Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Department of Agriculture and Land (DAL)

Agri-Food Growth Program

Amount:

$10,000.00

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Agri-Food Growth Program aims to build and enhance local markets, and increase the awareness, sale and consumption of Prince Edward Island produced agri-food products. The program has five funding streams:

  1. 1
    Signage and Promotion Stream,
  2. 2
    Farm Market And Farmers’ Market Compliance Stream,
  3. 3
    New Product Market Readiness Stream,
  4. 4
    Season Extension Stream,
  5. 5
    Sector Growth Initiatives Stream.  

Comments on Funding:

Funding for:

  1. 1
    Signage and Promotion Stream is up to 50% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $5,000 for individual agri-businesses and up to 75% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $5,000 for agricultural commodity/marketing
    boards/farmers’ markets,
  2. 2
    Farm Market And Farmers’ Market Compliance Stream is up to 75% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $2,000 per project,
  3. 3
    New Product Market Readiness Stream is up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $5,000 for project,
  4. 4
    Season Extension Stream is up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $5,000 for project,
  5. 5
    Sector Growth Initiatives Stream is up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $10,000 for project.

Maximum contribution per applicant per fiscal year for all components combined is $10,000.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

March 1, 2023

Eligibility:

Applicants must be:

  • Mi’kmaq first nations or indigenous organizations,
  • farmers,
  • farmers' markets,
  • farm markets,
  • agricultural commodity/marketing boards.

Others may be considered upon special request.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit their completed applications via regular mail or email to the attention of the Agri-Food Growth Program Officer.

Documentation Needed: 

Applicants must submit:

  1. 1
    the completed application form,
  2. 2
    a project proposal.

Other Things to Note:

Published date: May 9, 2022.

Guideline updated April 2022.

Program Contact:

Agri-Food Growth Program

af_agri-food_growth.pdf

af_agri-food_growth_application.pdf

Potato Financing Program

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Potato Financing Program provides assistance to eligible PEI Potato farmers impacted from the recent suspension of both seed and fresh table stock potatoes entering the United States through a joint partnership of Finance PEI and the Department of Agriculture and Land.  

Comments on Funding:

Funding is a loan that will have a 5-year term with a 4% interest rate, amortized over a maximum of 25 years. The maximum loan to any one group of related companies is $5M.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

  • have existing farming activities (startups are not eligible) located and operating in the Province of PEI,
  • have harvested a potato crop in the 2021 calendar year,
  • be registered to conduct business within the Province of PEI,
  • have a satisfactory credit rating and must not have any defaulted outstanding debt obligation on file in the Province's Central Default Registry.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit the completed application and any other required supporting documentation to Finance PEI.

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit:

  1. 1
    the completed application form,
  2. 2
    most recent year-end financial statements,
  3. 3
    most recent listing of Accounts Payable,
  4. 4
    most recent property tax bill,
  5. 5
    the amount of ‘fresh’ potatoes in storage under contract for processing, table stock and seed in CWT.

Other Things to Note:

The program will be administered through Finance PEI and the Department of Agriculture and Land.  

Program Contact:

Potato Financing Program

potato_financing_program_application_form.pdf

PEI Pollination Expansion Program

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The PEI Pollination Expansion Program supports the sustainable increase of local honey bee colonies that are available for the pollination of wild blueberries and other fruit crops and the advancement of the beekeeping sector through strategic industry initiatives, including investment in infrastructure. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is a 75% assistance:

  1. 1
    to a maximum of $30 per individual honey bee queen for the purchase of eligible imported international honey bee queens,
  2. 2
    to a maximum of $30 per individual honey bee queen for the purchase of eligible domestic honey bee queens,
  3. 3
    to a maximum of $200 for the purchase of queen rearing equipment,
  4. 4
    to a maximum of $175 per individual nucleus, split, or out-of-province full colony,
  5. 5
    to a maximum of $150 per individual in-province full colony for full colonies from PEI beekeepers exiting the honey beekeeping sector,
  6. 6
    to a maximum of $175 per individual bee package for the purchase of eligible package,
  7. 7
    to a maximum of $15 per new shallow, medium, or deep hive box,
  8. 8
    to a maximum of $30 per one hive box, worth of new frames (to a maximum of ten frames).

Funding is up to 75% assistance:

  1. 1
    to a maximum of $20,000, for industry priority bee research,
  2. 2
    to a maximum of $20,000, for miscellaneous beekeeping technology or expenses that have a direct impact in upgrading a particular beekeeping operation or the advancement of the sector as a whole.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

March 31, 2022

Eligibility:

Applicants must be:

  • Mi’kmaq first nations or indigenous organizations who are beekeepers,
  • PEI beekeepers,
  • The PEI Beekeepers Association,
  • PEI Government Departments.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit their completed applications via regular mail or email to the attention of the Provincial Apiarist.

