CBDC supports the growth and development of Atlantic Canadian Social Enterprises by arranging loans and financing and by providing access to other business development services and resources. CBDC Social Enterprise Loans are specifically intended to provide financial support for revenue generating business operations of officially registered non-profit organizations. The CBCD could provide up to $150,000 in loans to a business for items necessary to business operations. Qualifications for the CBDC loans are in the article.

Entrepreneurs often report that getting financing is the most challenging aspect of starting a business. There are both government and private-sector sources of financing that you can tap into to get your business off the ground. This section of an in-depth guide to starting a new businesses explores these sources of financing.

The study carried out over the last eighteen months focuses on the financing needs of organizations in the Social Economy in Atlantic Canada. The study aimed to complete a comprehensive survey of both the demand and supply of funds in the social economy. It examines the demand for external financing: it aims to identify financing needs and challenges facing a sample of social economy organizations, to determine characteristics of organizations that are successful in accessing external financing, and identify the factors affecting such success. It also examines the availability of funds from government, financial institutions, and foundations and the criteria used in assessing financing requests.

This paper examines the challenges facing Social Economy Organizations (SEOs) that pursue external financing, on the basis of a recent Atlantic Canada research study. It reviews results of a comprehensive survey of the financing needs of organizations in the Social Economy and a survey of lending and investing practices of financial institutions and government agencies in the sector.

The program is a joint initiative of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council, Atlantic Central, local participating credit unions, and the Province of Nova Scotia. Together, we are delivering better financial assistance for the start-up and expansion of small businesses. The Small Business Loan Guarantee Program supports provincial business owners with creating and maintaining rewarding careers for Nova Scotians each year.

The program is designed to provide social enterprises with access to credit exclusively through local credit unions.

The Community Investment Grant Program is designed to provide funding support to a variety of community groups and individuals that will directly benefit the community. Events, programs, activities and projects are all eligible for funding. This program is an expression of CUA’s vision that our members and communities are better off, and provides broad support to projects with an aim to effect positive economic, social and environmental change.

If your organization has a job opening in Nova Scotia, you can apply for financial incentives to hire an eligible, unemployed worker.

You could get up to $150,000 for your non-profit social enterprise or cooperative in rural Atlantic Canada. You can use this loan to start, renovate or grow your social enterprise or purchase assets to continue your business activities.

This working research paper looks at several social enterprises throughout Atlantic Canada. It gives particular attention to the start up, past, and current financial state and strategies of Atlantic Canadian Social Enterprises.

This report is on the motives of social enterprise investors and their motives. Although this report is tailored for investors, it could be valuable for social entrepeneurs to look at these motives to better create a product that will attract investors.

Invest Nova Scotia is a fund designed to foster innovation and collaboration that improves Nova Scotia's competitiveness in the global economy. Decisions are made by a board of directors independent of government. Investments build on and add value to the province's diverse economy.

Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) is helping to build a stronger workforce and retain well-educated young people in Nova Scotia with a salary incentive that makes it easier to hire recent graduates. Employers receive 25% of the first year’s salary – 35% if the new grad is a member of designated diversity group – and 12.5% of the second year’s salary.

Different funding opportunities as listed by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Many involve loans for businesses just getting their start.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada released its report Harnessing the Power of Social Finance in response to the national call for concepts it undertook in late 2012. This call for concepts challenged Canadians to propose solutions to complex social issues that are funded through social finance instruments.

The Business Development Program (BDP) can help you start up, expand or modernize your business. Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises, the BDP provides access to capital in the form of interest-free repayable assistance. Most business sectors are eligible except retail/wholesale, real estate, government services, and services of a personal or social nature. The BDP also provides financial assistance, in the form of non-repayable assistance, to not-for-profit organizations that provide support to Atlantic businesses.

This is a thorough, step by step guide designed for those looking to start up a social enterprise in New Brunswick. Key financial issues such as equity and debt are detailed in this section, along with what to expect from investors in the form of funding.

This document provides individual case studies based on a common template. These SFIFs (Social Finance Investment Funds) represent a small but diverse component of the broader SFIF universe in Canada. The objective was to create a source of SFIF models that can be accessed by social financiers, developing and existing SFIFs, community and private foundations, financial co-operatives, other community-based organizations, and all levels of government. Implicit in this undertaking was the desire to understand some of the lessons that have been learned by these SFIFs as they have formed, raised capital, and deployed capital.

A Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) helps resourceful communities around Nova Scotia operate or invest in local business by blending local capital and grassroots business development.

The following document explores the case for independent businesses to join a Purchasing Co-operative. It discusses the problems many Independents currently face “going it alone”, illustrates the specific benefits of being part of a Co-operative, and identifies the structure and characteristics of the most successful Purchasing Cooperatives.

This page entails how FarmWorks provides loans to qualifying enterprises to help them increase production and profitability through sustainable economic activity. Businesses seeking funding will send a preliminary application to FarmWorks. If the business fits with FarmWorks principles and objectives the applicant will be asked to submit more information to FarmWorks. Board Members and Advisors will evaluate a comprehensive business plan that includes current financial information and projections, will visit the business and meet with the applicants and will complete a Comprehensive Review. The Board will make a decision and a loan agreement will be signed with successful applicants.

This is a link to the general page for the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board where visitors have the option to learn more about the program and how to apply.

The Co-op Education Incentive (CO-OP) provides wage assistance to private sector, government-funded and non-profit organizations offering career-related work experiences for university and community college co-operative students. Employers pay students a minimum of $15.00 per hour plus 4% vacation pay. CO-OP will reimburse $7.50 per hour to a maximum of 40 hours per week. Employers participating in IRAP and SR&ED; are eligible for an “R&D; Incentive” and may receive up to $10.00 per hour.

Under the Growing Forward 2 bilateral agreement, $37 million in federal and provincial funding will be invested over five years towards strategic initiative programming. Growing Forward 2 programs will focus on innovation, competitiveness and market development to ensure Canadian producers and processors have the tools and resources they need to continue to innovate and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

If you hire an apprentice, you could get a tax credit equal to 10% of that person's salary. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year per eligible apprentice.

Do you plan to hire students to help out at your small business next summer? This wage subsidy could help you pay up to 50% of the salary to an eligible full-time student.

You could get financial assistance if you can offer career-related work experience to young people between the ages of 15 and 30.

As the owner of a licensed child care facility or day care centre, you could get $13 an hour towards the salary of a substitute so that you or your employees can take approved courses in Early Childhood Education during working hours.

You can apply for a 50% wage subsidy on salaries up to $7.50 per hour, to hire a post-secondary or recent graduate student to work at your small or medium-sized energy-sector business.

If your business is in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields, you may be eligible to hire a young professional for a full-time environmental position.

Do you operate a business in the housing industry? If so, you could be eligible to receive wage subsidies to hire and train First Nations or Inuit youths between the ages of 15 and 30.

You may be eligible for funding to hire an unemployed person for up to 52 consecutive weeks.You will need to: Create a new full-time position with start and finish dates, provide a meaningful work experience, supervise, and mentor the participant, ensure that the work project benefits your community or local economy, register for the Labour Market Support System.

Learn how your business could receive specialized expertise by recruiting a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow to research your technology project for 4 or more months.

If your knowledge-based business generates an economic benefit for Nova Scotia, you may be eligible for a 5% to 10% rebate on your gross payroll.

If you are a person with a disability who wants to start a business, or an employer who would like to hire someone with a disability, you could qualify for funds.

If your business is in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields, you may be eligible to hire an intern for a new environmental position or project.

You could get up to $25,000 per participant to hire and train youth between the ages of 15 and 30 who face barriers to employment.

As an employer in Atlantic Canada, you can apply to receive funding in the form of a wage subsidy if you hire a recent graduate between the ages of 19 and 30. The funds help cover up to 50% of the employee's wages.

You could receive a financial contribution towards the salary of a post-secondary graduate to help you research, develop and commercialize new technologies, or to hire a youth to work on a green project.

Entrepreneurs often report that getting financing is the most challenging aspect of starting or growing a business. If you are looking for money for your business, you should start by learning about the different types of financing that are available. You can then decide which one best suits your needs.

This page will help direct you to information that could help you manage and grow. There are links to general business information that applies to any entrepreneur, small or medium business, or social enterprise. Within these lists you’ll also find programs and services that are specific to organizations like yours.

