1 Ontario Exporters Fund is aninitiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, with support and funding from the Ontario government. A Global Growth Fund Program

Objectives: To help SMEs better understand their export capacity and thereby improve their ability to access foreign markets To encourage SMEs to develop export market access strategies 2

Between 5 to 500 employees Established and operating in Ontario A registered company for at least two years A company in one of the MEDT priority sectors: Advanced Manufacturing Aerospace Building Products and Construction Clean Technology (including renewable energy and environmental technologies) Exportable Professional Services (e.g., Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning) ICT including Digital Media Life Sciences 3

Able to provide a reference from the MEDT Able to provide completed audited financial statements for the two most recent fiscal years Able to maintain an insurance policy for no less than $2 million of commercial general liability In full compliance with all government laws and regulations Cannot be receiving any other public funds towards activities contained in the application except from programs funded through the MEDT 4

The maximum grant amount to hire an Export Manager for the required 24 month period for the purpose of developing an international business plan is $80,000. Companies must have: Annual sales from $1 million to $20 million Current export sales ranging from 10% to 50% of total annual sales If funds were received from the Export Market Access (EMA) program, projects must be completed 5

The Export Manager must: Have a minimum of five years of professional exporting experience in a management capacity Be hired for at least 24 concurrent months Not be a current company employee Not be employed by a subsidiary or parent company Not be a family member 6

In developing an international business plan, the Export Manager will include (as applicable to the industry): An overview of the company’s current business An assessment of the company’s capacity to expand internationally An international market assessment An international expansion plan A plan to implement the international growth strategy 7

Approved applicants will receive: 25% of the approved contribution amount upon completion of the approval process 25% of the approved contribution amount upon submission of the First Interim Report (due four months after approval unless otherwise specified in the Agreement) 25% amount upon submission of the Second Interim Report 25% upon the company submitting a Final Report that is satisfactory to the OCC prior to the expiration of the Agreement 8

The review committee will assess applications using the following criteria: Eligibility of activities and expenditures for funding and linking of proposed activities to program objectives Financial and management capability of the applicant to complete the proposed activities in a timely basis Expected results and outcomes Strength of the applicant’s proposal Completeness of the application 9

Steps: 1. Go to 2. Check the eligibility criteria 3. Review the Application Guidelines for detailed program information 4. Complete the Application Form and submit electronically along with all required supporting documentation 10

11 Contact Us:  Louie DiPalma: (416) ext. 227  Lesley Cole: (416) ext. 239