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit:

  1. 1
    the completed application form,
  2. 2
    a project proposal.

Other Things to Note:

This program is effective April 1, 2021 and will terminate on March 31, 2022. This program may be altered or discontinued without notice by the Minister of Agriculture and Land. 

Program Contact:

​PEI Pollination Expansion Program

​af_peipep_guide.pdf

​af_peipep_application.pdf​​​

Business Development Program (Agriculture)

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Business Development Program supports the agriculture sector by providing funding for skills training, business planning and implementation, benchmarking and risk management activities which will expand domestic and international markets for Prince Edward Island producers and small to medium sized agri-businesses.
There are three funding categories: Training, Business Planning, and Benchmarking and Risk Management.

Comments on Funding:

Funding for Training is as follows:

  • 50% of the eligible expenses, up to $2,000 per participant per fiscal year for eligible agri-skills individualized training expenses and up to $1,000 for eligible software expenses per participant over the life of the CAP Framework Agreement (2018-2023),
  • 90% of the eligible expenses, up to $20,000 per project for eligible group training for agricultural producers, agri-processors, and/or agri-businesses,
  • 50% of the eligible expenses, up to $10,000 per project for eligible training for executives and up to $15,000 per project for eligible board capacity training expenses.

The maximum funding for agri-skills training is 50% of assistance per participant (maximum two per operation/organization) up to a maximum of $10,000 per farm entity over the life of the CAP Framework Agreement (2018-2023).

The maximum funding for Group Training expenses is $60,000 over the life of the CAP Framework Agreement.

Funding for Business Planning is 50% of eligible expenses, up to:

  • $5,000 per project for eligible financial assessment and financial action plan expenses over the life of the CAP Framework (2018-2023),
  • $10,000 per project for eligible succession plan expenses over the life of the CAP Framework (2018-2023),
  • $2,500 per project for eligible business plan expenses for beginning farmers who are part of a bonafide farm operation over the life of the CAP Framework (2018-2023),
  • $10,000 over the life of the CAP Framework Agreement (2018-2023) for groups of two farming entities’ eligible project expenses,
  • $15,000 over the life of the CAP Framework Agreement (2018-2023) for groups of three or more farming entities’ eligible project expenses.

Eligible applicants completing an on-line Self-Assessment process for the first time will be eligible for an additional 10% of funding assistance for eligible program expenses.

Funding for Benchmarking and Risk Management is as follows:

  • 90% of the eligible expenses, up to $15,000 for first time benchmarking or risk management initiatives,
  • 30% of the eligible expenses, up to $15,000 for approved repetitive benchmarking or risk management initiatives. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

2023

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • Mi’kmaq First Nations and other Indigenous Organizations,
  • agricultural producers,
  • spouses of agricultural producers,
  • farm employees,
  • agriculture industry organizations, clubs, and associations,
  • agri-processors,
  • small to medium sized agri-businesses.

Others may be considered upon request.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit their completed applications via regular mail or email to the attention of the Business Development Program Officer.

Documentation Needed: 

The applicant must submit:

  •  the completed application form,
  • a project proposal (for Business Planning application the proposal must be completed by the proposed consultant which outlines what work is to be completed, the time required to complete the plan as well as the cost of the plan),
  • the instructor or consultant’s Resume, if applying for Training,
  • the proposed consultant’s resume, and documentation verifying consultant’s professional certification(s) and references, if applying for Business Planning or Benchmarking and Risk Management,

Other Things to Note:

This program is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2018-2023).

Program Contact:

​Business Development Program (Agriculture)

Business Development Program Guide

Business Development Program Category: Training

Business Development Program Planning Application

​Business Development Program Category: Benchmarking and Risk Management​​​

Perennial Crop Development Program

Amount:

$40,000

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Perennial Crop Development Program supports the establishment of new cropping systems and improvements in existing systems using technological advances and improvements in storage and production practices. Applications will be assessed for a project’s ability to have both ecological and economic benefits.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is up to 50% of the eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $40,000 per project.
In the event that the Perennial Crop Development Program receives more eligible applications than available funds, the Department reserves the right to pro-rate funding. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

2022 dates to be announced

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • Mi'kmaq First Nations and other Indigenous Organizations;
  • agricultural producers; 
  • small to medium-sized agri-businesses.

Others may be considered upon request.

Application Steps:

Applicants:

1

are encouraged to contact the Perennial Crop Development officer prior to their application, 

2

must submit their completed applications via regular mail or email to the attention of the Perennial Crop Development Program Officer.

Documentation Needed: 

The applicant must submit:

  • the completed application form,
  • a project proposal.

Other Things to Note:

This program is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2018-2023).
The Perennial Crop Development Program is designed to increase environmental sustainability in PEI’s agriculture sector.

Program Contact:

​Perennial Crop Development Program

​Perennial Crop Development Program Guidelines​​​

​Perennial Crop Development Program Application Form​​​