This document provides guidance on completing a RED application for funding. It outlines the requirements for a full application, including completing all sections of the application form, attaching supporting documentation, and ensuring the proposed project activities and costs are clearly described and aligned. Applicants are advised to contact their regional economic development advisor if they have any questions about eligibility or requirements.

1. Completing your RED Application
Tips and Considerations

2. Before you Submit
Only applications with full and complete information will be
assessed. You are encouraged to contact your Regional
Economic Development Advisor, who can assist with your
application.
A full and complete submission includes the following:
• A completed RED program application
• All applicants, except for a municipality, are required to
provide financial information that demonstrates
capacity to implement the project.
• All Applicants, except for a Municipality, are required to
provide constituting documents (e.g.​​​​​​​ articles of
incorporation) or other similar evidence of legal status.
• Letters from partners indicating their support for the
project, including any In-kind contributions to the
project if applicable, dated no earlier than six months
prior to the close of intake.
• Quotes obtained to support the project budget, such as
an estimate provided by a vendor for the cost of
services.
• Documentation that supports the project (e.g.​​​​​​​,
feasibility studies, corporate bylaws, annual reports,
Board of Director lists, relevant research, studies,
strategies, reports and previous planning or
consultation exercises supporting the need for the
project and anticipated impacts)

3. • To determine if you are eligible to apply, please refer to
the “Who is Eligible” section in the RED program
guidelines
• The Lead Applicant will be responsible for working with
OMAFRA and will receive all payments (including
eligible costs incurred on behalf of any co-applicants).
• If co-applicants are involved in the project, please
complete Appendix A (1.2 Co-applicants), which can be
found at www.Ontario.ca/REDprogram.

4. • Choose a title for the project – something
short (10 words) and descriptive
• The project must take place in rural Ontario or
benefit rural Ontario. Refer to the RED
program “Rural and Urban Areas” map at
www.Ontario.ca/REDprogram

5. • Choose the project type that best suits your
project.
• If you are unsure of the eligibility of your
project, budget items, or which project type
best suits your project, contact your Regional
Advisor.

6. • Use this area to provide a concise overview of the
entire project, and the intended outcomes of the
project. Other sections of the application should
expand on the ideas here.
• The project description should have clear links to
activities and cost items in the work plan.
• The project description may be easier to write
after all other areas of the application are
complete.

7. • Use this area to identify and summarize the benefits this
project will provide to rural Ontario
• RED provides preference to projects with regional or cross-
sectoral impacts. Use this area to describe any anticipated
impacts that the project will have across:
• Multiple communities in a region
• Multiple sectors in a community/region
• Different parts of a value chain
• If you anticipate impacts across multiple communities, sectors,
or parts of a value chain, describe them here in as much detail
as possible, using information from supporting documents (e.g.
studies, consultation results, etc.)

8. • Use this area to identify and describe the barriers that the
proposed project will reduce, and how actions undertaken
through the project will reduce them.
• Make sure you provide a description of how those barriers
were identified (e.g. studies, plans, consultations), and
reference the work where the barriers were identified here.
• Use this area to describe how you will ensure that the
outcomes of this project contribute to economic development
after RED funding ends
• Consider things like sustainability plans, knowledge and
technology transfer, succession plans

9. • Provide details about the specific individual(s)
that will lead the project
• Provide examples of (similar, if possible)
previously completed projects the individual(s)
led

10. Section 2.5 Outcomes
• Only fill out text boxes for the outcomes that
your project will address
• Provide as much detail as possible on how your
project will address these outcomes
• If quantitative data is provided (e.g. jobs
created), provide qualitative data to provide
context or support for those estimates
• Reference details from supporting documents
and background work where possible

11. • The start date for the project (3.1 of the
program application) should not be
prior to the date the project has been
approved by the Minister.
• As stated in the program guidelines,
applicants will be notified as funding
decisions are reached, usually within
four months from the posted intake
closure date; however, timing may vary.

12. • Describe project activities (phases) and specific
costs that relate to activity. There may be more
than one cost item per activity.
• Ensure that timelines are realistic and organized,
and align with project start and end dates
• See program guidelines for eligible and ineligible
costs
• If you are unsure of the eligibility of your cost
items, contact your Regional Advisor

13. • Indicate the percentage of total eligible costs
you would like to receive for your project (Line
B).
• Line A will automatically be populated from
your Project Work Plan.
• You will only be able to fill out the table for the
stream that includes your chosen project type.

14. • Forecast eligible costs over the duration of the
project by fiscal quarter
• Ensure forecasts align with project start and
end dates, and the start and end dates in the
work plan

15. • List all sources of funding for the project.
• As per the program guidelines, failure to
disclose all funding or possible funding sources
may result in the termination of the
application or Contribution Agreement
• The non-provincial share of eligible costs must
be secured by applicant(s). This can include
funding through co-applicants.

16. • Funding from federal government programs can be
used toward project costs, assuming it is permitted
under applicable federal programs. Combined
federal and provincial funding cannot exceed 90
per cent of the project's eligible cost.
• Projects receiving other provincial funding are not
eligible to apply for or receive funding under the
RED program. Provincial funding includes but is not
limited to funds administered by:
• Provincial ministries
• Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
• Ontario Trillium Foundation
• Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
Corporation
• Regional tourism organizations
• Workforce planning boards

17. • See “Final check before submitting an
application” in program guidelines to
determine if your application is complete.
• Email completed PDF application, including
signed signature page, and supporting
documents to RED@ontario.ca.
• NOTE: RED email inbox had a 10Mb cap on
attachment sizes. If needed, break your
submission into multiple emails, and make
note of this in each email (e.g. email 2 of 3).