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Seeding Our Food Future

Seed funding, training and support!

Seeding Our Food Future is a grant program offering seed funding, training and support for 40 new and existing Guelph-Wellington food system businesses, not-for-profits and social enterprises to support sustainable transition and recovery from current economic shocks. An initiative of Our Food Future and Innovation Guelph’s Circular Food Economy iHub.

Program Info

Who is this Program For?

All applicants must be a business, not-for-profit or social enterprise located in Guelph and/or Wellington County and meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria:
  • Starting a new business (including not-for-profit or social enterprise) that contributes to the circular food economy.
  • Pivoting to a more circular/sustainable business model.
  • Implementing circular practices, systems or processes in an existing business, not-for-profit or social enterprise that is part of the food system.
  • Creating or pivoting an existing business, not-for-profit or social enterprise to a business model that supports inclusive access to nutritious food, particularly during the immediate crisis.
  • Enabling a food system business, not-for-profit or social enterprise to effectively use data & technology.
  • Initiating a collaboration that contributes to a circular food economy
If you or your organization has received funding from Our Food Future or any of its Implementation teams, for work related to Our Food Future, you are not eligible to apply.

Food Business Agriculture Nutrition Grant Funding Mentorship Coaching

Cost

Free

Program Start Date

TBD

Registration Deadline

TBD

Session Info

Additional rounds/application calls may occur as funds become available.

Outcomes

  • a non-repayable seed funding grant of $5,000
  • up to 30 hours of targeted support and expertise through Innovation Guelph ($4,500 value)
  • a guaranteed spot in R-Purpose MICRO, a 12-week educational program focused on building sustainable practices and business resilience, delivered by Provision Coalition ($1,200 value)
  • the chance to apply for a supplementary interest free loan of up to $10,000 through Harvest Impact in collaboration with the Waterloo-Wellington and Saugeen Community Futures offices
tomato plant in dirt with support stick

Syllabus

Seeding Our Food Future is an initiative of Grow Back Better, Our Food Future’s 10-point recovery plan in response to COVID-19 and part of the City of Guelph and Wellington County’s overall economic and social recovery efforts. We are re-prioritizing or restructuring existing elements of Our Food Future to provide immediate support to strengthen our local food economy, including through supporting new and existing food businesses. For more information about Grow Back Better, visit foodfuture.ca/growbackbetter.

Want to participate in this program?

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