The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) was established in 1988 with a mandate to promote and stimulate economic development initiatives in Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify and foster economic growth in the region.

NOHFC is an operational service agency established under the enabling legislation of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Act. The NOHFC has an appointed Board of Directors, chaired by the Minister of Northern Development. NOHFC’s objectives are set out in the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Act as follows:

  1. to advise and make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor in Council on any matter relating to the growth and diversification of the economy of Northern Ontario;
  2. to promote and stimulate economic initiatives in Northern Ontario; and
  3. to commission studies and enter into contracts in connection with the objects set out in clauses (a) and (b) above.

NOHFC provides economic development funding toward approved projects in the territorial districts of Northern Ontario, namely Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming.

Vision

NOHFC will be a catalyst for key strategic investments to stimulate economic development and diversification in Northern Ontario.

Mission

To partner with communities, businesses, entrepreneurs and youth across Northern Ontario to create jobs and strengthen the economy.

Who We Serve

For NOHFC, Northern Ontario is defined as all areas North of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing.

Current Programs and Themes

Four main programs are organized by the focus areas of business supports, community enhancement, people and talent, and cultural supports. There is a total of eight streams under the four programs:

Invest North Program

  • Innovation Stream
  • Investment Stream

People and Talent Program

  • Indigenous Workforce Development Stream
  • Workforce Development Stream

Community Enhancement Program

  • Rural Enhancement Funding Stream
  • Enhance Your Community Stream

Cultural Supports Program

  • Community Events Stream
  • Film and Television Stream

Government Priority Linkages

The renewed NOHFC programs will help to strengthen alignment with current government priorities and initiatives, and ensure investments meet the unique needs of Northern Ontario.

The new NOHFC programs have been designed to:

  • Make it easier for more people and businesses to apply;
  • Support more projects in rural northern communities through a dedicated funding stream;
  • Target existing and emerging markets;
  • Provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people; and
  • Help grow a skilled workforce, including skilled trades.

This supports the government’s Open for Jobs Blueprint (2019). The blueprint outlines a plan to modernize business support programs to ensure they help create jobs and grow the economy. Four key principles include:

  • Accessible
  • Fiscally responsible
  • Coordinated and scalable
  • Effective

In addition to supporting those key principles, the renewed NOHFC programs will address priorities including talent, research and commercialization, entrepreneurship and growth, and investment attraction.