Applications Open for the Emergency Processing Fund

Overview

On June 12, the Government of Canada officially launched the Emergency Processing Fund (EPF). The EPF is a one-time, federal investment of up to $77.5 million to help companies implement changes to safeguard the health and safety of workers and their families due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund also aims to aid companies to invest to improve, automate and modernize facilities needed to increase Canada’s food supply capacity.

The EPF will provide up to $5 million per recipient in non-repayable funding for emergency COVID response activities and/or repayable funding for strategic investments.

Eligible Activities

Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, cooperatives and Indigenous groups. Activities can be retroactive to March 15, 2020 and must be completed by September 30, 2020.

The program will prioritize projects based on two objectives. Objective 1 will be the initial priority for funding under the program.

• Objective 1: Emergency COVID Response to assist companies to implement changes required by COVID-19 to ensure the health and safety of workers. This funding will assist with: plant retrofits or adjustments to existing operations to accommodate changes to processes and production; and increasing capacity for herd management.
• Objective 2: Strategic Investments to assist companies to improve, automate, and modernize facilities needed to increase Canada’s food supply capacity.

How to Apply

Before you apply, please read the Applicant guide for detailed information on eligibility criteria and the application process.

Applications requesting $100,000 or more will be accepted on a continuous basis from the program’s launch until 12:00 a.m. (midnight) EDT Friday, July 31, 2020 or earlier if funding is fully allocated before that date.