If you are Aboriginal or have a majority-owned Aboriginal business, you can apply for up to $99,999 to help you: Start or buy a business, develop a business plan, grow your existing business, market your product or service, develop new products or processes, and get business advice. You do not need to pay the money back. Conditions apply.

If you are an Aboriginal entrepreneur in Atlantic Canada you could get a loan to start or buy a business, or grow or refinance your existing business. The loans available are: Youth loans — must be between the ages of 18-35, general loans — loans available up to $250,000, cottage Craft Industry — loans available up to $1,000. Other conditions apply.

If you live in a rural area of Atlantic Canada, you could access support to start or grow a business:Help to develop your business plan, business counselling, training, loans up to $150,000 The loan programs could help you: start or purchase a business, increase your working capital, adopt, develop or commercialize technology.

Would you like to buy an existing business? Do you need a consultant to help you determine its strengths? You could get a loan to: buy an existing business, acquire a competitor's or supplier's business, purchase the business that you already manage, pay for a consultant to help evaluate the business and integrate its processes. The type of loan you could get will depend on whether or not you already own land, shares in a business, or other assets.

Access a wide range of specialized financing to match the various stages of growth of your business, such as: Transforming your ideas into a business, growth initiatives such as R&D;, and product and market development, buying or transferring a business, including family successions, management and partner buyouts, and management buy-ins. Options include: Venture capital, customized growth and business transition capital. Terms and conditions may be tailored to meet your unique needs.

Whether you are launching a business or looking to expand and grow an existing one, you could get a term loan to help you: start or buy a business, buy, build or renovate your facilities, buy equipment, research and develop new products, develop new markets for your products, acquire information and communications technology, and sell your business. The loan comes with flexible terms. You may need to provide credit references and to have invested money in your business. Other conditions apply.

Do you need a loan to start or buy a business, or to pay for property and equipment to set up your business? Financing may be available to entrepreneurs who demonstrate: market and sales potential, competence in the management team, investment in their business, expertise in a chosen field. Other conditions apply.

As an Aboriginal entrepreneur, you could get up to $25,000 to start a business or up to $100,000 to grow your existing business. You could also get business advice for 2 years. You should: have a good business idea, have experience in management, have personal or corporate guarantees, be willing to work with a mentor, operate on- or off-reserve in Canada. You can use the loan to buy land or equipment, develop new products, create an Internet site or learn how to export and more.

Keep your cash flow. Rather than using the money you need for day-to-day activities, consider applying for additional financing. With the BDC Small Business Loan, you could get up to $100,000 within 5 business days, no application fees or hassles. The entire process is completed online. You need to have been operating your business for the past 24 months.

As an African Nova Scotian entrepreneur, you could access a loan of up to $25,000 to start or expand your business, provided you have: a new or existing 33% Black-owned business, a proprietorship, partnership, or limited, registered company, a viable business plan, the ability to repay the loan, a suitable management strategy. Micro loans of up to $5,000 are also available.

If your business is located in Atlantic Canada, you could access interest-free loans to finance viable projects that benefit the region. Loans cover: up to 50% of costs related to start-up, growth, construction or acquisition of a building, machinery, equipment, infrastructure, and intangible assets. Up to 75% of the cost of marketing, training, productivity/quality improvement, innovation, consultation, and bidding. Ineligible sectors include: retail/wholesale, real estate, personal/social services

This program could help you secure up to $1 million from a financial institution by sharing the risk with your lender. The loans can be used to: purchase or improve land or buildings, purchase leasehold improvements or improve leased property, purchase new or used equipment. Eligible small businesses should have annual gross revenues of no more than $10 million. Discuss your business needs with a financial officer at any bank, caisse populaire, or credit union in Canada.

If you are an agricultural producer, this program could help you get a loan from a bank, a credit union or a caisse populaire. Eligibility: existing farmers, beginning or start-up farmers, farmers taking over the family farm, agricultural co-operatives. Loans are limited to a maximum of: $500,000 for land and construction, $350,000 for all other loan purposes. Apply directly through your lending institution. Other conditions apply.

You could get up to $150,000 to start a business, if you are a first-time entrepreneur living in a rural area of Atlantic Canada. You can use this loan to: help you buy an existing business or start a new one, run either a year-round or seasonal business, finance purchases or make leasehold improvements. Other conditions apply.

