Link North is a Regional Innovation Centre, one of 18 in the provincial network. Our mandate is to support innovation in entrepreneurs and businesses during all stages of development. This includes - but not limited to - supporting new technology, product, or process development; enhancing and modernizing of business operations; capacity-building; and facilitating access to resources for applied research, commercialization, angel investment, government funding, and different partners in our innovation ecosystem that can support project or business development.

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) provides project-based funding that supports the development and delivery of our programming and services. The Timmins Economic Development Corporation – a department of the City of Timmins – supports operational costs, including office space, utilities and non-project-based salaries.

Entrepreneurs and business owners looking for funding must be a Link North client. The first step is to complete our Become a Client questionnaire. A Link North advisor will then work with you to discuss your business development goals and BOOST options.

After receiving your BOOST application, your Link North advisor will start preparing it for committee review. The timing varies, but generally you can expect the approval process to take 7-10 business days. Your Link North advisor may be in touch with you to get additional information on your BOOST project, and clients can expedite the process by providing the information requested in a timely manner. Once your project is approved you will receive a project legal agreement to review and sign, and once signed you can proceed with your project.

Your Link North advisor will work with you to assess your development goals and business aptitude toward developing a Roadmap that moves your business or project from “point a” to “point b”. This Roadmap is the basis for considering BOOST funding for both capital and non-capital expenses. The more the proposed expenses align with your Roadmap, the more likely they will be supported.

BOOST is one of the most versatile funding programs you’ll come across. When you engage with Link North, our staff will work with you to create a business development roadmap with targets to get you from “point a” to “point b”. Roadmaps cover ~ a six-month period, and during this time you can apply multiple times for BOOST funding to a maximum $10,000. For example, you can apply for BOOST to support work with a consultant to develop a marketing strategy, then later apply for BOOST to support costs to attend an industry tradeshow. Here are additional examples of BOOST’s versatility:

• You start working with Link North in the “Build” phase and access BOOST to support commercialization. After commercializing, you can reapply for Link North as a “Launch” client and potentially access up to $10,000 additional BOOST funding.
• In some instances, a business in the “Grow” phase can access an additional $10,000 for a second BOOST project, if the project is deemed unique and separate from the first project.