Entrepreneurship Funding Programs

Are you an existing business with a brick and mortar location? Was your business affected by COVID-19 and experiencing a loss in revenue? The Richmond Hill Small Business Recovery Grant Program is here to help with your business recovery. 

Richmond Hill has launched a new program to support the business community. The Small Business Recovery Grant Program provides free training and mentoring opportunities to assist local businesses adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it will also offer grants of up to $5000 to help businesses adopt new tools, increase their online presence and implement their new business strategy.

Applications for Spring 2021 cohort is now closed. 

Successful Applicants get business training, 3 months of mentorship and up to $5,000 in funding.

To apply, you need a developed business proposition that you can launch immediately. This program is open to applicants who are 18 years or older and not in full time school or work.

Please note that in light of the current circumstances with COVID-19, the next 2020 cohort of Starter Company Plus is currently under review. Please continue to check our website and sign-up for our newsletter for updates.

Do you have an idea that you are super excited to bring to life or a business you are inspired start? Are you a student who is interested in learning what it would be like to be your own boss?

Get funded with Summer Company! Successful applicants get business education, 2 months of mentorship and up to $3,000 in funding.

To apply, you need a launch-ready business idea, a free summer, and a short business plan. This program is available for full time students between 15 - 29 years of age. To get started, please fill out this inquiry form.

Please note: the Summer Company applications begin in January and close in May.

The Digital Main Street Program funded by the Province of Ontario in partnership with the Ontario BIA Association seeks to help small main street businesses across Ontario improve their adoption of technologies to better promote themselves online, sell online and even run back-office processes online. Every business that wants to participate in the grant must first take an online assessment of their current technology use. Based on the assessment, the business will then develop a Digital Transformation Plan based on a template that will be provided which will detail their goals and what technologies they need to achieve those goals. To help put the plan into action, the business can then apply for a one-time grant of $2,500 to help with the costs of adopting the required technology.

For more information, please Learn more about the Digital Main Street Program.

Freshworks is a leading maker of cloud-based customer and employee engagement software. With this innovative partnership, Richmond Hill startups can receive $4000 in credits on the Freshworks suite of products and priority access to the Freshworks startup program including events, resources, workshops, mentoring and much more. 

To learn more about the program and apply please email rhsbec@richmondhill.ca.