by OMAFRA Ag Rep Brian Bell
Rural Economic Development Program – Supporting our Rural Communities
Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program helps rural communities remove barriers to community economic development. With the support of the program, rural communities are better positioned to attract investment, create jobs, enhance economic growth and make everyday life easier for rural Ontarians. The RED program supports the government’s plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives by: Helping remove barriers to economic development for rural communities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and not-for-profit organizations; Helping rural communities identify their economic strengths and develop strategies to attract business and investment which will help retain and create jobs; Helping rural communities and partners to be in a more competitive economic position so that they can diversify and grow their local economies – making economic growth more inclusive so that Ontario’s growing economy delivers real benefits to rural Ontario. Applications will be accepted until September 29, 2017 (5 pm Eastern). Note that intakes open at 9 am (Eastern) and close at 5 pm (Eastern) on the dates indicated. Future application intakes: October 16, 2017 to December 1, 2017; July 30, 2018 to September 28, 2018. Applicants are required to read the guidelines before completing an application form. Website: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/ruralfunding/index.html