You could get up to $150,000 to grow your business, if you are an entrepreneur living in a rural area of Atlantic Canada. You can use this loan to: expand an existing business, tap into new market opportunities, purchase a new or existing business, run either a year-round or seasonal business, upgrade facilities or buildings. Other conditions apply.

If you are between the ages of 18-34 and living in Atlantic Canada, you could get up to $150,000 to start, grow or modernize your business. You can use this loan to: acquire the assets of a previous business, apply to start-up costs, fixed assets and/or working capital, run either a year-round or seasonal business. Eligible borrowers may be sole proprietorships, limited companies or partnerships. Other conditions apply.

You could be eligible for loan options ranging between $3,000 and $45,000 to start or expand your business in Halifax, Dartmouth or Bedford. To be eligible, you must: either be starting up, or have been in operation for less than twelve months, be at least 18 years old, own at least 51% of a full-time, year-round business. Other conditions and requirements are in place depending on the financing for which you apply.

You could get up to $150,000 for your non-profit social enterprise or cooperative in rural Atlantic Canada. You can use this loan to: start, renovate, or grow your social enterprise, purchase assets to continue your business activities. Other conditions apply.

As an aspiring or existing craft entrepreneur in Cape Breton and Mulgrave, you can get training and funding to develop your business skills, enhance productivity, and improve your capacity for growth. Funding is available for: consulting services — up to $5,000 for planning, lean manufacturing and accounting, website development — up to $5,000 for a new site or $3,500 to upgrade, international development — up to 75% of eligible costs to attend a trade show with an international component. Some conditions apply.

Do you need financing to start, run, grow, or transfer an agri-food or agribusiness operation? Farm Credit Canada offers a large range of loans with unique terms that can help you: purchase or improve land, buildings, or equipment, buy crop inputs or livestock, make environmental improvements, transfer your business to a new operator. Eligible producers or business owners are Canadian citizens of legal age.

To enter or re-enter the commercial fisheries industry or diversify to a new species, you can apply for a loan to buy a licence and associated gear, or to use as a deposit on a licence package.

Are you a newcomer to Canada between the ages of 18 and 39, with a limited credit history? If so, you could apply for a $7,500 repayable loan to start a business. This amount could be matched with a repayable loan from the BDC for a potential total of $15,000. If you are between the ages of 35 and 39, your application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 39, you could get a loan of $15,000 to start or buy a business. To be eligible, you will need to: create a business plan for a business that will employ you full time, work with a mentor for two years, own at least 51% of your business. You cannot use the funds to pay existing debts. You need to repay the loan and pay administrative fees. If you qualify, you can also apply for an extra $30,000 through the Futurpreneur Canada-BDC Start-Up Program.

If you are between 18 and 34 years of age and live in either Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Saint John, Fredericton, Halifax or St. John's, you could get a loan of up to: $20,000 to start, grow or improve a small business, or $2,000 to get training and business counselling. 35 or older? You may also access business training and counselling.

If you are unemployed, and are receiving or have recently received Employment Insurance benefits, you could get support and training to start a business while still receiving Employment Insurance benefits.

Your new small business may be eligible for an exemption from paying Nova Scotia corporate income tax for your first 3 years of incorporation if: you have at least 2 employees, one of which is full-time and unrelated to any shareholder, this is a completely new type of business activity for you, the business is independent of any other corporations, it is not a previous business with the same or related owners. Some professional practices are not eligible, and other conditions also apply.

Are you a transitioning Canadian Armed Forces member, veteran, reservist, or a family member looking to establish yourself as an entrepreneur? Or do you have a business already? This national bilingual program offers: one-day workshops and seven-day business boot camps, tools and resources to guide business planning and growth, networking opportunities and introductions to local community support resources, access to free corporate law legal advice and information from a national law firm, short-term one-on-one business coaching for program participants, the Canadian Veteran Business Directory, a free online listing of military-owned businesses in Canada. This directory was established both as a marketing tool and to grow the entrepreneur's personal and professional networks.

