--- title: Ontario Doubles Down on Workforce Investment with $1 Billion Expansion of the Skills Development Fund description: Ontario boosts the Skills Development Fund by $1 billion—bringing total funding to $2.5 billion to support training, reskilling, and facility upgrades in response to U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. image: https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_498296317.jpeg --- In Canada # Ontario Doubles Down on Workforce Investment with $1 Billion Expansion of the Skills Development Fund Ontario boosts the Skills Development Fund by $1 billion—bringing total funding to $2.5 billion to support training, reskilling, and facility upgrades in response to U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. [ GrantMatch Team ](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/author/grantmatch-team) May 15, 2025 [Funding for training](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/funding-for-training) [In Canada](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/in-canada) [Job Creation](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/job-creation) [Ontario](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/ontario) [Productivity](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/tag/productivity) ### Share this article [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/ontario-skills-development-fund-expansion-2025&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/ontario-skills-development-fund-expansion-2025&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/ontario-skills-development-fund-expansion-2025&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/ontario-skills-development-fund-expansion-2025&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) ### Subscribe ### Subscribe ![Skills Development Fund Ontario](https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_498296317.jpeg) ### A Bold Commitment to Future-Proof Ontario’s Workforce The Government of Ontario has announced a landmark expansion of its **Skills Development Fund (SDF)**, committing **an additional $955 million over three years**. This brings the total program value to **$2.5 billion, **a bold step toward protecting Ontario’s workforce and supporting economic growth amid growing uncertainty from U.S. tariffs and global market shifts. ### What’s New in the 2025–2026 Expansion? The enhanced SDF includes two major streams of support, funded through the upcoming 2025 Ontario Budget: #### SDF Training Stream - **$705 million** in new funding - Supports workforce development for sectors facing trade-related disruption - Prioritizes workers in manufacturing, health care, and other vulnerable industries - Helps retrain those impacted by layoffs into high-demand fields #### SDF Capital Stream - **$150 million** in new funding - Helps organizations **build, retrofit, or expand training facilities** - Increases the capacity and quality of skills training delivery across Ontario - Supports hands-on, real-world experience for jobseekers and apprentices Combined with a $100 million injection earlier in 2025, this expansion reflects Ontario’s long-term commitment to safeguarding its labour force and preparing for future economic pressures. ### Who Can Apply? Eligible applicants include: - Ontario-based employers - Non-profit organizations and Indigenous groups - Minister-approved non-college apprenticeship training delivery agents - Municipalities, hospitals, and district service boards - Professional, industry, or trade associations ### Eligible Activities Funding can be used for a wide range of training and infrastructure projects, including: - New construction of training facilities (with optional dormitories for trainees) - Renovations, repairs, and retrofits of existing facilities - Expansion or conversion of buildings for cross-functional or specialized training - Projects that enable real-life training environments and jobsite simulations ### Why This Matters With this expansion, Ontario is taking a proactive stance to ensure that workers impacted by economic challenges are supported with relevant training, better jobs, and bigger paycheques. ### How GrantMatch Can Help GrantMatch offers strategic support to help your organization access this transformative funding opportunity: - **Eligibility Assessment** - **Application Preparation & Submission** - **Program Alignment & Positioning** - **Post-Approval Compliance & Reporting** With a proven track record of securing government funding across Canada, our team is here to ensure your SDF application stands out and delivers results. ### Take the Next Step The **2025 Ontario Budget, **which will formalize these investments is set for release on **May 15, 2025**. Organizations planning to apply should begin preparing now. **Let’s protect Ontario’s workforce together.** **Contact GrantMatch today** to discuss your project and confirm your eligibility. ## Similar posts [Canada Blog ](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs) Provincial Grants ### [Premier Ford has Announced up to $1 Billion in Funding for Ontario Municipalities](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/2019/08/ontario-premier-announcement?hsLang=en) Premier Ford has Announced up to $1 Billion in Funding for Ontario Municipalities Gibson Ingram Aug 22, 2019 In Canada ### [Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Green Infrastructure Stream Intake II](https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/icipgreen-intake2?hsLang=en) The Green Infrastructure Stream includes up to $7.12 billion in combined federal, provincial and other partner funding over 10 years. This intake... 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GrantMatch Team Jan 27, 2022 ### Sign up for exclusive grant funding updates and more.  Be the first to know about new government programs and learn more about our products and services designed to keep you up to date with Canada's ever-changing funding landscape.  ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "GrantMatch Team", "url" : "https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/author/grantmatch-team" }, "dateModified" : "2025-05-15T18:35:11.131Z", "datePublished" : "2025-05-15T15:55:49.000Z", "headline" : "Ontario Doubles Down on Workforce Investment with $1 Billion Expansion of the Skills Development Fund", "image" : [ "https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_498296317.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://grantmatch.com/hot-new-programs/ontario-skills-development-fund-expansion-2025", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://grantmatch.com/hubfs/governmentfundingstrategistsfinal-01-3.png" }, "name" : "GrantMatch Corp." } } ```