Labour and Advanced Education – Co-op Education Incentive

If your company demonstrates high innovation and productivity, global competitiveness, high performance work practices and environmental sustainability, you may apply for this co-op education subsidy. The following are the eligibility criteria:

Are private-sector, government-funded, non-profit, or charitable organization, a social enterprise or a municipality
Want to hire a co-operative education student for a work term of 12-16 weeks
Will pay the student at least $15 per hour, plus vacation pay, for 32.5 to 40 hours of work per week

LAE – Workplace Education Initiative

The Workplace Education Initiative Programs are tailored specifically for each workplace to meet the needs of the employees in that workplace. Topics that could be included in a program are essential skills related to the development of documents, communication, computers, reading, math, essentials for small business, academic upgrading and pilot programs Funding under this program can be provided for: Organizational needs assessments Educational needs assessments Essential skills course development and delivery by an instructor Instructor travel Materials and supplies Programs are 35 to 40 hours in duration with 10 to 12 participants per course. (Courses can be with one employer, or a group of employers).

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.

Limestone Trucking Assistance Program 2019-2020

The Limestone trucking assistance program aims to help Nova Scotia farms defray the cost of trucking limestone to give equal opportunity neutralizing the acidity of the soil on agricultural land and improve production efficiencies.

LSI – Innovate to Opportunity Hiring Incentive

Apply for a wage subsidy to help cover part of the cost of hiring a full-time recent Masters or PhD graduate for 3 years to work on export growth innovations for your business. Eligible work includes:   Applied research Product and/or service development Process development or improvement Market analysis for a new product or activity Technical feasibility studies and pilots for market launches Improvement of product quality, customer services, business efficiencies   This program is available to small and medium-sized businesses with up to 500 full-time employees operating in Nova Scotia. To be eligible for the program, employers must create a new full-time position that:   is based in Nova Scotia is focused on innovation pays at least $60,000 a year   The new hire must have successfully completed a master’s or PhD program at a recognized university within a year of the date the employer’s application is received.

LSI – Graduate to Opportunity Program

If you hire a recent post-graduate student for at least 2 years, and for a minimum pay of $35,000, you could receive a contribution covering up to 25% of their first year salary (35% for members of a designated diversity group), and 12.5% in the second year. The program is open to:   Businesses with less than 100 full-time employees Businesses incorporated in the last 2 years Social enterprises, not-for-profits, and registered charities with recognized standing

Market Expansion and Export Readiness Program 2019-2020

The objective of the program is to encourage the agriculture, agri-food industries to expand their current established market share and foster economic growth.

Mineral Resources Development Fund

The Mineral Resources Development Fund is designed to assist prospectors, exploration companies, and researchers, employ post-secondary students, and support projects in the mining sector that attract investment and grow Nova Scotia’s economy and create jobs, especially in rural areas. The MRDF is a grant program that supports prospecting, advanced exploration, minerals-related research and public education. The MRDF has seven funding streams for the 2019-2020 fiscal year: Prospecting and Exploration Grants: Maximum $20K Shared Funding Exploration Grants: $20K up to $200K (50/50) Marketing Grants Post-Secondary Research Grants: Maximum $90K Education, Outreach, and Engagement Grants: Maximum $50K Innovation Grants: Maximum $200K Major Project Grants: Maximum $500K or higher if required

Missions and Investigative Travel Program 2019-2020

The intent of the Missions and Investigative Travel program is to support the agriculture and agri-food industries’ efforts to explore and investigate new market opportunities and innovative farm technologies.