Are you a small/medium-sized enterprise (SME) that could use some extra funding to develop your international export strategies and improve your ability to access foreign markets? If so, check out the new Ontario Exporters Fund, to be administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) to do just that; it might be right for you.
Check out the following news announcement from the Ontario Exporters Fund, for the whole scoop:
NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT:
To assist Ontario SME’s in developing their expertise in the international forum, the Ontario Government today announces the establishment of the Ontario Exporters Fund. The Fund has been established to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become export ready and help them gain/increase access to international export markets. The fund will be administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) with the support and funding from the Ontario government. The Ontario Exporters Fund is intended to:
- Help SMEs better understand their export capacity and thereby improve their ability to access foreign markets
- Encourage SMEs to develop focused export market access strategies
The activities eligible for funding by the Ontario Exporters Fund program are:
Conducting an Export Readiness Assessment
Funding will cover 50% of eligible costs associated with conducting the export readiness assessment. The maximum grant amount for this activity is $5,000.
Hiring an Export Manager
Funding will cover 50% of eligible costs associated with hiring an experienced Export Manager. The maximum grant amount for this activity is $50,000.
To qualify, an Ontario company must be in one of the following priority sectors of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Building Products and Construction
- Clean Technology (including renewable energy and environmental technologies)
- Exportable Professional Services (e.g., Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning)
- ICT including Digital Media
- Life Sciences
There are several other qualifications of course that need to be met, so we encourage you to check out the information in the following link:
Fund website: http://www.ontarioexporters.ca/home/
OCC news release: http://occ.on.ca/2011/07/occ-opens-export-fund-for-small-and-medium-enterprises/
Regards,
Leigh
J. Leigh Kras
Member Events & Communications
leigh.kras@theOAC.ca
905-387-1550
www.theOAC.ca
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