Great news for rural communities – and a win for OFA advocacy efforts. The Ontario government recently announced it is doubling annual funding for the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program to $10 million. This move directly reflects the priorities OFA shared in our 2025 pre-budget submission, where we recommended increasing the previous Rural Economic Development (RED) program from $5 million to $8 million.

Not only did the government listen – they went further. The program has been renamed to ROD and now boasts a $10 million annual commitment. That’s a strong signal that investing in rural Ontario isn’t just being heard – it’s being acted on.

Supporting long-standing rural priorities

Alongside groups like the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA), the OFA has championed additional investment in rural Ontario through the RED/ROD programs and updating the program to better align with rural needs—emphasizing planning, cost‑sharing increases, labour and workforce training development, and support for local municipalities to fund rural infrastructure like high-speed broadband internet, well-maintained roads and bridges, and reliable services. These shared priorities formed a key part of our discussions with municipal and provincial representatives at the 2024 AMO convention in Ottawa and at the ROMA convention in Toronto this January.

OFA is pleased to see the ROD program put these ideas into practice. The ROD initiative provides cost-shared grants for exactly the kinds of projects our members and rural communities across the province value. Eligible applicants – including rural municipalities, Indigenous communities, not-for-profits and small businesses – can access funding for initiatives that spur economic growth and improve daily life. For example, ROD funding can go toward job training programs, rural internet upgrades, tourism and marketing projects, public space improvements, and helping local businesses reach new customers. In short, the program is designed to remove barriers to growth and open doors to opportunity in rural Ontario, aligning with our vision for prosperous, resilient communities.

Here are a few concrete examples of how increased rural development funding is making a difference on the ground:

• North Perth’s Agricultural Excellence Plan: In 2023, North Perth used RED funding to develop its Agricultural Excellence Action Plan, titled North Perth Farm and Food Forward. The initiative builds pride in local farming, supports entrepreneurs in navigating regulations, and recommends creating a public relations campaign to better connect the public with the realities of farming. It’s a great local example of OFA’s Farms Forever vision in action.
• Fenelon Falls Revitalization:In the community of Fenelon Falls, a RED-funded project is breathing new life into the downtown core. A $35,000 grant is supporting a downtown revitalization action plan. This initiative includes training for local business owners, new marketing efforts, and stronger partnerships among community groups to address economic barriers. By investing in main street revitalization, the program helps ensure small-town business districts remain vibrant places where people want to shop, dine, and invest – a key factor in rural quality of life.
• Province-wide Rural Broadband Improvements: Access to reliable high-speed internet is as essential on the farm as it is in the city. That’s why OFA has long pushed for rural broadband expansion. Through the ROD/RED program, some communities have secured funding to plan or implement internet connectivity upgrades. These projects help bring more farms, agri-food operations, and rural residents online with broadband service. Better connectivity means farm businesses can adopt modern technologies. Every internet tower or fiber line extended with ROD support is another step toward closing the rural-urban digital divide – a high priority for OFA members.

Province-wide impact, shared benefit

In the most recent RED intake, the government supported 85 projects across the province with over $5.7 million in funding. Zooming out further, since 2019 the program has invested more than $21.6 million to fund over 380 projects in rural communities all across Ontario.

We believe that when rural Ontario thrives, the entire province prospers. Ontario’s agri-food industry – located largely in rural areas – contributes over $50 billion to the provincial economy each year and provides approximately 11% of all jobs (871,000 positions).

Those numbers underscore a simple truth: investing in rural development isn’t just “nice to have,” it’s economically smart for Ontario. Every successful farm, agri-business, or small-town main street drives growth that benefits all Ontarians through jobs, food production, and economic output.

With this funding boost, even more rural projects can get off the ground – which means stronger infrastructure, more competitive agri-businesses, and healthier communities.

OFA will continue working closely with partners at AMO and ROMA along with all levels of government to ensure programs like ROD make the biggest impact possible. Whether it’s roads and bridges, broadband, rural business supports, or community development, we’re committed to building a stronger, more connected rural Ontario – together.