The Nova Scotia Securities Commission

The Nova Scotia Securities Commission was established to provide investors with protection from activities that undermine investor confidence in the fairness and efficiency of Nova Scotia capital markets and where not inconsistent with investor protection, to foster capital formation. Learn about Start-up Crowdfunding Exemptions, Community Economic Development Investment Funds, Corporate Finance, and more!

Trade Commissioner Service Webinars

Do you want to find out more about starting, growing or managing your business? Events such as webinars, Twitter chats, tradeshows and networking events may help you learn more on a variety of topics. Find out how these webinars can help you break into foreign markets.

Ulnooweg Aboriginal Business Financing Program

The Aboriginal Business Financing Program is administered by Ulnooweg and offers non-repayable business contributions to individual Aboriginal entrepreneurs and community owned businesses. Eligible applicants are individuals of Canadian Aboriginal status or non-status, Metis or Inuit Heritage (on or off reserve), living and operating their businesses within the Atlantic provinces. Aboriginal business and financial organizations, as well as development corporations are also eligible for contributions. Some of the eligible expenses for ABDP support are:

Business planning
Establishment and operating costs
Business acquisitions and expansions
Local, domestic or export oriented marketing initiatives
New product or process development
Adding technology to improve operations and competitiveness
Financial services, business support, business-related training and mentoring services

Ulnooweg Aboriginal Business Loan

If you are a status or non-status Aboriginal living in Atlantic Canada, you could get funding to start, buy, grow or refinance a business. The types of loans offered include: Youth Loans General Loans Micro Loans

Venture for Canada

If you run a business in Atlantic Canada and employ no more than 500 people, you could gain access to paid internships of up to $7,000 per intern. As the employer, you must provide:   A standard placement, 5 days a week, 7.5 hours a day, for 14-16 weeks A project focused on innovation   The program provides recruitment, training and support for each of your interns throughout the length of their placement.

Vineyard Development & Expansion Program 2019-2020

The Vineyard Development and Expansion program is a provincially funded program that aims to assist the Nova Scotia wine grape industry to better position Nova Scotia within the market place. This will be achieved by supporting the primary industry to increase production, enhance competitiveness and capture new markets. This program will help ensure the on-going viability of this industry in rural Nova Scotia.

Viticulturist and Terroir Initiative

Perennia’s viticulturist, Francisco Diez, works directly with wineries to help them with their development goals, as the linkages between the vineyards and the wineries is really key to the overall industry’s success.  A key initiative is an assessment of the terroir of the province’s wine regions to determine the best management practices, preferred varieties, etc.  Please visit our viticulture and grape growing page, or contact:

WIL Digital Wage Subsidies

ICTC’s WIL Digital is an innovative Work Integrated Learning program that helps employers grow their businesses by providing wage subsidies for hiring post-secondary students.

Wild Blueberry Harvest Efficiency Program 2019-2020

The Wild Blueberry Harvest Efficiency program supports the adoption of efficient harvester technology in order to increase blueberry producers’ harvest and field handling efficiency, resulting in an increase in crop yield. The support provided by this program will also allow growers to increase their competitive advantage.

Work Smarts — Wage subsidy program

As an employer in Atlantic Canada, you can apply to receive funding in the form of a wage subsidy if you hire a recent post-secondary graduate. The funds help cover up to 50% of the employee’s wages. To qualify, you must provide:   A $8.5/hr salary top-up (making the minimum salary $17/hr) Up to 26 weeks of employment Relevant work experience Time for the graduate to attend certain training