There are a number of financial assistance programs available to companies investing in the City of Cornwall. These programs are available from different levels of government.

Brownfield Program
The City of Cornwall has a number of programs to help developers revitalize brownfield sites in the city. Brownfields are abandoned, vacant, derelict or underutilized commercial and industrial properties, where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination. Assistance programs range from tax rebate incentives and municipal fee grants.

Heart of the City Program
Cornwall's Heart of the City initiative supports revitalization projects that occur in the central core, or "Heart of the City". These areas include downtown central business district (Pitt Street and adjacent roadways) along with Le Village shopping district. Similar to the Brownfield program, the Heart of the City program has a number of tools to help landowners undertake property improvements, with a special focus on aesthetic improvements, and the upgrading and renovation of commercial properties and ancillary residential units.

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)
Businesses that invest $500,000 or more in projects in Cornwall that create or retain at least 10 jobs over five years are eligible for a grant of up to 15% from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. The EODF was created by the Province in 2008.

Southern Ontario Development Program
Any business or organization in Cornwall with less than 1000 employees is eligible for an interest-free loan from the Southern Ontario Development Program. The Program was created by the Federal Government in 2009 and is run by FedDev Ontario.

Export Market Access Program
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce's Export Market Access Program provides small- to medium-sized enterprises with the tools and resources they need to improve their position in key foreign markets. It will also support two trade missions: one to China and Hong Kong, and one to India. The program will fund up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $30,000 per project.

CME SMART Program
The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) created the SMART Program in March 2008 to improve the manufacturing productivity of SMEs to enable them to compete more effectively in the global economy. Eligible manufacturing improvement projects include lean manufacturing, quality improvement, energy efficiency, information technology best practices, and environmental impact reduction. The Program provides up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $50,000 per project.

Eastern Ontario Development Program
The Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) promotes socio-economic development in Eastern Ontario by assisting economic renewal in five priority areas:business and community development; skills development; access to capital; retention and attraction of youth; and technological enhancements. Funding and support of the EODP is delivered via the S.D. & G. Community Futures Development Corporation.

S. D. & G. Community Futures Development Corporation
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Community Futures Development Corporation offers both debt financing and capital investment to businesses located in the City of Cornwall. Repayable loans, loan guarantees and equity investments in amounts up to $300,000 are available.

Cornwall Economic Development can provide additional information on the above programs, as well as others. Use the Contact Us form on this website to enquire.