market (not ads) |
| CanExport Innovation | $37,500 | 75% | International R&D partnership travel |
| CanExport Associations | $500,000/yr | 50% | Industry-association member export activity |
| CanExport Community Investments | Up to $500,000 | 60% | Community-led investment attraction (not exports) |
Creative Export Canada’s two streams, side by side:
| Stream | Max Amount | Cost-Share | Project Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export-Ready | $2,500,000 | Varies by activity | Large-scale international campaigns |
| Export Development | $90,000 | 75% | Smaller-scale market entry |
Which Program Should an Ontario Agri-Food Exporter Start With?
Start with AgriMarketing Market Diversification — SME Stream; the Core Stream is for national industry associations. The SME Stream’s 70% cost-share is more generous than the Core Stream’s 50%, and its $100,000 ceiling matches what most small and mid-size Ontario food and beverage producers can realistically absorb as a matching contribution in year one. Do not plan on CanExport SMEs for the same push: since 2026–27 it no longer covers agri-food, fish and seafood, or alcoholic beverages, which moved to AgriMarketing (agtech and food-technology firms remain eligible).
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada — AgriMarketing Program stream comparison, agriculture.canada.ca.Domestic vs. export-focused digital marketing funding — which category you actually fall into:
| Program | Max Amount | Domestic or Export? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Main Street Grant | $2,500 (closed) | Domestic | Main street retail, first digital tools |
| OIDMTC | $100K/product (marketing cap) | Domestic or export | Ontario-built interactive digital products |
| CanExport SMEs | $50,000 | Export only | New foreign market entry |
Digital Main Street vs. Waiting for a Bigger Program
Digital Main Street’s $2,500 grant has closed, so the choice is now between its free help and OCI’s open programs. Take Digital Main Street’s free digital assessment and training first; then apply to OCI’s DMAP (up to $15,000 for a consultant’s digital plan) or, if you run a storefront with $100,000 or more in revenue, OCI’s RMPG (up to $5,000 for point-of-sale and CRM systems). You can take one of the two, not both. Use what you build to grow the traction that later strengthens a CanExport SMEs application if you pursue export sales.
Here’s what you need to know about timing your Ontario marketing grant application: the export-focused federal programs (the CanExport family, AgriMarketing) do not pay for anything you spent before you applied (CanExport SMEs excludes costs incurred before the date you submit, and AgriMarketing’s SME stream only counts costs once AAFC deems the application complete), so the trade show you already booked will not qualify retroactively. Plan applications at least one full quarter before your marketing activity starts: CanExport SMEs decisions take up to 60 business days (its 2026–27 intake ended August 31, 2026), and AgriMarketing’s SME stream takes applications continuously until September 30, 2030. Sector-specific provincial programs (Ontario Creates funds) work differently — they open short, fixed intake windows once or twice per fiscal year and close within weeks, so the practical move is to prepare your budget and market evidence in advance and submit the day a window opens.
Is there funding for music marketing and promotion in Ontario?
Yes, and music is the best-funded marketing niche on this page. Ontario Creates’ Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF) and the federal FACTOR and Canada Music Fund programs all count promotion as an eligible cost. Most run fixed deadlines, so timing matters more than eligibility.
| Program | What it pays for | Amount | Next date and verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMIF Global Market Development (Music) | Business travel and market development abroad, with materials made for it | Up to $12,500, 50% | Deadline November 5, 2026.For an Ontario music company taking an artist abroad. |
| OMIF Live Music | Festival and concert-series marketing, including digital advertising | Up to $125,000 per cycle | Deadline October 22, 2026.For promoters; the closest deadline on this page. |
| OMIF Music Company Development and Music Futures | Company growth, artist marketing support, music videos | Up to $125,000; up to $50,000 | Both 2026–27 deadlines passed (September 10 and 24).2027–28 dates are not announced yet. |
| FACTOR artist programs | Artist Development ($5,000 subsidy, marketing included); singles and EPs; album marketing, tour, video and radio components; live performance | $5,000; 50% up to $25,000 (single/EP) | Artist Development, Single/EP and Album deadlines for this year have passed; Live Performance is rolling for Artist 2 and 3.Touring is the open door until the 2027–28 deadlines. |
| Canada Music Fund company envelope (FACTOR) | Marketing and promotion of sound recordings for established labels and companies | Up to $100,000 (mid-tier), up to 50% | Closed January 22, 2026; next window about January 2027.For companies with a track record. |
| Creative Export Canada | International marketing, including digital, for music and other creative exporters | Up to $90,000 a year (Export Development) | Closed; next period announced fall 2026.For a label or company with export plans. |
Sources: Ontario Creates OMIF deadlines page and FACTOR artist programs page (checked October 4, 2026, and in the October 4 BC marketing review); Canada Music Fund and Creative Export Canada from Canadian Heritage pages via our catalogue (checked July to August 2026).
Musicians and music companies often qualify for hiring, training and export programs as well as music funds. See your full list.
Check what you qualify for →Frequently Asked Questions — Ontario Marketing Grants
Can Ontario businesses apply for CanExport SME?
Yes. CanExport SME is a federal program open to eligible Canadian businesses in all provinces including Ontario. To qualify, your business must be a Canadian for-profit company with 3 to 500 full-time employees and annual revenues between $300,000 and $100 million, and your activities must target a market where your sales were under $100,000 or under 10% of total sales. Ontario businesses apply directly through the Trade Commissioner Service portal. Funded activities include trade show participation, travel to meet buyers, market research, and promotional materials for meetings in the target market — $10,000 to $50,000 per application (50% of eligible costs). Online advertising, SEO and online stores are ineligible. Multiple applications per year are permitted provided each targets a different market. The 2026–27 intake ended August 31, 2026.
