*BTIF APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED
About the Business Technology Improvement Fund
BTIF is a FedNor-funded initiative which assists businesses develop their capacity for e-business and in effect their ability to compete and thrive in the digital age.
Blue Sky Net, through BTIF, is committed to helping small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Blue Sky Net region within Northeastern Ontario who are looking to enhance their capacity for business technology and their ability for technology adoption.
The BTIF grant helps to alleviate the costs of implementing innovative technology solutions for your business that will help take you to the next level.
Blue Sky Net Service Region for the BTIF Program:
How Can BTIF Help Your Business?
- Assistance and consultation throughout the application process
- Access to training to prepare for E-business applications
- A list of Northern Ontario vendors to select from
- Through BTIF, businesses could be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $5,000.00 to adopt broadband and e-business and marketing solutions, including websites, and up to $25,000.00 to acquire digital technology such as software and in each scenario would be required to contribute a minimum 50% toward the project.
- A business who has previously received funding from the BEAM or BTIF program may potentially be eligible for funding under the following conditions:
- Three years has passed since the completion date of the original BEAM or BTIF-funded project.
- If applying within three years of the completion of the original BEAM or BTIF-funded project, a business may potentially receive funding if the original project was awarded an amount less than the previously mentioned funding cap as outlined above. The new project is potentially eligible for funding of up to a maximum amount of what is the difference between the previous project contribution and the funding cap.
- Example 1: If my business received funding from the BEAM program in 2017 for a website project which had been awarded $4,000.00 and I am applying for BTIF funding for a new website project in 2019 my business is potentially eligible for funding of up to a maximum of $1,000.00, totaling $5,000.00.
- Example 2: If my business received funding from the BEAM program in 2017 for a website project which had been awarded $4,000.00 and I am applying for BTIF funding in 2019 for an advanced technology adoption project, my business is potentially eligible for funding of up to a maximum of $21,000.00.
- Example 3: If my business received funding from the BEAM program for a website project in 2014 and I am applying for BTIF funding in 2019 for a new website project, my business is eligible for funding of up to a maximum of $5,000.00.
- Example 4: If my business received BTIF funding in 2019 for a project which received $25,000.00 and I am applying for a BTIF project in 2020, my business is not eligible to receive additional funding until 2022.
- If applying within three years of the completion of the original BEAM or BTIF-funded project, a business may potentially receive funding if the original project was awarded an amount less than the previously mentioned funding cap as outlined above. The new project is potentially eligible for funding of up to a maximum amount of what is the difference between the previous project contribution and the funding cap.
- Three years has passed since the completion date of the original BEAM or BTIF-funded project.
- A business who has previously received funding from the BEAM or BTIF program may potentially be eligible for funding under the following conditions:
- Reimbursements are provided after proof of payment (processed cheque, cancelled cheque, receipt, etc.) and invoices are submitted. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment to developers for this program.
The BTIF grant focuses on the following:
- Websites and social media
- Service management and excellence
- Business Processes with software or hardware
- Human Capital Management and skills development
What are some examples of projects that may qualify for BTIF?
- Website Projects. Eligible website costs include, but are not limited to:
- Website development
- Responsive website design
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Content copy writing for website page
- Website Analytics
- E-Commerce
- Training on how to manage, maintain and update your website from your project vendor
- E-business Software or Hardware Projects: Eligible software or hardware costs include, but are not limited to:
- The purchase of software and integration into existing business platforms
- Software solutions which connect online services to your business machines (such as connecting inventory or scheduling software to your website or mobile application)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Mobile application development
- Point-of-sale hardware or software (such as iPads, Laptops, card readers
- Software training for maintaining and managing your software solution from your project vendor
- Social Media: Eligible costs for social media planning campaigns include, but are not limited to:
- Consultations
- Research and strategic planning
- Account creation and optimization
- Training to execute your social media campaign project, including social media literacy, learning best practices, and effective campaign planning from your project vendor.
- Technology Adoption Education: Eligible costs for technology education include, but are not limited to:
- Course fees
- Certification
Please note that the following costs are not eligible for BTIF funding:
- Graphic design, photography services (such as new logos), and ongoing social media management are not eligible costs.
- Site maintenance, website hosting fees, ongoing costs are not eligible.
- Work undertaken prior to project approval is not eligible for funding.
