Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Not-for-profit entities

Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF)

by |

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants & Loan

Description:

The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth.

Comments on Funding:

Funding will take the form of:

  • interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs for eligible businesses;
  • non-repayable contributions for up to 90% of eligible costs for not-for profit organizations.
    Indigenous-led organizations and/or businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.

The JGF has a continuous intake process, meaning that applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. However, the program is set to run for three years, with an expected end date of March 31, 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing and evaluation.

Indigenous-led organizations and/or businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.

 Under the initiative, RDAs may contribute up to 100% of eligible project costs for projects with Indigenous clients. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

Applicants must be:

  • businesses, including co-operatives,
  • not-for-profit organizations and community economic development partners.

Successful applicants for the JGF will be selected based on a range of criteria, including:

  • The ability of the project to create jobs and support economic growth in the region
  • The degree to which the project aligns with the objectives of the JGF, including transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs across Canada
  • The extent to which the project demonstrates innovation, collaboration, and community engagement
    The feasibility and sustainability of the project, including the capacity of the applicant to manage and deliver the project effectively

Among the program's eligible activities are activities that foster an inclusive recovery, including those that support businesses owned or majority-led by under-represented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities, women, youth, LGBTQ2, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, and members of official language minority communities.

Application Steps:

1

Applicant must consult the applicant guide

2

Applicant must fill out the Jobs and Growth Fund application form online

3

Applicant must send the form through the application for financial assistance page or by mail to the ACOA regional office in your province.

Documentation Needed: 

For-profit applicants must submit a completed application form and the following supporting documents:

  1. 1
    incorporation documents and information on ownership (names and percentage of ownership),
  2. 2
    financial statements (current and last two years),
  3. 3
    research and development (r&d) project plan, business plan and/or marketing plan,
  4. 4
    supplier quotes,
  5. 5
    copies of relevant permits and licences,
  6. 6
    other relevant documents (specify).

Not-for-profit applicants and other applicants must submit a completed application form and the following supporting documents:

  1. 1
    constituting / incorporating documents and list of directors/members of the board,
  2. 2
    financial statements (current and last fiscal year),
  3. 3
    description and mandate of the applicant, including the management and qualifications of key personnel,
  4. 4
    HST rebate information (I.E. rebate rate),
  5. 5
    one of the following two items is required: research and development (r&d) project plan or detailed project description, including milestones, costs, financing, key partnerships established and evidence of support from the community,
  6. 6
    supplier quotes,
  7. 7
    copies of relevant permits and license's,
  8. 8
    other relevant documents (specify).

Other Things to Note:

  1. 1
    The JGF will provide $700 million over three years (2021-2022 to 2023-2024) across Canada to support business financing. This support for regional recovery and stimulus will position local economies for long-term growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs in every corner of the country.
  2. 2
    Applications will be accepted on a continuous intake basis until such time as the funding is fully allocated.
  3. 3
    The fund, delivered by Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs), provides $700 million nationally over three years, which includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria.
  4. 4
    In Atlantic Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is investing $70 million to help job creators and the organizations that support them to future-proof their businesses, build resiliency and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs in every corner of the country.
  5. 5
    Date modified: 2022-03-15.

Program Contact:

Jobs and Growth Fund

APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE JOBS AND GROWTH FUND

JOBS AND GROWTH FUND APPLICANT GUIDE

Research and Development

by |

Amount:

$750,000.00

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology offers programs to support research and development projects for both commercial and non-commercial applicants. For commercial applicants, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology supports projects that reduce the technical and financial risk of research and development projects where R&D is required to realize the commercial potential of innovative products, processes or services. For non-commercial applicants, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology provides support through non-repayable contributions to academic and research institutions for the development and implementation of research and innovation projects for the long-term economic benefit of Newfoundland and Labrador.  

Comments on Funding:

For commercial applicants, the maximum contribution to a project is normally 50% of the total eligible costs.
For non-commercial applicants, the program provides normally up to 50 percent of total eligible costs of a specific project, with a maximum investment of $750,000.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

  • be commercial,
  • be non-commercial (academic and research institutions),
  • propose projects that are technical in nature and lead to an incremental advance of an innovative product, process or service, if they are commercial applicants,
  • propose projects that must demonstrate industry relevance and have significant potential for economic impact in Newfoundland and Labrador, if they are non-commercial applicants. 

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit the completed application form.

Documentation Needed:

No specific documentation has been identified.

