What is Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP)?
Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP) is delivered by Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade as a loan. Funding is typically working-capital term loan, minimum $250,000; up to 6-year term; possible 12-month principal holiday. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Working-capital term loan, minimum $250,000; up to 6-year term; possible 12-month principal holiday |
|---|---|
| Cost share | N/A (loan) |
| Level | Provincial |
| Program type | Loan |
| Delivered by | Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade |
| Available in | ON |
| Intake status | Open - rolling (online eligibility questionnaire first) |
| Last verified | 2026-10-05 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: manufacturing, food, beverage, automotive, metal fabrication
- Employee count: min 10
- Eligible activities: Working capital, cash flow and liquidity for tariff-hit firms: payroll, lease payments, utilities
Watch out for
Under 10 full-time employees in Ontario; revenue under $2M; under 3 years of operations or no externally reviewed financials; not-for-profits, associations, charities, start-ups; sector not on the tariff or import-ban list; federal options not explored; need under $250,000
Deadlines & how to apply
Up to $1B provincial loan program, eligibility widened Aug-Sept 2026. Covers direct exporters and supply chains in s.232 sectors (steel, aluminum, copper, autos), s.338 sectors (mechanical and electrical equipment, plastics and packaging, beverages, paper products, jewelry, personal care, certain dairy, textiles, leather and footwear, metal products, mattresses, furniture, motorboats, golf carts) and U.S. import-ban sectors (alcoholic beverages, whey and dairy, motorcycles over 800cc). Needs 3 years of operations with 3 years of externally reviewed financials, and federal working-capital options explored first. Ministry contacts eligible firms within 5 business days of the questionnaire.
How NorthGrants helps with Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP)
Most business owners read about Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.