What marketing support does Ontario Creates offer?
Ontario Creates supports marketing activities for Ontario's creative industries — film and television, book publishing, music, and interactive digital media. Relevant programs include the Screen Marketing and Discoverability Program ($15,000 to $50,000 for interactive projects it has already invested in), the Global Market Development Fund (up to $15,000 at 50% for companies attending international trade events and markets), and the Ontario Music Investment Fund (Global Market Development for music, up to $12,500; Live Music, festival and concert-series marketing). These programs are sector-specific and require Ontario residency or a registered Ontario office. Application windows are typically announced on the Ontario Creates website each fiscal year.
Are there grants for purely domestic marketing in Ontario?
Pure domestic marketing grants are uncommon at the provincial and federal level. Most publicly available marketing funding in Ontario is tied to one of three categories: export market development (CanExport, Creative Export Canada, AgriMarketing), digital adoption (Digital Main Street's $2,500 grant has closed; OCI’s DMAP pays up to $15,000 for a digital plan), or sector-specific content creation (Ontario Creates, Canada Media Fund). If your marketing goal is purely local or national promotion, your best options are a loan that allows marketing (BDC Small Business Loan, Futurpreneur), BDC Advisory Services (paid strategy consulting), the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre network (free advisory and Starter Company Plus), or your local Regional Innovation Centre, which sometimes co-funds marketing pilots for technology companies.
Is there funding specifically for digital marketing in Ontario?
Not for ads, as of October 4, 2026. The Digital Main Street Digital Transformation Grant ($2,500) has closed, and the Canada Digital Adoption Program ended March 31, 2025. CanExport SME lists online advertising (including social media), SEO and online store development as ineligible. What is open: OCI DMAP (up to $15,000 for a digital plan), OCI RMPG (up to $5,000 for a storefront’s point-of-sale and CRM systems), AgriMarketing’s SME stream (social media campaigns for agri-food exporters), and Ontario Creates’ Screen Marketing and Discoverability Program for interactive projects it already funds. The full list is in the digital marketing section. For e-commerce specifically, also explore e-commerce business grants in Canada.
What funding is available for trade shows and international exhibitions?
CanExport SME is the primary federal vehicle for Ontario businesses attending international trade shows — it covers up to 50% of eligible costs including booth fees, travel, and promotional materials when the show targets a new export market. AgriMarketing’s SME stream covers trade show participation for agri-food SMEs at 70% of costs (normally under $100,000 per project). Ontario Creates’ Global Market Development Fund (up to $15,000) and OMIF Global Market Development for music (up to $12,500) support creative companies attending international markets and showcases. The Ontario Trade Office Network, administered through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, can facilitate and sometimes co-sponsor provincial trade missions to key markets including the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Can Ontario businesses combine CanExport with Ontario provincial programs?
In many cases, yes — stacking federal and provincial funding for marketing is permitted provided total government contributions do not exceed each program's stacking limit. CanExport SME allows stacking with other government programs as long as total public funding for the same activity stays within 75% of eligible costs. Ontario Creates’ Global Market Development Fund can be combined with CanExport SME for eligible creative companies, significantly increasing total cost coverage for international marketing campaigns and trade missions. Always disclose all applied-for and confirmed funding sources in each application, and confirm stacking maximums directly with each program officer before finalizing your budget. See our CanExport grant guide for stacking strategies and application tips.
Can I get a grant for a website in Ontario?
Not as a general business, as of October 4, 2026. Grow Your Business Online, the federal $2,400 e-commerce micro-grant, closed on September 30, 2024, and Digital Main Street’s $2,500 grant has closed. CanExport SMEs lists online store development and e-commerce platform fees as ineligible. What is open: OCI’s DMAP pays up to $15,000 for a digital plan that can lead to a website, OCI’s RMPG pays up to $5,000 for a storefront’s point-of-sale and CRM systems, and students can use Summer Company (up to $3,000) for a basic website. Otherwise a BDC or Futurpreneur loan can fund it.
Ready to Apply? Your Next Steps
- Use the GrantCompass finder to filter Ontario marketing grants by your business type and export readiness — start your search here
- Contact a Trade Commissioner before applying to CanExport SME — find your assigned commissioner at the TCS portal (tradecommissioner.gc.ca)
- Check Ontario Creates intake windows — program deadlines vary by fiscal year and close within weeks of opening; the next music deadlines are October 22 (Live Music) and November 5, 2026 (Global Market Development)
- Start with Digital Main Street’s free assessment if you are a main street retailer (its $2,500 grant has closed), then OCI’s DMAP or RMPG
- Confirm stacking limits if you plan to combine programs — both CanExport and Ontario Creates allow stacking but require full disclosure of co-funding in your application
- Bookmark this page — the federal fiscal year starts April 1, and Creative Export Canada will announce its next intake in fall 2026; CanExport SMEs has not yet posted a date after its August 31, 2026 close
For a broader view of all Ontario funding available to your business — beyond marketing — explore our complete Ontario grants directory and use the GrantCompass quiz to match your profile to the highest-relevance programs.
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Funding Programs in This Category
Ontario marketing & growth programs in our database, each with eligibility, funding amounts and how-to-apply detail.