Nova Scotia Start Up Business Grants (2023): Current List of Programs
Finding small business start up grants in Nova Scotia can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack…
Until now! On this page you’ll find a complete, current list of new business grants for Nova Scotia entrepreneurs.
Start Up Business Grants in Nova Scotia: Current Programs
Below is a complete list of Nova Scotia business grants for start ups, as well as other types of programs, such as loans, tax credits, and more.
Click on one (or more) of the blue buttons to filter the list. And to get detailed information about each funding programs, just click “Read More” below each excerpt:
All Grant Loan Loan Guarantee Tax Credit Subsidy In-Kind Support Investment
New Small Business Tax Deduction
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Tax Credit Description: Nova Scotia corporate tax reduction for new small businesses is a tax reduction that applies to the first three tax years of an eligible corporation. Comments on Funding: New small businesses have their first three years income tax reduced. The tax reduction is based on
Self Employment (SE) Program
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Grants Description: The Self Employment (SE) program provides entrepreneurial support and financial assistance to Labor Market Development Agreement (LMDA) eligible, unemployed Nova Scotia participants starting their own business. The maximum duration of an agreement with a participant is 40 weeks. Comments on Funding: The applicant currently receiving Employment
Nova Scotia First Fund
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Investment Description: The Nova Scotia First Fund provides financing for emerging venture-grade technology companies with high growth potential and attractive risk-return prospects. Target industries include information technology, life sciences, clean technology and ocean technology. Comments on Funding: The fund co-invests with institutional, private sector and angel investors
Deferred Product Options
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Loan Description: This product is designed for the development of Nova Scotia farm production where a long-range approach to cash flow generation is required. A deferred loan structure has been developed for: apple orchards, high bush blueberry development, low bush blueberry land clearing development, mink ranch expansions and
Jump Start program
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Loan Description: The Jump Start program provides beginning Nova Scotia commercial farmers both the classic Farm mortgage for the purchase of real estate and the Deferral Options packages that may be needed to support any operating requirements. Comments on Funding: The applicant will pay interest and other fees,
Aquaculture Loan
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Loan Description: The Aquaculture Loan provides funding to fishers and sea farmers in Nova Scotia to build their business. Loans can be used for starting, expanding or purchasing an aquaculture business. Comments on Funding: The loans have flexible repayment schedule to match the income stream, including interest
License(s) & Gear Loan
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Loan Description: Licenses and gear loans allow new fishers to join the industry or established fishers to expand or diversify operations. It is available to new entrants, commercial fishers or clients looking to re-enter the industry. Comments on Funding: The Licenses & Gear Loan comes with all the
Startup & Expansion Loans
Amount: $25,000 Type of Program: Loan Description: The Startup & Expansion Loans are for small and medium-sized businesses run by entrepreneurs of all ages. Recipients get support to develop their business knowledge and skills in marketing, accounting, human resources and business planning. Low-interest loans of up to $25,000 are available, with flexible repayment terms and
Immigrant Loan Program
Amount: $20,000.00 Type of Program: Loan Description: Immigrant Loan Program is a pilot project that offers financing for temporary residents wishing to start a registered business in the area. Comments on Funding: Funding is up to $20,000 and is available in the form of repayable loan. Fixed interest will be charged at prime rate plus
CBDC Micro-Loan Program
Amount: $5,000.00 Type of Program: Loan Description: CBDC-Shelburne provides unsecured micro-loans from $500 to $5,000 to new entrepreneurs looking for startup money or to small business owners who could use a boost in working capital. Comments on Funding: Funding ranges from $500 to $5,000.Interest rates are set at 2% above prime and the repayment terms
Small Business Loan Guarantee Program
Amount: $50,000 Type of Program: Loan Guarantee Description: The Small Business Loan Guarantee Program delivers better financial assistance for the start-up and expansion of small businesses in Nova Scotia by providing them loan guarantees. Credit unions are the only financial provider to offer access to the financing program and they can provide financing up
Micro Loan
Amount: $10,000.00 Type of Program: Loan Description: The Micro Loan is up to $10,000 and can be used for eligible business activity, including start-up, expansion or purchase of an existing business with a base of operations in Queens County or Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Comments on Funding: Funding is up to $10,000. Loan is in
DiscoverBox Start-Up Labs & Pitch Competition
Amount: $250 Type of Program: Competition, Grant, In-Kind Support Description: DiscoverBox Start-Up Labs is designed to provide youth entrepreneurs with an opportunity to discover more about their own ability for creating unique and impactful responses to real-world challenges. The program allows students to develop skills in problem-solving, ideation, and entrepreneurship in order to develop their
Wallace Family Entrepreneurship Fund
Amount: $10,000 Type of Program: Entrepreneurship Program, Grant Description: Through the generous support of the Wallace Family Entrepreneurship Fund, students who have an enterprise idea and who are interested in starting a new venture, developing a new prototype, or applying innovative approaches to a particular product or service are encouraged to apply for a summer
Xaverian Innovation and Entrepreneurs Micro-Grants
Amount: $2,500 Type of Program: Grant, In-Kind Support Description: The StFX Innovation and Enterprise Centre’s DiscoverBox will offer six Xaverian Innovation and Entrepreneurs Micro-Grants of $2,500 to contribute and grow the ongoing innovation and creativity of StFX students. Comments on Funding: Funding will take the form of six awards of $2,500. When It Ends: Ongoing
SparkZone