If you are a Canadian citizen over 19 years old, or operate a registered Nova Scotia business in good standing, you can apply for a secured loan to: buy or build a fishing vessel, buy and install engines, equipment and/or electronics for your vessel, make technical modifications to your vessel. To apply you must have: all necessary Department of Fisheries and Oceans licences, a fishing Master Class IV certificate, or five years' experience as captain. Only vessels 22’ in length and over will be considered.

Find out about the financial services that respond to the needs of your business. Browse the list of private sector associations below to find members who provide debt and equity financing to businesses.

If you are involved in the Canadian television or digital media industries, you may be eligible for funding. You can browse through a variety of programs that can help you create and promote software applications and other creative media. There are two streams: experimental – for digital media content and application software that is innovative and interactive, convergent – for convergent television and rich, interactive digital media content; support is given to production in all regions of Canada, and to underrepresented genres. Conditions apply.

As an emerging technology business owner, you can apply for capital investment, incubation and acceleration services, and mentoring support to get your idea to market. Eligible industries include: clean technology, information technology, oceans and agri-food technology, life sciences. The organization also offers: up to $100,000 cash and $100,000 seed money for winning the annual I-3 Technology Start-Up competition, up to $50,000 for winning the CleanTech or Spark Cape Breton competitions, recommendations to Canada's Start-Up Visa Program for eligible foreign entrepreneurs.

Your local independent television project may qualify for an equity investment of up to $300,000 to a maximum of 20% of the total budget. To qualify, your project must: be created and produced by Nova Scotians, have a high percentage of Canadian content, have a Canadian broadcast licence, be scripted and fiction-based, meet the requirements for the Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit. Other conditions apply.

You could receive in-store or mail-in rebates to help you offset the cost of buying premium energy efficient products for your businesses. Eligible products include: agricultural technologies, kitchen, refrigeration, and laundry equipment, heating and cooling equipment, power management software, lighting, compressors and pumping technologies. A business energy app is available to help you calculate potential annual savings for your business.

Apply for a tax credit of up to 65% of costs to develop a commercial digital animation production with a minimum viewing time of 20 minutes. To be eligible, your business must: be a taxable Canadian corporation, be permanently located in Nova Scotia, be primarily engaged in film or video production, not be a prescribed labour-sponsored venture capital corporation under the federal Income Tax Act. Eligible costs include: salaries, core animation activities such as designing, modeling and storyboarding. Other conditions apply.

Apply for a tax credit of up to 50% of the development costs of your interactive digital media product if your business is: a taxable Canadian corporation, permanently located in Nova Scotia, not a prescribed labour-sponsored venture capital corporation under the federal Income Tax Act. The product must: be interactive, educate, inform or entertain, use two of either text, sound, or images. A 10% geographic bonus and $100,000 marketing and distribution credit are also possible. Other conditions apply.

You may be able to offer potential investors a personal tax credit equal to 35% of their investment, to a maximum of $17,500. To be eligible, you must: be involved in active business, have less than $25 million in assets or revenue, pay at least 25% of your salaries in Nova Scotia, be a corporation or cooperative with regular shares and membership. Other conditions apply.

You may qualify for a tax credit of 16% on salaries and wages paid to Canadian residents working on your film or video production. There is no cap on the tax credit. The credit is available to both Canadian and foreign-owned businesses with permanent establishments in Canada. There is an application fee of $5,000. Other conditions apply.

Attract investors to your labour-sponsored venture capital corporation by offering them a personal income tax credit of up to $2,000. Your corporation must: be sponsored by a trade union to maintain and create jobs, raise venture capital by issuing shares to the public, invest capital raised in eligible businesses through equity financing. Eligible investments must be: newly issued common voting shares, non-convertible, non-restricted upon dissolution. Other conditions apply.

If your business incurs costs from qualified scientific research and experimental development carried out in Nova Scotia, you could receive a 15% tax credit when you file your taxes. The refund can apply to expenses like wages, materials, machinery, equipment, overhead, and scientific research and experimental development contracts. Your work must fall under: experimental development, basic or applied research, or work in support of research and development. Other conditions apply.

If you conduct industrial R&D; in Canada, you may be eligible for a tax refund or tax credit of up to 35% of what you spent on R&D.; You can apply for tax credits for expenses like wages, materials, machinery, equipment, some overhead and contracts related to: experimental development, applied research, basic scientific research, certain types of technical support work. You can apply for the tax credit as part of your tax return by completing the required forms. There are a variety of tools and services available to help you with your claim.