Program Contact:

Research and Development

Graduate to Opportunity (GTO)

by |

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Subsidy

Description:

Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) is helping to build a stronger workforce and retain young people in Nova Scotia with a salary incentive that makes it easier to hire recent graduates. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is 25% of the first year’s salary – 35% if the new graduate is a member of designated diversity group – and 12.5% of the second year’s salary.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling Deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be a small business with fewer than 100 employees,
  • be a start-up company incorporated within two years of the application date,
  • be a social enterprise, not-for-profit organization, or registered charity with recognized standing,
  • open a new position, permanent, full-time and pay at least $35,000 a year,
  • not receive funding from any other government employment program for this position.

The graduate he hires must have successfully completed a post-secondary program within one year from the day the application is submitted.

The program can’t consider graduate-employees who have been working for the employer on a permanent basis before the GTO application is approved.

Apprentices in registered trades aren’t eligible for Graduate to Opportunity.

Application Steps:

1

Applicant must register in the online Labor Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS),

2

Applicant must complete the application form and submit it electronically.

Documentation Needed: 

Applicants must submit:

  • the application form,
  • a description of their organization and its mandate,
  • a job description for the new position you wish to create, as well as its location
  • a T4 Summary for the organization or other documentation to show the number of employees. 

Other Things to Note:

Issue Date: November 2022 (Guidelines)

Program Contact:

Graduate to Opportunity

Graduate_to_Opportunity_Guidelines.pdf

Job Creation Partnerships

by |

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Job Creation Partnerships (JCP) is a program designed to support projects that will provide Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) eligible participants with meaningful work experience that will improve their employment prospects. Financial assistance is available for income support and/or Employment Insurance Benefits for those participants who are active EI claimants up to a maximum EI rate(non-insurable).

Comments on Funding:

Financial assistance is available for income support and/or Employment Insurance Benefits.
The maximum duration of an agreement for a JCP project is 52 weeks. 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • businesses, 
  • Federal Crown Corporations and comparable Provincial Crown Corporations, 
  • organizations, 
  • individuals,
  • municipal governments,
  • band/tribal councils,
  • public health and educational institutions,
  • having project activities that are incremental to and not part of their normal operations, are not-for-profit activities and will be finite in nature,
  • provide a valuable work experience to an eligible client,
  • supervise and mentor the client,
  • provide financial and/or activity reports to Employment Nova Scotia.

Participants must:

  • be Canadian citizens or permanent residents legally entitled to work in Canada,
  • meet the definition of an insured participant,
  • meet one of the following: 
  • have a current Employment Insurance (EI) claim,
  • have received benefits under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB),
  • have had an EI claim that ended within the last 60 months,
  • have been employed with gross insurable earnings of $2000 or higher annually, in at least 5 of the last 10 years,
  • have a Return to Work Action Plan that identifies that the JCP work experience being considered supports a reasonable occupational goal for them. 

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must register in the online Labor Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS),

2

Applicants must submit the application form and supporting documents electronically.

Documentation Needed: 

The applicant must submit:

  • the application form,
  • the job descriptions,
  • an organization overview,
  • a project budget with itemized budget breakdown.

Other Things to Note: 

No other details available.

Program Contact:

Job Creation Partnerships

Job Creation Partnerships Program Guidelines

Workplace Education Initiative (WEI)

by |

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Workplace Education Initiative (WEI) provides business skills training to business owners and their employees. WEI training enhances individual workplace skills and supports businesses and organizations to be more successful, open to change and ready for growth. Programs offered include leadership and communication skills, sales and marketing, financial management, and social media.

Comments on Funding:

The program provides funding:

  • to conduct an Organizational Training Needs Assessment,
  • to hire an Instructor for the development and delivery of programs for your organization.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

WEI provides training for working Nova Scotians and entrepreneurs in the following workplaces:

  • Nova Scotia businesses (for profit and not for profit);
  • business/sector/industry associations;
  • private-sector unions;
  • social enterprises.

Application Steps:

1

contact their regional Workplace Education & Training Coordinator;

2

set up a project team to oversee the program(s);

3

work with their Workplace Education & Training Coordinator to organize a needs assessment to learn more about the training needs in the individual business or community;

4

set goals and create a training plan;

5

hire an instructor to deliver the program who will tailor the program to meet the individual business needs;

6

apply online via the Labor Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS).

Documentation Needed: 

No specific documentation has been identified.

Other Things to Note:

Workplace Education Initiative (WEI) is a program administered by the Department of Labour and Advanced Education through the Labour Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS), a common method for administering Labour Market Programs in Nova Scotia. The Department, in partnership with business, industry and labour organizations, manages this Labour Market Program.

Program Contact:

Workplace Education

Workplace Education Initiative Program Guidelines

Making-It-Work-Guide-for-Project-Teams.pdf