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Agri-Food Innovation Grant
Agriculture is one of Bruce County’s key sectors. To support our agriculture businesses growing and adapting the Agri-Food Innovation Grant supports infrastructure related to innovation. The grant provides funding directly to agricultural operators to support infrastructure investment to improve efficiencies, expand markets or try new products or services.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the grant:
- The applicant must be the tenant or the property owner. A letter of support from the property owner is required if the applicant is the tenant.
- The agriculture property must be located within the Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA).
- The project must comply with all necessary Municipal, Provincial, Federal, and local food and safety regulations, and have received appropriate permits and permissions.
- Project work must not have started (including purchasing any materials) until the application has been approved.
- This grant cannot be combined with any other Spruce the Bruce grants.
- Properties previously awarded grants are ineligible for funding under the same grant category unless the grant was provided more than five years ago, the property owner changed or the application is for different physical elements of the building/property.
Max Funding:
50% of total project cost (excluding taxes) up to $5,000.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects include infrastructure related to the following:
- Agri-tourism experiences (e.g., adding a corn maze).
- Bioproduct farming (as defined by OMAFRA).
- Direct consumer sales (e.g., pick-your-own, roadside stands).
- Organic farming (e.g., free-range chickens).
- Small-scale Food & Beverage Processing (e.g., making jam on-site from grown raspberries).
- Specialty crops farming (as defined by Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
- Other projects approved by Bruce County that include value-added or innovative purchases or implementation.
Ineligible Projects
Ineligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Temporary, 'removable', or consumable project materials or elements.
- New building construction.
- General maintenance repairs.