You could get the working capital you need for export-related activities through the Export Guarantee Program. By establishing a credit arrangement with your financial institution, the risk and security is then shared. The program provides: sufficient cash flow for business or capital expenses, flexibility to cover investments in new employees or equipment to fulfill a contract, support for international investment. Costs are based on the associated risks, the duration of the contract and the amount of financing required. Other conditions apply.

Are you a Canadian producer experiencing financial hardship? If so, help is readily available. You could get up to 50% of the average market price of your stored crops or unsold livestock. The limit on cash advances is $400,000 — the first $100,000 of which is interest-free. You need to repay your cash advance as your products are sold and you need to repay the total amount within 18 months. These cash advances are delivered by industry associations, marketing boards and co-operatives in the agricultural sector.

Your finfish, shellfish or seaplant aquaculture business may be eligible for a secured loan to finance the purchase of: salmonoid seed stock, shellfish seed/spat, collection and grow-out equipment and materials, rafts, buoys, nets and other eligible equipment, an existing operation. To apply, you must be a Canadian citizen or own a registered Nova Scotia business in good standing, and you must show competency in aquaculture. Other conditions apply.

Do you need financing to update your technology projects? You could get a loan to buy or update your information and communications technology while preserving your short-term working capital. With this funding you could invest in: hardware (servers, network, computers, and accessories), software (human resources, supply chain, finance, and accounting), consulting services (IT planning, strategy, security, online sales, Internet marketing, social media). Other conditions apply.

Are you retiring or ready to sell your business? Whether you are transferring your business to a family member or moving on to other ventures, you could get a loan to help with the costs of the transition. Financing may be available to: transfer your business to family members, sell your business to your managers or employees, sell your business to an outside buyer. Other conditions apply.

If you are looking to expand into new domestic or foreign markets, this loan could provide you with funding to: Invest in technology or develop new products, launch a new marketing campaign, purchase licenses, patents or trademarks, hire and train additional employees, obtain a certification. Other conditions apply.

Are you a new or existing entrepreneur in rural Atlantic Canada? If so, you could be eligible for up to $150,000 to adopt new technologies and tap into new markets. You can use this loan to: adapt and repurpose new technology for commercial applications, finance new products, services and training, and acquire software and related licenses. Eligible businesses and borrowers must be located in rural areas. Other conditions apply.

You could get a loan to purchase new or used equipment for your business. Depending on your business needs, BDC offers you two options to choose from: Equipment loan: Gives you the money you need to finance your equipment right away with interest-only payments for up to 24 months at the start of the loan, followed by a repayment period of up to 12 years. Equipment line: Using your pre-approved amount, you have the flexibility to make equipment purchases over a 12-month period with guaranteed terms and conditions.

You could get up to $99,999 to reimburse up to 50% of eligible expenses to promote your business in new international markets. Your for-profit business must: be incorporated or a limited liability partnership, employ between one and 250 full-time employees, have an annual revenue between $200,000 and $50 million. Eligible activities include: business travel, trade fairs, market research, marketing tools updates. Eligible expenses include travel costs, contractor or consultant fees, and legal fees. Other conditions apply.

As a Canadian-based entrepreneur, group or organization, you could qualify for a $3,000 grant if you undertake activities that support the promotion or development of export opportunities for entrepreneurs in Canada. Examples of eligible projects include: trade missions, global ecosystem tours, soft landings programs, export training, global partnership facilitation. Other conditions apply.

If you have an agri-business and are working on innovative projects, you can apply for assistance. Apply for: A contribution for pre-commercialization R&D; and knowledge transfer, a repayable contribution to help get your agri-based products or services ready for the market. There are two streams within this program: industry-led Research and Development Stream — you may receive a non-repayable contribution of up to $5 million, and enabling Commercialization and Adoption Stream — you may receive a repayable contribution of up to $10 million. Other conditions apply.

As an agricultural producer, you could get a matching amount from governments up to $15,000 per year if you set aside savings. This savings account allows you to set money aside which can be used to recover from small income shortfalls, or to make investments to reduce on-farm risks. You should make deposits: every year, up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales, within 90 days of the issue date on your Deposit Notice. Other conditions apply.

