Mentor Works: The Canadian Government Funding Experts

Mentor Works is an Ontario-based specialized firm, providing assistance and support services related to small business government funding opportunities. By assessing Canadian small business’ strategic objectives and innovation challenges, we are able to match optimal government grants, loans, and tax credits to accelerate your growth.

Mentor Works advises small businesses on the most accessible and rewarding funding programs to solve common business challenges related to business expansion, research and development, human resources & training, and capital investment. Bernadeen McLeod, Owner and Principle of Mentor Works, applies her 20+ years of executive and general manager experience and expertise in government funding to match the most appropriate funding mechanisms for each individual market strategy.

Top 6 Funding Programs
There are countless programs available to small businesses across Canada. We have gathered our six most popular programs across a variety of funding themes in order to provide a sample of what type of funding is available and ready for allocation. For the majority of funding programs, the funding source requires your business to be financially stable, incorporated for at least 1-2 years, and conduct R&D activities and/or manufacturing within Canada.
 

1. Going Global Innovation: Grant for International Partnerships
   Small businesses interested in creating partnerships with international companies should take a close look at this Canadian government grant. The program covers 75% of eligible expenses up to $75,000 in grant funding for travel expenses, meals & lodging expenses, and meeting-related costs to explore and define R&D collaboration partners around the world. Additional details on GGI and how to think differently about Doing Business Abroad.
    
2. Yves Landry AIME Initiative: Grant for Training
   Manufacturing companies looking to train their staff on software and/or equipment that will have a direct effect on your operational efficiency should look at Yves Landry’s AIME Initiative. This grant covers 100% of trainer expenses and 50% of each trainee’s direct labour. Your application can incorporate several training modules with a maximum Yves Landry contribution of $50,000 in grant funding for Skills Development.
    
3. FedDev Ontario Prosperity Initiative: No-Interest Business Loan
   Stretch your general cash flows with this FedDev Ontario 0% interest loan. The loan covers up to 50% of eligible capital costs and up to 75% of eligible non-capital costs up to $20M in repayable loans. Your project must fall into one of three categories: (1) Regional Diversification, (2) Productivity Enhancements (not-for-profit only), and (3) Competitive Advantage. Read more about Ontario government funding for Business Expansion Plans for Export.
    
4. MITACS Enterprise: Wage Subsidy for STEM Grads
   High skilled employees are more accessible through MITACS’ Enterprise program, which provides a wage subsidy of $10,000-$15,000 per 6-month internship (depending on education level) up to a maximum wage subsidy of $30,000 per company. The intern must be a Science, Technical, Engineering, or Math (STEM) graduate. We recommend that you explore the Top Five Ontario Grants for Hiring as well.
    
5. IRAP DTAPP: Grant for Technology Implementation
   NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) has allocated $80M over the next 2 years to help companies adopt new technology in order to increase productivity and create jobs. The cost-share grant has a maximum allocation of $100,000 grant funding and can include software consulting and customization, training, sub-contractors and direct labour expenses. Contact your local IRAP Representative to begin the application process; you can find out who your local rep is on the IRAP Regional Offices. For assistance or support with the IRAP project forms, please contact us.
    
6. SMART Prosperity Now
   Delivered by CME and supported by FedDev Ontario, this new launch provides invest for sustainable technologies to upgrade or purchase new equipment with an export focus. This commercialization fund focuses on helping new technologies achieve export development into either new domestic or foreign markets. This program encourages SME’s to improve their competitiveness in global markets through New Technology Expansion Funds for Export.

Get Started With Mentor Works

Mentor Works provides two levels of services. Primarily, we work with businesses to develop a customized funding plan and execute it in collaboration with the company by providing guidance and support throughout each funding application process. This service is billed as a monthly service, usually over 3-4 months followed by a couple of months off to allow the company to carry out their spend.

Alternatively, we provide support for single funding application processes to help companies apply for a single funding mechanism. For smaller companies who are not familiar with government funding, this is a popular option to get their feet wet and become oriented with how the funding process works especially as it relates to research and development projects. Typically, these companies then adopt the Mentor Works monthly service to achieve their full funding potential.

www.mentorworks.ca