Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Underprivileged

Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program

Amount:

$100,000

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program provides funding to businesses for a cost-shared grant to make accessibility-related improvements. Improvements can be for clients and customers, for employees, or both.

There are five categories of funding:

  1. 1
    Built Environment for removing physical barriers for persons to access business services, by installing ramps, accessible washrooms, door openers, and other projects,
  2. 2
    Accessible Communications Services to ensure that all customers, clients, and employees can access information related to a business,
  3. 3
    Assistive Devices to ensure that employees and consumers who are person with disabilities have the devices they need to effectively do their jobs and access places of business,
  4. 4
    Universal Design Capacity Building for training in the field of Universal Design, both for technical services professionals and for persons with disabilities wishing to better understand its value.
  5. 5
    Accessible Transportation to provide support for businesses to improve access to transportation services.

Comments on Funding:

Maximum grant amounts available per year is $100,000 per applicant.
Funding is up to 2/3 of eligible expenses, to a maximum of:

  • $50,000 for Built Environment and Accessibility Certification,
  • $30,000 for Accessible Communication and Information,
  • $30,000 for Assistive Devices,
  • $20,000 for Accessible Transportation projects.

Funding available for Universal Design Capacity Building is up to 1/2 of eligible expenses.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Next deadlines to be determined

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • a business that operates in Nova Scotia,
  • registered as a for-profit entity with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks, including locally owned franchises,
  • open for use by all community members at reasonable rates and reasonable times and not reserved to those belonging by way of a closed membership or other means,

Application Steps:

1

is encouraged to contact the Business ACCESS-Ability program officer, if he has any questions, 

2

must submit the application form by mail, email, or fax,

3

may apply under one or more categories.

Documentation Needed: 

The applicant must submit:

  • the application form,
  • description of business and description of existing place of business,
  • documented use of place of business,
  • description of proposed project,
  • copy of lease agreement or proof of ownership,
  • information about other grants,
  • proof of insurance and proof of registration as a for-profit entity,
  • detailed estimates,
  • proof of skilled labour,
  • proof of need for assistive devices,
  • site photos (before&after),
  • drawings, sketches, maps, if available,
  • a final report within 30 days of completing your project.

Other Things to Note: 

The Business ACCESS-Ability program deadline for 2022-2023 fiscal year was July 29, 2022. Check the website for updates.

Program Contact:

Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program

ba-guidelines-business.pdf

Rooming House Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP)

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Rooming House Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) provides financial assistance to owners/landlords for mandatory repairs to rooming houses with bed units that are affordable to low income occupants.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is in the form of a forgivable loan. The funding amount is based on the cost of the mandatory repairs and the number of eligible beds in the applicant's rooming house or hostel.
The maximum forgivable loan per bed unit is $16,000.
With the exception of non-profit organizations, owners must contribute 25% of the total mandatory repairs.  

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be New Brunswick private entrepreneurs, non-profit corporations, or housing co-operatives that are not receiving any government housing assistance,
  • own properties that operate as bona fide rental enterprises and that are intended to serve as permanent accommodation;,
  • own properties that are rooming houses or hostels containing more than three bed units which are rented to people not related to the owner,
  • own a property that is at least five years old and lacks basic facilities or requires major repair in one of the following areas: structural, heating, electrical, fire safety, plumbing,
  • complete all mandatory health and safety repairs,
  • apply a post-rehabilitation rent charge at or below levels established by this Department and Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC).

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must contact the housing office of the Department of Social Development in their area for further details.
All approved applicants must enter into a rental agreement to ensure that rents remain affordable to low-income occupants during the earning period of the loan.

Documentation Needed:

No specific documentation has been identified.

Other Things to Note:

The Program is funded by a cost sharing arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

Program Contact:

Rooming House Rehabilitation Assistance Program

Rooming House Rehabilitation Assistance Program Guidelines

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Rental Conversion

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Rental Conversion Program provides financial assistance to owners/landlords to convert non-residential properties into affordable self-contained rental housing units and/or bed-units to be occupied by low income households.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is in the form of a forgivable loan. The funding amount is based on the cost of eligible work and the number of eligible units within the project.
The maximum amount for each self-contained unit is $24,000. The maximum forgivable loan per bed unit is $16,000.
With the exception of non-profit organizations, owners must contribute 25% of the total mandatory repairs.  

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be New Brunswick private entrepreneurs, non-profit corporations, co-operatives or Municipalities who wish to convert non-residential properties into bona fide affordable permanent rental accommodations,
  • own properties that operate as bona fide rental enterprises,
  • have a legitimate landlord tenant relationship,
  • convert property that will have to contain more than 3 bed units or one or more self-contained units to be rented to occupants with incomes at or below the applicable income threshold,
  • apply a post-conversion rent charge which is at or below levels established by this Department,
  • have a financially viable project upon post-conversion rents.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must contact the housing office of the Department of Social Development in their area for further details.
All approved applicants must enter into a rental agreement to ensure that rents remain affordable to low-income occupants during the earning period of the loan.

Documentation Needed:

No specific documentation has been identified.

Other Things to Note:

The Program is funded by a cost sharing arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

Program Contact:

Rental Conversion Program

Rental Conversion Program Guidelines

Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP)

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) provides financial assistance to owners/landlords for mandatory repairs to self-contained units that are substandard and rented to low income households.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is in the form of a forgivable loan. The funding amount is based on the cost of mandatory repairs and the number of eligible self-contained units in the project.
The maximum amount for each self-contained unit is $24,000.
With the exception of non-profit organizations, owners must contribute 25% of the total cost of mandatory repairs.  

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be New Brunswick private entrepreneurs, non-profit corporations, or housing co-operatives that are not receiving any government housing assistance,
  • own properties that operate as bona fide rental enterprises,
  • own properties that contain one or more self-contained units, rented or intended to be rented to occupants with incomes below the established "income ceilings" set by the Province (this Department) and Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC),
  • own a property that is at least five years old and lacks basic facilities or requires major repair in one of the following areas: structural, heating, electrical, fire safety, plumbing,
  • complete all mandatory health and safety repairs,
  • apply a post-RRAP rent charge at or below levels established by this Department and CMHC.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must contact the housing office of the Department of Social Development in their area for further details.
All approved applicants must enter into a rental agreement to ensure that rents remain affordable to low-income occupants during the earning period of the loan.

Documentation Needed:

No specific documentation has been identified.

Other Things to Note:

The Program is funded by a cost sharing arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

Program Contact:

Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program

Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program Guidelines

Access Ability

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Wage Subsidy

Description:

Access Ability is an employment wage subsidy program, dedicated to providing inclusive hiring through federal wage subsidies to employers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is a Pay- for - Performance wage subsidy, 100% coverage for up to 20 weeks of work experience.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be employers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador,
  • provide a minimum 35-hour work week,
  • cover the mandatory employment related costs (CPP, EI, Vacation Pay),
  • provide $15/hr wage to their new hire,
  • assign an organization supervisor to act as a mentor for the participant.

The participant must:

  • self identify as a person living with a disability,
  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada,
  • be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations,
  • not be in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefit.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must complete the online application form.

Other Things to Note:

Access Ability is an employment wage subsidy program funded by Service Canada and facilitated by the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre.

Program Contact:

Access - Ability website