If your SME is part of the agriculture, agri-food, fish or seafood sectors, you may be eligible for funding of up to $250,000. Eligible projects must aim to develop new export markets or further penetrate existing export markets.

You could receive funding of up to $150,000 when you partner with an eligible Canadian college to develop clean technologies. Your grant could total: $150,000 when you cover 50% or more of the project cost, $75,000 when you cover 50% or less of the project cost. Your business or consortium must be Canadian-based and you must make use of the research. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada will determine your financial contribution to a project. Other conditions apply.

By collaborating with government researchers, you could increase your business' scientific capacity for R&D; projects relating to fish health and environmental performance. Eligible industry applicants must be: marine aquaculture producers operating within Canada, directly involved in producing marine aquatic species for pre-commercial or commercial purposes, companies or associations involved with sea ranching mariculture operations, provide a minimum of 30% of the program amount requested, at least 7.5% of which must be a cash contribution. Other conditions apply.

Does your business develop new technologies in Atlantic Canada? You could get financing to cover up to 75% of eligible costs if you are seeking between $500,000 and $3 million in funding. Contributions are conditionally repayable based on the commercial success of your project. To qualify, your project must be scientifically and/or technically sound, and you need to: show that your product can be commercialized, prove that you can manage the project. Other conditions apply.

If you have an incorporated automotive business, you could get funding to build greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles through innovation and R&D.; Proposals will be assessed based on innovation, environmental and economic benefits, your ability to achieve stated objectives, and the project's contribution to: automotive R&D; capacity and knowledge-based jobs in Canada, long-term economic benefit to Canada, including significant job creation/retention, the potential to attract further investments to foster Canadian competitiveness. Eligible projects must have a total private sector investment valued at more than $75 million over five years. Other conditions apply.

If you are working on next-generation automotive technologies, you could receive financial assistance to support collaborative R&D; activities. Your research must be driven by industry needs and involve industrial collaboration. Your proposal must show: how the planned activities will meet industry needs, how industry has been integral in developing the proposed research, how the support of the industrial partner is essential to the research. Submit your research proposals for projects lasting between 1 and 5 years. You can request any dollar amount; there are no minimum or maximum limits.

As a Canadian-based supplier to the automotive industry, you could get up to $10 million as a non-repayable contribution for technology projects that develop innovative products or processes. This can cover up to 50% of your eligible costs to undertake early-stage basic research and pre-commercialization activities: prototype development, product and process engineering, pre-commercial product and process testing and validation. To qualify, your business must: be incorporated, conduct business in Canada. Priority for funding is given to firms with either fewer than 500 employees globally or global revenues of less than $1 billion. Other conditions apply.

If you are an artist, or arts organization, you may be eligible for grants and prizes for your works. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and recognized as a professional by other artists in your field. Grants may be used for the creation, production, and presenting of works as well as: professional development, residency, travel, development of the sector. Other criteria may apply.

If your film production business is a Canadian-owned and controlled corporation, you may be eligible for financial assistance. Funding is available through a variety of programs, including the following: Development Program, Production Program, Theatrical Documentary Program, Marketing Program, International Marketing and Festival Participation Program. Various Canadian content conditions apply. See the website for financing details. You may submit your application online at any time during Telefilm's fiscal year.

If you are an employer, you could get a grant to cover up to 2/3 of the costs of training for your employees. The maximum you may receive is $10,000 per grant. Examples of eligible costs: tuition and examination fees, textbooks, software and other required materials. You need to: contribute 1/3 of the costs, use a third-party trainer. If you have no more than 50 employees, you could also benefit from flexible arrangements, such as the potential to count wages as part of your employer contribution. Other conditions apply.

If you publish a Canadian magazine in print or in digital format, or a non-daily Canadian newspaper, you could get money to help you produce and distribute it. Your company needs to be: located in Canada, registered or incorporated in Canada, owned and controlled, in majority, by Canadians. You can apply to the “Aid for publishers” stream, the “Business Innovation” stream or the "Collective Initiatives" stream. Funding will depend on which one you choose. Other conditions apply.

