Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Government of Nova Scotia

Student Summer Skill Incentive (SKILL)

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Wage subsidy

Description:

SKILL helps registered charities and societies offer summer jobs to post-secondary students. Eligible employers can hire students for terms of 8-14 weeks in the summer and receive a subsidy.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is in the form of a wage subsidy of $9.10 per hour ($10.10 if the student is a member of designated diversity group) for the wages the employers pay their student employees. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

31 January 2022

Eligibility:

​The applicant must:

  • be a not-for-profit organization registered as a charity or active society with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies,
  • plan to hire a university or college student for 8-14 weeks between April and August,
  • pay their summer student-employee minimum wage or more (plus vacation pay) for 30 to 35 hours of work per week,
  • not receive funding from any other government employment program for the same position. 

Application Steps:

The applicant must:

1

register on the Labour Market Program Support System (LaMPSS), 

2

access the application form for SKILL.

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit:

  1. 1
    the Societies Act number or Canadian Charity Registration number,
  2. 2
    contact details of the person at their organization who will be responsible for the agreement,
  3. 3
    a job description for each new position, as well as its location,
  4. 4
    a breakdown of the time employees will spend on different tasks

Program Contact:

​Student Summer Skill Incentive (SKILL)

​Skills_Guidelines.pdf​​​

Fisheries and Aquaculture Student Bursary Program

Amount:

$1,500.00

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Student Bursary Program aims to help Nova Scotia fill the labor gap for aquaculture, seafood buying, seafood processing and seafood harvesting facilities. The program also introduces aquaculture and seafood sector as viable career options.

Comments on Funding:

Maximum financial assistance through this program is $1,500 per program year. Students who worked at least 250 hours between April, 2021 and December, 2021 can qualify for a $750 bursary. Students who worked at least 500 hours can qualify for a $1500 bursary. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

31 January 2022

Eligibility:

​The applicant must be:

  • a student enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution in September of the program year, 
  • a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident Status,
  • a permanent resident of Nova Scotia, 
  • have been employed by a licensed Nova Scotia aquaculture operator, seafood buyer, seafood processor or seafood harvester guaranteeing a minimum work term of 250-500 hours between April 1st, 2021 and the end of December, 2021.

Application Steps:

The applicant must:

1

complete the application, 

2

submit to the Programs and Business Risk Management office. 

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit:

  • the application form,
  • the confirmation of enrollment in school (including your student ID number), 
  • record of employment from a licensed Nova Scotia aquaculture operator, seafood buyer or seafood processor.

Program Contact:

​Fisheries and Aquaculture Student Bursary Program

​Program_Guidelines.pdf

​Program_Application.pdf​​​

Marine Debris Clean-Up Program

Amount:

$10,000.00

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Marine Debris Clean-Up program provides financial support to remove debris from Nova Scotia's oceans and shorelines.

Comments on Funding:

Funding for stream 1 (Shoreline Clean-Up) is up to 60% of project costs up to a maximum of $5,000.
Funding for stream 2 (Ocean Clean-Up) is up to 20% of project costs up to a maximum of $5,000.
Applicants may apply to one or both streams. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

March 31

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • The applicant must an organization that is active with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.

Application Steps:

The applicant must:

1

complete the application form, 

2

submit it by email to MarineCleanUp@novascotia.ca or by mail to: Marine Division, Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2 – 173 Haida Street, Cornwallis Park, NS, B0S 1H0. 

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit the application form.

Other Things to Note:

Applications will be accepted until all available funding has been awarded.

Program Contact:

​Marine Debris Clean-Up Program

​Marine_Debris_Clean_up_guideline.pdf

​Marine_Debris_Clean_up_application.pdf​​​

Wild blueberry Business Enhancement Loans

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Wild Blueberry Business Enhancement program aims to increase wild blueberry production in Nova Scotia through efficiencies and land expansion by providing lending options for equipment, purchase and improvement of existing land, and new site development.

Comments on Funding:

The applicant will pay interest and other fees, if applicable.  

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

​Applicant must:

  • be actively farming in Nova Scotia,
  • be registered with the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia,
  • provide proposed expansion plan or project detail.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must complete the application form on their own, or call for a loan officer to assist or review it with them.

2

Applications are processed on the basis of a security appraisal, an assessment of the farming program and a review of the completed application form.

