Administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) · Funded by Food-Link Fund, National Food Security Strategy (Government of Canada)
Up to $25M per organization (AAFC up to 50% of costs) to build or expand food hubs. Expression of Interest Oct 14 to Dec 11, 2026.
The Food Hub Program is the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada stream of the Food-Link Fund, a $1 billion, 10-year fund (2026-27 to 2036-37) launched October 5, 2026 under the National Food Security Strategy. The fund aims to strengthen competition in a highly concentrated retail market, improve distribution efficiency, lower food costs, and support consumers, independent grocers and producers. The Food Hub Program supports the expansion, modernization or establishment of food hubs that store, aggregate, process and distribute food, and investments in regional infrastructure, equipment and logistics that connect local producers to markets. AAFC may contribute up to $25 million per organization over the life of the program, normally up to 50% of eligible costs (up to 60% when the organization is majority owned or led by an underrepresented group). Contributions are non-repayable when benefits accrue broadly, and repayable, interest-free, when a for-profit recipient's contribution is primarily intended to generate profit or increase the value of the organization. All applicants start with one Food-Link Fund Expression of Interest, open October 14 to December 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time, which may close early if funding is fully committed. Projects that fit the Food Hub Program may be invited to submit a full application. The second Food-Link Fund program, the Food Terminal Fund, is delivered by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.
The total program pool, per-organization max, and what your contribution has to be.
This program does not publish an aggregate annual funding pool.
Up to $25 million per organization over the life of the program. AAFC normally covers up to 50% of eligible costs (up to 60% for organizations majority owned or led by underrepresented groups). Non-repayable when benefits accrue broadly; repayable and interest-free when a for-profit mainly gains profit or value. Total government funding capped at 85% (100% of eligible costs for Indigenous applicants).
Run your business through the Grant Finder for a live eligibility check against every requirement in this program.
Tell us a few things about your business and we'll run a live eligibility check against this program — and surface every other Canadian program you qualify for.
Find your matches →This is a capital program with a high bar on paperwork. Your share (at least 50%, or 40% for eligible majority owned or led organizations) must be secured before you apply, total government funding is capped at 85%, and the full application asks for a business plan with 10-year projections, quotes and financial statements. The Expression of Interest window can close early once funding is committed, and the National Food Security Strategy targets 20 to 40 hubs in total, so have the project scoped, quoted and financed before October 14. For-profits should plan for a repayable, interest-free contribution unless the benefits clearly reach beyond the business.
The practical sequence, from a firm that files these claims every week.
Check that your organization type is eligible and that you aggregate, process, store or distribute local food, or are placed to. Confirm the project expands, modernizes or establishes a food hub, and decide whether a repayable contribution works for you.
Line up your contribution (at least 50%, or 40% if eligible for the enhanced share) and any partner funding, which cannot depend on AAFC approval. Collect supplier quotes for construction, equipment and technology.
Sign in to AAFC online services (Grants and contributions), download the Expression of Interest form, complete it and upload it with the pre-screening details. AAFC keeps food hub projects; food terminal projects go to HICC.
Submit the online Food Hub Program application with the detailed project budget, business plan with 10-year projections, organizational chart, financial statements, proof of financing and quotes, within 1 year of the invitation.
AAFC aims to issue a decision within 100 business days of receiving a complete application. Costs are only reimbursed once a contribution agreement is signed.
What you need ready before you apply.
Live estimator using this program's published rate and cap. Drag the slider to see the impact on your project.
Enter the total cost of the project you want to fund with Food Hub Program. We'll estimate the funding, your contribution and your net cost at the program's published rate (50%).
Estimates are illustrative and use the maximum published rate. Actual funding depends on eligibility, cost classification, stacking limits and review outcomes. For a firm number, book a call with our team.
GovMoney's team can prepare, submit, and defend your Food Hub Program application end-to-end.
PhDs, CPAs, and ex-CRA auditors prepare, submit, and defend your application — audit-ready, on a success-fee basis. You stay focused on the business; we handle the forms, the narrative, and the back-and-forth with the agency.
Book a free consult →Questions we get from applicants every week.
AAFC may contribute up to $25 million per organization over the life of the program, normally up to 50% of eligible costs. The share rises to up to 60% when the organization is majority owned or led by Indigenous Peoples, youth (35 or younger), women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities or 2SLGBTQI+ people. No per-project minimum or maximum is published.
It is a contribution that can be either. It may be non-repayable when the project's benefits accrue broadly rather than primarily to the recipient. It may be repayable when the recipient is a for-profit business and the contribution is mainly intended to generate profit or increase the value of the organization. Repayable contributions are interest-free, normally repaid over up to 10 years, starting 1 year after project completion.
The Food-Link Fund Expression of Interest is open October 14 to December 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. It may close sooner if funding is fully committed. Food hub projects that fit may then be invited to submit a full application.
For-profits incorporated in Canada (corporations, partnerships, co-operatives), not-for-profits, First Nations, Inuit and Metis organizations, and provincial, territorial or municipal governments and agencies with a commercial operating model or private sector partner. You must be involved, or placed to become involved, in aggregating, processing, storing and distributing local food.
Yes, within limits. Total government funding from all levels cannot exceed 85% of total project funding (100% of eligible costs for Indigenous applicants), and costs reimbursed under another federal, provincial or territorial program are not eligible.
Changes to the program tracked by our team.
Food-Link Fund launched: $1 billion over 10 years under the National Food Security Strategy, delivered through AAFC's Food Hub Program and HICC's Food Terminal Fund. Expression of Interest window October 14 to December 11, 2026.
Combinations our team files together for meaningful uplift, with live deadlines.
Three concrete moves. Do them yourself or hand off to GovMoney.
Add this program to your watchlist and get personalized deadline alerts, plus every other Canadian program that matches your business.