ACOA Regional Economic Growth through Innovation: Business Scale-up and Productivity
Get interest-free financing to grow your Atlantic Canadian business and improve productivity. This is a repayable contribution, so you must pay it back over time. Confirm the terms with an ACOA officer before you spend.
Before you spend any money
Written approval is typically mandatory before you incur any eligible costs; do not spend money until you have a signed contribution agreement.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Is this for you?
- You operate a business in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
- You are a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, co-operative, or Indigenous-owned business looking to expand or adopt new technology.
- You need capital for productivity improvements or market expansion and can manage a repayment schedule without interest charges.
Probably not the right fit if
- You are located outside of Atlantic Canada, as this program is strictly for the Atlantic region.
- You are looking for a grant that does not need to be paid back, since this is a repayable contribution.
- You are a non-profit organization focused on regional innovation ecosystems, because your funding stream and requirements differ from standard business scale-up.
How much you'd realistically get
Ask your ACOA officer how much you can get and what share of your costs it can cover.
What may be supported
- Scaling up operations or expanding into new markets.
- Adopting new technologies to improve productivity.
- Creating new products or services.
- Improving operational efficiency and global competitiveness.
How applying works
Effort: moderateYou must contact an officer first, then complete a detailed online application via MyACOA with financial statements and project plans.
- 01Contact your nearest ACOA office to discuss your project and confirm eligibility.
- 02Register or log in to MyACOA at acoa-apeca.canada.ca.
- 03Create a new application by clicking '+ New Application'.
- 04Complete the Organizational Profile and Project Information modules.
- 05Upload all required supporting documents, including financial statements and project plans.
- 06Submit the application online via MyACOA.
Who to ask: Phone: 1-888-576-4444; Email: bis-sie@acoa-apeca.gc.ca; Contact Us Page: https://www.canada.ca/en/atlantic-canada-opportunities/corporate/contact-us.html
Documents commonly required
- Incorporation documents or proof of business registration.
- Recent financial statements.
- Detailed project description or business plan.
- Quotes from vendors or contractors for eligible costs.
- Permits or approvals required for the project.
What to know before you count on it
- This is a repayable contribution, not a grant: you must repay the full amount over time, though it is interest-free.
- Cash flow: the official page does not say when costs are paid back. You may need to pay your share of the project first and wait to be reimbursed.
- Discretionary approval: there is no automatic qualification; you must discuss your project with an ACOA officer first.
- The official page does not list excluded costs. Ask ACOA which expenses (such as land, vehicles, or marketing) are not eligible before you plan your budget.
What are your odds?
Approval is discretionary and relationship-based; a strong, well-documented business plan and clear productivity goals improve your chances.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay interest on this contribution?
No, the repayable contribution is interest-free, but you must repay the principal amount according to the schedule in your agreement.
Can I apply if I am a non-profit?
Yes, but non-profits typically qualify under the Regional Innovation Ecosystems stream, which may have different terms and eligibility criteria than the Business Scale-up stream.
What documents do I need to apply?
You will need incorporation documents, financial statements, a detailed project description or plan, quotes, and permits. Confirm the exact list with your ACOA officer.
Is this program open right now?
The official page lists no intake dates or deadlines. Contact your nearest ACOA office to confirm it is taking applications.
More funding by what it pays for
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Funding for Websites
Grants and loans to help you build or improve your business website.
Funding for E-commerce
Grants and loans to help you launch or improve your online store.
What you can combine it with
Ask ACOA if you can combine this contribution with other federal or provincial funding, as limits on combined government funding often apply.
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Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Page last updated ; status and deadline checked . Source: official program page.