Incentives

• Graduate Enterprise Internship: Designed to help develop business and management skills of graduate students and recent graduates of programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing funding for internships with small and medium sized companies.
• Investing in Business Innovation: Designed to boost private sector investment in start-up businesses to accelerate the development of new products, processes and practices and bring them to market. This program also helps angel investor networks and associations attract new investment.

• Prosperity Initiative: Three funding program opportunities were developed to support:

  • Productivity enhancement - improvements to enhance the productivity of an industry and the adaption and adoption of new technologies, processes and skills development
  • Regional diversification - support activities that create new opportunities for economic diversification, market development and expansion, business attraction to diversify regional or community economies, and business expansion supporting greater diversification
  • Building a competitive advantage for southern Ontario - support activities to enhance the competitiveness of an industry cluster such as the adaptation and adoption of new technologies, processes and skills development in an industry, business opportunity development and expansion, and facilities improvement or expansion.
• Scientists and Engineers in Business: Designed to help recent graduates and graduate students in the STEM fields by improving access to financing and providing business support services to successfully launch and manage start-up businesses.
• Technology Development Program: Designed to help research, innovation and commercialization organizations, the private sector, post-secondary institutions and not-for-profit organizations work together to accelerate the development of technologies that will result in new market opportunities.
• Youth STEM: Designed to encourage southern Ontario students from kindergarten to grade 12 to pursue an education and career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The 2018 Brockton Façade Improvement Program is funded by the Economic Development Committee (EDC), in partnership with the Walkerton BIA, with the objective of enhancing the exterior appearance of businesses within Brockton's Community Improvement Plan.

Businesses/building owners must be located within the Municipality of Brockton to be eligible for funding. Monies will be awarded through an application process. The funding awarded to successful applicants will subsidize up to 50% of the costs (not including taxes) associated with improving the exterior façade of your place of business, to a maximum of $1,500.

Specific improvements eligible for funding include repainting, masonry/wood/glass repair, cladding upgrades, signage, windows and doors, the addition of awnings, shutters, trim and frontal lighting. Projects not eligible for funding include landscaping, roof repairs/replacements, new buildings or additions, and interior projects. Improvements must be visible from the street and buildings must be zoned institutional, commercial or industrial to qualify.

Business/building owners are invited to submit an application. Grant applications will be broken out into two intakes. The first intake of applications will close April 30, 2018. The second intake will close June 15, 2018, providing funds still available. Please fill out the following application and be sure to include any paint samples, sign design images or drawings, including dimensions, graphics, before picture of proposed façade improvement. Copies of contractor/vendor quotes must be attached. Keep in mind that priority will be given to applications that incorporate work done by Brockton contractors. Applicants are welcome to do some of the work on their own but cannot submit labor costs as part of this project; only quotes obtained from contractors are eligible for funding.

Applications will be assessed by a joint panel of EDC members and BIA directors. Applicants with specific questions are encouraged to call the Community Development Coordinator 519-881-2223 ext. 131 for assistance and/or clarification when filling out the application. In addition, ensure that you are conforming to all by-laws for signage, lighting and awnings prior to applying. Contact the Municipality of Brockton Building Department for detailed information at (519) 881-2223, extension 127 or 130. Following notification of approval, all successful applicants must submit copies of all paid invoices following completion of the project before funding will be granted.

The Economic Development Committee and the Walkerton BIA are very pleased to extend this application for the Façade Improvement Program. It is through a series of coordinated efforts such as these that we hope to foster economic growth in Brockton.

Please complete the application and submit it to the BIA office or the Municipal Office. 2018 Brockton Façade Program.

• Innovation Demonstration Fund: Designed to provide funding for the development and demonstration of new energy and water technologies. This program will support pilot demonstrations that will lead to the commercialization of processes or products in Ontario that are globally competitive. By supporting pilot demonstrations this fund addresses the financing gap that exists between R&D and the commercialization of new technologies.
• Ontario Emerging Technologies Fund: Co-invests with qualified venture capital funds and other private investors directly into companies working within the focus areas that include clean technologies.
• Investment Accelerator Fund: Designed to help eligible start-up companies develop their technology and gain entrepreneurial expertise to bring their product or service to market.
• Ontario-China Research and Innovation Fund (OCRIF): Supports collaborative projects between researchers and innovative companies in Ontario and China. Funding proposals focus on four research themes. Water and water-related technologies is one of the themes.
• Ontario Network of Excellence: Designed to focus on the needs of clients, which include technology-based entrepreneurs, companies or researchers who are commercializing new approaches to new technologies. ONE also supports businesses that want to pursue innovation at a globally competitive scale. The ONE programs can be accessed through Regional Innovation Centres (RICs). The nearest RICs to Walkerton would include Communitech Technology Association (Waterloo), Innovation Guelph, and TechAlliance of SouthWestern Ontario (London). The directors at these RICs are valuable resources to direct entrepreneurs to funding sources.
• Ontario Research Fund: Designed to provide researchers with the support they need to undertake cutting-edge research. This fund will support the direct and indirect operational costs of water and wastewater-related research.
• Ontario Tax Exemption for Commercialization: Designed to encourage the commercialization of intellectual property that has been developed by qualifying Canadian universities or colleges. OTEC provides a refund of corporate income tax and corporate minimum tax paid for a qualifying corporation's first ten taxation years. Priority areas include the bioeconomy.