Learnsphere – E-tools for Exporting

LearnSphere’s E-tools for Exporting (E for E) provides financial assistance to help you develop and integrate electronic tools that can help you do business more effectively and get your products and services to international markets more efficiently. If you’ve been working on a recent marketing or business strategy that includes updating or improving your potential to export outside of Canada, you may be eligible for financial assistance. This program can help to hire a consultant or agency for activities such as:

Website development, re-design or rebranding
Responsive web design conversion (ensuring mobile-friendly design)
Integration of e-commerce functionality
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Paid advertising (PayPerClick, Google Adwords, etc.)
Social media strategy or integration
Videos, online catalogues and other online customized tools
Translation of website
Creation/design of language toggle
Training on any of the above

Learnsphere – Export Market Access Program

LearnSphere’s Export Market Access Program (EMAP) provides financial assistance to help you market yourself more effectively, increase your exports and grow your business. If you’re working to enhance the way you market and sell your exports outside of Canada, you may be eligible for financial assistance through EMAP to help hire a consultant, mentor or agency for activities such as:

Market research or strategy development
Export plan development
Mentoring / coaching to improve export market research and planning
Lead generation
Sales
Development of promotional materials (brochures, catalogues, trade booth designs, etc.)

The maximum EMAP contribution is 65% of project costs, up to a maximum of $15,000 per year. Total project costs must be more than $5,000 to apply.

Music Nova Scotia – Artist Development

The Artist Development component offers up to a 75% level of investment to a $4,000 maximum per applicant per deadline toward one year of artist development activities including sound recording, touring and showcasing, video production, marketing and promotion. These activities must be detailed in an Artist Development Plan, which will be submitted to Music Nova Scotia as a required element of the application. At the end of the Artist Development year, successful applicants are required to deliver to Music Nova Scotia one new, previously unreleased, professional quality sound recording, called the Delivery Track.

Nova Scotia Farm Loans

If you are starting or growing an agricultural business in rural Nova Scotia, you can apply for a variety of lending products to help improve your farm operations. They include: Fixed and term farm mortgages Quota loans Working capital Equipment financing Debt consolidation Eligible projects include: Land purchases Farm acquisitions Farm building construction and improvement Rural agri-business development

NRC – Research and Development Programming

Learn about how the National Research Council can support your innovation efforts with strategic and collaborative research centres, scientific and technical advisory services, and licensing opportunities. Programs include: Research and collaboration – Research and collaboration centres, international innovation, libraries and data collections, industrial R&D groups Facilities – Unique and specialized research and testing facilities to support private and public sector partners Products and services – Technical and advisory services, software and applications, reference materials, calibration, construction codes Intellectual property licensing – Patent licensing opportunities to develop integrated and market-ready solutions  

NSERC- Applied Research and Development Grants

Applied Research and Development Grants support well-defined applied research and development projects undertaken by college researchers with their private-sector partners. Direct project costs are shared by the company partner(s) and the CCI Program. Projects may range from one year to three years in duration. Grants range from up to $75,000 per year to $150,000 per year.

NSERC-Alliance Grants

Alliance grants encourage university researchers to collaborate with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. These grants support research projects led by strong, complementary, collaborative teams that will generate new knowledge and accelerate the application of research results to create benefits for Canada. Grants range from $5,000 – $25,000. Research supported by Alliance grants will: Generate new knowledge and/or technology to address complex challenges Create economic, social and/or environmental benefits Contribute to Canada’s long-term competitiveness Support public policy Train new researchers in areas that are important to Canada and to the partner organizations Draw on diverse perspectives and skill sets to accelerate the translation and application of research results

PCH – Canada Music Fund

The Canada Music Fund (CMF) helps the Canadian music industry meet new challenges. A wide range of musicians and entrepreneurs who create, produce and market original and diverse Canadian music are eligible to apply. CMF components include: New Musical Works – provides Canadian creators and entrepreneurs with opportunities to produce and promote Canadian sound recordings, to develop their craft and expertise Collective Initiatives – provides financial assistance for conferences and award shows, real and virtual showcases, as well as market development initiatives. Music Entrepreneur- enable established entrepreneurs to offer a wide range of choices that enrich the Canadian musical experience in the long term, to become increasingly competitive nationally and internationally.

SENNS – Impact Investment Fund

The Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia (SENNS) has launched Nova Scotia’s first Impact Investment Fund, in partnership with the national Social Enterprise Ecosystem Project (S4ES), managed by SENNS partner, the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council. Financing is available for social enterprises who meet the eligibility criteria as outlined on the Fund application form. The maximum amount of financing available is up to $15,000 per applicant.

Small Business Loan Guarantee Program

As a Nova Scotia resident, you could borrow up to $500,000 from a credit union in the form of a loan, line of credit or working capital to start or grow a business. Eligibility is based on your business plan, viability, and character. Acadian Credit Union 15089 Cabot Trail Cheticamp 1902-224-2055 Dominion Credit Union 94 Commercial Street Dominion, NS 902 849 8648 Glace Bay Central Credit Union Main Branch 598 Main St. Glace Bay, NS 902 849 7512 Reserve Mines Branch 2249 Sydney Rd. Reserve Mines, NS 902 849 4583 St. Joseph’s Credit Union 3552 Highway 206, Petit de Grat 1-902-226-2288 East Coast Credit Union Branches Baddeck Branch 902-295-3477 Havre Boucher Branch 902-234-2523 Inverness Branch 902-258-2045 L’Ardoise Branch 902-587-2414 Louisdale Branch 902-345-2015 Mabou Branch 902-945-2003 Margaree Branch 902-235-2659 Port Hawkesbury Branch 902-625-0190 Port Hood Branch 902-787-3246 St. Peter’s Branch 902-535-3101 Sydney Credit Union Sydney Branch 95 Townsend St., Sydney 902 562-5593 sydney@sydneycreditunion.com Sydney River Branch 1280 Kings Rd., Sydney River 902-539-1684 sydneyriver@sydneycreditunion.com