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

Mining Association of Nova Scotia

The Mining Association of Nova Scotia represents companies in all areas of mining and quarrying: exploration, discovery, development, production and reclamation as well as consultants and suppliers to the industry.

Mining Society of Nova Scotia

To meet the needs of the mining, metallurgy, petroleum and related industries by providing quality services and value to the membership through: Technical forums Professional social networking Promoting industries Encouraging student understanding of the industry and commitment to the industry Recognition of excellence through awards and prizes Collaboration with other organizations of similar interests Representation to government on behalf of industry

Mitacs Accelerate Program

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.   Why apply? Expand your R&D program for an investment of $7,500 Recruit highly-skilled future employees Drive your own research projects Start an internship at any time

National Research Council Canada – Youth Employment Programs

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. To be eligible, your business needs to:   Be incorporated and for-profit Share a portion of the salary costs Have 500 or fewer full-time employees Be ready to enhance its innovation capacity   The duration of the internship must be between 6 and 12 months for graduates and between 3 to 6 months for Youth-Green candidates. Candidates must be between the ages of 15 and 30.

Natural Resources Canada – Green Jobs — Science and Technology Internship Program

If you operate a business in the geomatics, geology, mining, forestry or energy industry, you could get between $12,000 and $15,000 to hire a recent university or college graduate in a natural science field for an internship of up to 12 weeks. In order to be eligible, you need to:   Have a project with clearly defined objectives and outcomes Hire and train an intern who is no older than 30 Provide a work plan and budget (including the salary paid to the intern) Supply at least the same amount of money as you receive for the intern’s salary

New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation

The New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation is a 35,000 square foot converted high school in Sydney’s historic Northend. Blocks from downtown, the Centre offers work and meeting space for small businesses, not-for-profits and government departments/agencies. The Centre is adjacent to The Convent – a 36,000 square foot arts centre opening in late 2019/early 2020. Both buildings benefit from ample parking on site and are situated on 2.5 acres of green space. The Centre and the Convent are vibrant, mixed-use spaces that offer small (150-400 square foot) and larger (750-850 square foot) working/office spaces that are bright and spacious. The Centre is three stories with a large Maker Space on the main level.

New Small Business Tax Reduction

This deduction effectively eliminates the Nova Scotia corporate income tax for the first three taxation years of a new small business after incorporation. The corporation must apply each year to the Nova Scotia Minister of Finance and Treasury Board for a Nova Scotia Tax Deduction Eligibility Certificate. Eligibility requirements apply.

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship – Apprenticeship START Program

The objective of the Apprenticeship START program is to encourage employers to register, retain and support their apprentices to completion during their apprenticeship journey. The START program has a focus of small to medium-sized businesses/organizations including not-for-profits, social enterprises and JRA holders (JRA employers only – an employer is someone who hires an apprentice permanently) that have business locations and jobs in Nova Scotia. Companies with headquarters outside of Nova Scotia are eligible to apply only if they also have a physical location in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Community College – GradWorks: Employer Incentive Program

You could receive up to 66% of salary costs to a maximum amount of $25,000 to hire a qualified graduate from one of the following programs for up to one year:   Human Resource Management Industrial Engineering Technology Occupational Health and Safety   Employers in most business sectors may apply, but preference will be given to business-to-business organizations focused on export and innovation.