Amount: N/A Type of Program: Entrepreneurship Program Description: The SparkZone brings together students and community members to create, develop and ultimately launch business ideas and social innovations. Through this free program, students can: 1connect with other students; 2access leadership coaching and business training through regular workshops; 3access one-one-one business advisory sessions; 4attend business events and
RBC Alliance of Young Women Entrepreneurs
Amount: N/A Type of Program: Entrepreneurship Program Description: The RBC Alliance of Young Women Entrepreneurs program (AYWE) empowers female students to reach their full potential to become entrepreneurs through connection and learning. Through this free program, each student will: 1connect with other students; 2receive leadership coaching and business training through regular workshops; 3have access to
Navigate Business Incubator
Amount: N/A Type of Program: In-Kind Support Description: The Navigate Business is an incubator which offers free co-working space, defined-term office spaces for resident companies, access to funding for expert consulting services, marketing, legal support, training, access to free meeting spaces, business coaching and mentorship, events, activities and workshops for entrepreneurs and startups. The incubator
Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: In-Kind Support Description: The Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre offers acces to programs and support for entrepreneurs and business startups. The program offers drop-in centres where the applicant can connect with other entrepreneurs, business coaching, startup tools and resources, idea generation, guidance developing your business plan or business model, entrepreneurial
NSCC Entrepreneurship
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Grant, In-Kind Support Description: The NSCC Entrepreneurship offers resources, business advisory sessions, community connections, activities and events, financial support to help applicants build a stronger and more employable skillset. Comments on Funding: Funding is available for activities that give NSCC students a chance to learn more about entrepreneurship
Exploration Fund
Amount: $25,000 Type of Program: Investment Description: The Exploration Fund offers up to $25,000 in the form of a SAFE agreement to businesses who meet the eligibility criteria and successfully pass through the fund’s due diligence process. Comments on Funding: Funding will take the form of a SAFE agreement of up to $25,000. When It
March Madness Pitch Competition
Amount: $10,000 Type of Program: Competition Description: The competition showcases post-secondary student pitchers throughout the month of March. Modelled after the NCAA March Madness basketball competition, 64 student entrepreneurs from across Canada will be selected to compete head-to-head in brackets as they strive to eventually be declared the best in the country. Comments on Funding:
GreenShoots
Amount: $40,000 Type of Program: Grants, In-Kind Support Description: The GreenShoots program finds and supports high potential, early-stage knowledge-based Nova Scotia companies, and encourages entrepreneurial activity in the province. The support is intended to help improve the export potential of companies, projected impacts on climate change, job creation, and generation of economic impact in rural
Entrepreneurial Training Fund (ETF)
Amount: $2,000 Type of Program: Grants, In-Kind Support Description: Through its Entrepreneurial Training Fund (ETF), CBDC Blue Water offers individualized training opportunities to existing clients as well as group training to clients and other small business owners in rural Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Comments on Funding: Funding covers 90% of the cost of this training
GreenShoots
Amount: $40.000 Type of Program: Grants Description: Invest Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub and Bioenterprise Canada Corporation have partnered to create GreenShoots, supporting early stage companies in the agriculture, agri-food, bioeconomy, clean technology, and related sectors. The goal of GreenShoots is to find and support high potential, early stage knowledge-based Nova Scotia companies,
Start-Up Yard at COVE
Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Grants, In-Kind Support Description: Start-Up Yard is the incubation facility at COVE (Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship). They help early stage companies commercialize their ocean technologies and succeed in the global marketplace. Start-ups grow stronger, faster with their acceleration programs, incubation space and services, funding, shared equipment,
The Labs
Amount: N/A Type of Program: In-Kind Support Description: Opened in 2011, this state-of-the-art facility gives participants an unbeatable competitive edge. As clients, they make use of specialized scientific infrastructure unavailable elsewhere in the commercial real estate market. They’ll be connected to the Life Sciences Research Institute and Halifax’s busy knowledge hub: universities, hospitals, the Brain
The Bays
Amount: N/A Type of Program: In-Kind Support Description: Minutes away from downtown Halifax, The Bays is where some of the province’s best technology entrepreneurs gather to take advantage of these world-class facilities. The Bays is more than just space and infrastructure. It’s a community. It offers on-site support, flexible leasing, and enhanced credibility. It provides
Invest Nova Scotia Accelerate
Amount: $40.000 Type of Program: Accelerator, Grants Description: Delivered 100 per cent virtually, Invest Nova Scotia Accelerate is a milestone-based program that helps Nova Scotia start-ups get investment-ready. We are focused on five sectors where we can leverage our deep in-house expertise and our network of experts and investors to deliver value to our clients:
Licence Loan Program
This program is currently closed. Amount: No Fixed Amount Type of Program: Loan Description: The Licence Loan Program provides funding to eligible independent fishers to purchase a fishing licence or licence and associated gear. Comments on Funding: Required deposit for a new entrant licence only or licence and associated gear loan is a minimum of
Small Farm Acceleration Program 2019-2020
This program is currently closed. Amount: $5,000.00 Type of Program: Grants Description: The Small Farm Acceleration Program supports small farms in Nova Scotia through business planning and strategic growth. There are three funding streams: Stream 1 consists of a loan interest rebate for qualifying project items that were detailed in the Farm Growth Action Plan;
FarmNext Program 2021-2022
Amount: $30,000.00 Type of Program: Interest Relief Description: The FarmNext Program aims to encourage and support new farmers establishing a commercial farm in Nova Scotia. By contributing to the interest accrued on a new loan, program funds are intended to improve the financial stability of the new farm business in the first years of operation.