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit:

  1. 1
    a completed application form;
  2. 2
    a full Business Plan;
  3. 3
    Cheque for Service Fee – Required for New Clients to the Board or Repeat Applications;
  4. 4
    a summary of their education, training, work and farm experience, and a description of your current farm program and marketing program, if New Clients to Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board;
  5. 5
    Void Cheque and EFT form to authorize payments by Pre-Authorized Debit (page 5 of Loan Application);
  6. 6
    Completed Group Life Insurance Application Form for at least one applicant (contact your local office for application forms), or written confirmation of Life Insurance through a private policy assigned to the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board.
  7. 7
    Quota Information Declaration Form if applicable.
  8. 8
    Specific information for each business type, as following:
  • Sole Proprietor: Last 3 years Income Tax Return & Statement of Net Worth and/or 3 years’ financial statements.
  • Joint Tenants (Spouses): Last 3 years Income Tax Return & Statement of Net Worth for each individual and/or 3 years’ financial statements.
  • Partnership: Last 3 years Income Tax Return & Statement of Net Worth for each individual and/or 3 years’ financial statements. AND Signed Copy of a Legal Partnership Agreement.
  • Incorporated Business
  • Last 3 years, accountant prepared business financial statements,
  • Copy of Company’s Borrowing Resolution Certified by the Registry of Joint Stocks,
  • Copy of Signed Shareholders Agreement,
  • Completed Company Shareholder Information Summary Form.

​Additional documentation in case of Equipment Purchase:

  1. 1
    Copy of Bill of Sale / Sales Contract;
  2. 2
    Details (Make, Model, Year etc.) and Serial Numbers of Equipment to be Purchased.

Additional documentation in case of Property Purchase:

  1. 1
    Signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale;
  2. 2
    Quota Exchange Results (Dairy Quota);
  3. 3
    Authorization for transfer of quota;
  4. 4
    Written confirmation of Property Insurance coverage with the NSFLB as the named loss payable, at time of closing.

Additional documentation in case of Construction / Development:

  1. 1
    At the application stage: 
  • Itemized Costs and
  • Plans / Drawings. 
  1. 2
    Prior to disbursement of funds:
  • Evidence of costs (invoices or receipts),
  • Copy of Building permit,
  • Location Certificate.
  1. 3
    Written confirmation of Property Insurance coverage with the NSFLB as the named loss payable.

Applications are processed on the basis of a security appraisal, an assessment of the farming program and a review of the completed application form.

Program Contact:

​Wild Blueberry Business Enhancement Loan

​How to Apply​​​

Cattle and Sheep Deferred Financing

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

This program was developed to support cattle and sheep farmers where there is a proven plan for the expansion of livestock to implement long-term viability of their operation. The Farm Loan Board offers flexible lending terms including payment deferrals that will complement the Nova Scotia Cattle and Sheep Industry Development Program.

Comments on Funding:

The applicant will pay interest and other fees, if applicable.  

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling Deadline

Eligibility:

​Applicant must:

  •  be farming in Nova Scotia;
  • apply for the Nova Scotia Cattle and Sheep Industry Development Program;
  • provide expansion plan.

Application Steps:

Applicants must:

1

submit a Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board application form with supporting documentation (checklist)

2

any additional information that may be requested by their loan officer.

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must submit:

  1. 1
    a completed application form;
  2. 2
    a full Business Plan;
  3. 3
    Cheque for Service Fee – Required for New Clients to the Board or Repeat Applications;
  4. 4
    a summary of their education, training, work and farm experience, and a description of your current farm program and marketing program, if New Clients to Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board;
  5. 5
    Void Cheque and EFT form to authorize payments by Pre-Authorized Debit (page 5 of Loan Application);
  6. 6
    Completed Group Life Insurance Application Form for at least one applicant (contact your local office for application forms), or written confirmation of Life Insurance through a private policy assigned to the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board.
  7. 7
    Quota Information Declaration Form if applicable.
  8. 8
    Specific information for each business type, as following:
  • Sole Proprietor: Last 3 years Income Tax Return & Statement of Net Worth and/or 3 years’ financial statements.
  • Joint Tenants (Spouses): Last 3 years Income Tax Return & Statement of Net Worth for each individual and/or 3 years’ financial statements.
  • Partnership: Last 3 years Income Tax Return & Statement of Net Worth for each individual and/or 3 years’ financial statements. AND Signed Copy of a Legal Partnership Agreement.
  • Incorporated Business: 
  • Last 3 years, accountant prepared business financial statements.
  • Copy of Company’s Borrowing Resolution Certified by the Registry of Joint Stocks.
  • Copy of Signed Shareholders Agreement.
  • Completed Company Shareholder Information Summary Form.
  1. 9
    Other documentation to be provided at the application stage: 
  • Itemized Costs and
  • Plans / Drawings.
  1. 10
    Other documentation to be provided prior to disbursement of funds:
  • Evidence of costs (invoices or receipts),
  • Copy of Building permit,
  • Location Certificate.
  1. 11
    Written confirmation of Property Insurance coverage with the NSFLB as the named loss payable.

​Applications are processed on the basis of a security appraisal, an assessment of the farming program and a review of the completed application form.

Other Things to Note:

This program will complement the Nova Scotia Cattle and Sheep Industry Development Program.

Program Contact:

​Cattle_and_Sheep_Deferred_Financing.pdf

​Lending Products

​How to Apply​​​