Quick Reference Guide for Ontario Producers – Funding Levels and Evaluation Criteria (2015-2016 Program Year) Growing Forward 2 (GF2) funding is available for projects as follows. Project Cost Share % • Up to 50 per cent cost-share funding, up to a pre-determined cost-share cap, for projects under the assessment or audit, planning, skills development and training project categories (project categories 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) • Up to 35 per cent, to a pre-determined cost-share cap for remaining project categories Go to Appendix 7 of the Program Guide for a cost-share overview. Total Funding Five-year funding cap set at $350,000 per individual farm business. Available Six Focus Areas A. Environment and Climate Change Adaptation Eligible for Funding B. Assurance Systems (Food Safety, Traceability, Animal Welfare) C. Market Development D. Animal and Plant Health E. Labour Productivity Enhancement F. Business and Leadership Development General Eligibility Criteria Completed applications will only be accepted during the intakes. Eligibility Criteria • Applicant has completed and submitted a GF2 Enrolment Form • The application is complete (i.e. all steps in the application with the exception of Step 12, which is optional), any required conditions are met and required documentation is attached, including the Focus Area Project Information Form • Steps have been taken to ensure necessary permits and approvals can be obtained for the project • All Basic Eligibility Requirements have been met, as detailed on Step 1 of the Application Form • The project clearly falls within one of the GF2 best management practices (Step 7 Project Categories on the Application Form) • Applicant has acknowledged her/his agreement with the terms and conditions of GF2 cost-share funding assistance (Declaration on the Producer Application Form) • The applicant has attended educational workshops as required within each of the six focus areas eligible for funding. Workshops include: Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), Growing Your Farm Profts (GYFP), Biosecurity, Food Safety and Traceability. Consult the Program Guide for details To access workshop information go to ontariosoilcrop.org Quick Reference Guide for Ontario Producers – Funding Levels and Evaluation Criteria (April 2015) Merit-based • The project must address a demonstrated need or business improvement as identifed through various planning Evaluation Criteria and/or assessment activities that relate to that specifc area of focus • Criteria are specifc to each project category. See Appendix 2 of the Program Guide • Only applications with the highest merit will receive cost-share funding Innovation is key. Where a project presents a signifcant innovation to the sector or to Ontario, GF2 may provide up to 50 per cent cost-share funding, recognizing the project involves higher risk. This does not refer to projects under the Additional Criteria assessment or audit, planning, skills development and training project categories. Projects considered for innovation funding must fall within the list of eligible project categories. Project start dates GF2 projects should not be started before written funding approval is received. Any project work completed prior to the project approval date will not be eligible for funding. Key Dates Producers can submit a completed application during these dates in 2015: May 1, 2015 to May 21, 2015 August 10, 2015 to August 27, 2015 November 16, 2015 to December 3, 2015 For More Information visit: ontariosoilcrop.org. You can also contact one of OSCIA’s Regional Program Leads or Workshop Leaders: Colleen Acres Paul Reeds Lois Sinclair Claude Péloquin Margaret May [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected], 613-716-7348 705-341-4915 519-955-3139 705-491-5094 226-973-3548 Andrew Dawson Robin Brown Wayne Shier Michel Champagne Pam Charlton [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 613-618-4935 705-718-4859 705-994-2861 705-492-2601 226-934-8297 Mireille Dessaint-Ash Eric Lawlor Tina Beirnes Mary Scott Joanne Sanderson [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Joanne [email protected] 613-218-6813 289-251-3042 519-852-0621 705-561-6415 519-784-4865 Carleton, Dundas, Frontenac, Glengarry, Durham, Haliburton, Halton, Hastings, Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Huron, Perth, Simcoe Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Brant, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Kent, Grenville, Lanark, Leeds, Prescott, Lennox & Addington, Northumberland, Peel, North, Simcoe South, Waterloo, Wellington Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Renfrew, Russell, Stormont Peterborough, Prince Edward, Victoria, York Rainy River, Sudbury, Temiskaming, Oxford, Wentworth Thunder Bay 08/2015.