By attending customized workshops, you can learn how to help your organization increase its energy efficiency and reduce costs. Other tools and services can help you calculate and reduce energy consumption. If you choose to implement the ISO 50001 Standard at your facilities, you may be eligible to receive up to $40,000 to help cover implementation costs and those of related studies. To be eligible, you must: Register your facility with NRCan as a CIPEC Leader, have your proposal approved before work begins. Other conditions apply.

Are you looking to accelerate the commercialization of your innovative communications technology, products, applications or services? You may be eligible for commercialization support which may have a value of $50,000 to $100,000. Qualifying fields include: Software Defined Network, Network Function Virtualization, SD WAN, Internet of Things/Smart City Applications, Data Centre/Cloud, Network transport, applications, or mobility, security. Additional services can help commercialize, test, certify, and validate next-generation communications. Other conditions apply.

If you are undertaking a research project in natural sciences or engineering, you could have part of the project costs paid for you by partnering with a university. To be eligible, you should: contribute at least half the costs, have a project that is scientifically and technically feasible, have the expertise, with the help of your partner, to complete the project, have a project that benefits Canada, provide training to University students who work on the project. Other conditions apply.

If your business operates in a rural or remote area, you can apply for financing to obtain a high-speed Internet connection. The funding covers up to 75% of eligible costs for rural communities and up to 90% for backbone and last-mile infrastructure projects in remote communities.

Your marketing ideas may be eligible for a matched contribution worth up to of $500,000 if they can entice American travellers to visit Canada. Your proposal should use new or non-traditional marketing techniques and target American travellers aged 25-44 and 55+ who are located in 12 US cities.

If your business operates in Canada, you could receive a grant of up to $25,000 when you partner with a college or university to develop valuable technology.

If your research company operates in Canada, you could get up to $4,500 when you hire a natural sciences or engineering student for a 12-16 week term.

You could overcome export growth barriers with a 50% cost reimbursement up to $15,000 to get your fully-developed product, service, technology or intellectual property to market.

Are you a Canadian researcher from a small or medium size enterprise, university, or a non-government research centre looking to solidify an international partnership needed to commercialize your technology? If so, you could receive up to 75% of the costs associated with partnership development activities.

You may be eligible to hire a graduate to help you with your energy management, innovation and use of green technologies and processes. Your business may receive 80% of an intern's salary to a maximum of $10,000

Has your business developed highly innovative or first-in-kind technologies that could help Canada's forest industry become more competitive or sustainable? If so, you could get a non-repayable contribution of up to 50% of the project's costs to demonstrate the technology at the pilot or commercial scale.

If you are a for-profit Canadian business looking to collaborate with a foreign partner in Brazil, China, India, Israel or South Korea, you could get up to 50% of the costs associated with the commercialization of your innovation, including development, adaptation and validation of technology.

If you are a Canadian business with an R&D; project in natural sciences or engineering, you could partner with Canadian colleges and universities to access their facilities and students.

Your small or medium-sized business could grow stronger, faster and bigger through innovation and technology. You could receive customized technical and business advice as well as non-repayable financial contributions to help you advance your business.

The grants that are present in Nova Scotia for women in business are inclusive of the specialized grant programs the government has made for women business owners and funnelled to different provincial governments of the country. Thus, the women business owners can seek these grants in Nova Scotia and make use of government funds to flourish in their business endeavours.

This page provides a brief insight on financing cooperatives. Options with credit unions and banks are discussed along with trade credits, government programs for financing, and equipment leasing options.

The 2014 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SFGSME) was designed to determine the types of financing used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to collect information on recent attempts by SMEs to obtain new financing. In addition, the survey gathers data on firm growth, government contracting, exporting, innovation and intellectual property as they relate to SMEs, as well as business owner characteristics.

CEED helps connect entrepreneurs to sources of funding through the numerous connections they have made. Individuals eligible for CEED's financing initiative located in Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedford can access up to $65,000 in low interest business start-up financing.

CEED's advisors can help entrepreneurs access new markets, expand clientele, and find sources of funding. Additionally, CEED's advisors can provide guidance for your company's business and financial plans.

Find information that can help you manage your finances and cash flow, reduce expenses and make more profits.

Opportunities for funding from Divert NS where entrepreneurs have the opportunity to recieve research and development support, student research grants. Additionally, there are opportunities to get support for manufacturing and infrastructure.