Ontario Regional Development Program (RDP)

Ontario’s Regional Development Program supports companies in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario that are expanding facilities or modernizing production. Manufacturers and technology driven companies often rely on this program because it provides direct capital support for equipment, automation, and building improvements. The province evaluates the long term competitiveness of each project and the expected economic contribution to the region.

Applicants must provide detailed cost breakdowns and financial projections. Ontario places strong emphasis on job creation and productivity improvements, so the most competitive submissions show quantifiable gains. Many companies include throughput projections or automation plans to demonstrate measurable improvement.

RDP works particularly well when combined with federal funding such as FedDev Ontario. Together, these programs can significantly reduce the burden of large capital investments. Companies also benefit from the program’s milestone based structure, which provides funding as progress is demonstrated.

The goal of RDP is to help companies grow while strengthening Ontario’s broader industrial ecosystem. Businesses that can align their investment with regional supply chains typically perform well in the program.