ACOA Business Information Services

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is here for you. Our Business Information Services team can help you figure out your next steps and find what you need to start or grow your business. Who we are Our one-stop information shop is free of charge and available in both official languages. We’re ready to answer your business questions and guide you through the steps to take to make your great ideas a reality. From funding to planning, from research to regulations, if there’s something you need to run your business, look no further! What we do Business support is what we know. We can give you information on: business planning – get personalized advice no matter how far along you are. financing – learn about different funding options (loans, grants, wage subsidies, COVID-19 relief, etc.). government regulations – learn about taxes, permits, licences, and more to make sure you’re operating legally. imports and exports – find out how to move goods and services across the Canadian border. reliable market research information – access research on the topics you need: Demographics (e.g., age, household income, marital status, etc.) Potential competitors Suppliers and distributors Industry performance International market and industry data Financial benchmarking specific to your industry Consumer trends Import and export statistics

ACOA – Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF)

The AIF encourages partnerships among private sector firms, co-operatives, universities, colleges and other research institutions to develop and commercialize new or improved products and services. Helps Atlantic Canadian companies develop innovative new products and services and then take them to market.

ACOA – Business Development Program

The BDP can help you expand or modernize your business. It can also provide funding to develop your innovative ideas, improve your competitiveness, and develop clean technology projects. Designed to assist with the financing of your project, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The program offers access to interest free repayable assistance.

ACOA – Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI)

Funding offered under the REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity stream helps businesses to accelerate their growth and adopt innovative technologies. Business Scale Up and Productivity support is available for ambitious companies in need of growth funding. Funding offered under REGI helps businesses to accelerate their growth and assists with the adoption of innovative technologies that support scale-up, productivity and global competitiveness as well as the development of and entry into new markets.

Advance Payments Program (APP)

The Advance Payments Program (APP) is a federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-interest cash advances. Under the program, producers can access up to $400,000 per program year in advances based on the value of their agricultural product, with the Government of Canada paying the interest on the first $100,000 advanced to a producer. Advances are repaid as the producer sells their agricultural product, with up to 18 months to fully repay the advance for most commodities (up to 24 months for cattle and bison). As a producer, an APP advance can help you to meet your financial needs, such as farm input costs, immediate financial obligations, and product marketing costs. It can also allow you to make the decision to sell your agricultural products based on market conditions rather than the need for cash flow.

Advancing Innovative Technologies 2019-2020

The Advancing Innovative Technologies initiative will support the adoption of new technologies, processes or specialized equipment. Through the assessment, implementation or adoption, all projects should improve farm and industry competitiveness, productivity & profitability.

AgriInnovate Program

The AgriInnovate Program aims to accelerate the commercialization, adoption and/or demonstration of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase sector competitiveness and sustainability.

AgriInvest Program

AgriInvest helps you manage small income declines and provides support for investments to mitigate risks or improve market income. Your AgriInvest account builds as you make annual deposits based on a percentage of your Allowable Net Sales and receive matching contributions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments. You can deposit up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales annually, with the first 1% matched by governments. The maximum Allowable Net Sales you can have in a year is $1 million. Based on this limit, the maximum matchable deposit you can make annually is $100,000.

AgriMarketing Program: Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Component

The Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Component provides targeted support to companies for international initiatives. All activities must promote international business development and must go beyond the applicant’s core activities and represent new initiatives that provide an opportunity to yield incremental results. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) funding for a project will normally not exceed $50,000 per fiscal year; and $100,000 over two consecutive fiscal years and an applicant can apply more than once, but for each applicant, funding will not be more than $250,000 over five years.

AgriStability Program

The AgriStability Program provides support when you experience a large margin decline. You may be able to receive an AgriStability payment when your current year program margin falls below 70% of your reference margin. Should your production margin fall below 70% of your reference margin in a given year, you will receive a program payment.