If you remember a federal program that paid small businesses to get online, you are thinking of CDAP, the Canada Digital Adoption Program. It had two streams: Grow Your Business Online, a $2,400 micro-grant for getting a business selling online, and Boost Your Business Technology, which covered up to $15,000 of a digital adoption plan and also gave access to an interest-free BDC loan. Both are finished.
Is CDAP still available in 2026?
No. The Boost stream stopped accepting new applications on February 19, 2024, and the micro-grant wound down later in 2024. BDC's own page says the program is no longer accepting applications. When we last checked, in July 2026, there was no federal program called CDAP, no 'CDAP 2.0', and no general federal grant that simply pays for a small-business website. Be careful with anyone who tells you otherwise.
What replaced CDAP, at a glance
| What you can use instead | What it is | Worth up to | Status (last checked) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology Demonstration Program | Ontario grant: 50% of the cost of implementing a digital plan | $50,000 | Open |
| Retail Modernization Project Grant | Ontario grant: 50% back on retail tech like POS and kiosks | $5,000 | Open |
| Digital Transformation Grant | Digital Main Street micro-grant, runs in waves | $2,500 | Closed until the next wave |
| BDC LIFT | Federal consulting plus repayable financing | No stated cap | Open, needs $1M+ revenue |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Government-backed loan through banks for equipment and leaseholds | $1.15M loan | Through banks |
Amounts are the maximums each program lists. Open each program's page to see what it funds, what it excludes, its official source and the date we last checked it.
Ontario's digital adoption grants
Ontario's Digitalization Competence Centre runs a two-step pathway. Step one is the Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP): 50% back, up to $15,000, to build an expert technology roadmap with an approved consultant. It is designed for business-to-business product companies, not consumer retail. Step two is the Technology Demonstration Program: once a plan is complete, TDP covers 50% of the cost of putting it into action, up to $50,000, reimbursed on completion with a minimum 1:1 match.
Retail businesses use a different program. The Retail Modernization Project Grant covers 50%, up to $5,000, for point-of-sale systems, kiosks and inventory tools, on a minimum $6,000 project, reimbursed after purchase.
Digital Main Street's Digital Transformation Grant is an Ontario program that some people compare to CDAP. It is a micro-grant of up to $2,500 that opens in waves. When we last checked in September 2026 it was closed, and we are watching for it to reopen, so check the current status on its page before you plan around it.
Other provinces run their own digital and e-commerce programs, and our funding list covers dozens of them across Canada.
What is BDC LIFT, and do you qualify?
LIFT is the offer BDC points former CDAP applicants to. Two points matter. First, it is consulting paired with financing at preferential rates: money you repay, plus advice. It is not a grant. Second, the revenue rules are hard for a small business to meet. The digital and AI track requires at least $1 million in annual revenue and a BDC advisory plan; the equipment and automation track requires at least $5 million. BDC's page states no dollar caps for the financing, so treat any specific LIFT amounts you read elsewhere as unverified.
| How they compare | BDC LIFT | Canada Small Business Financing Program |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Consulting plus repayable financing | Government-backed loan through banks and credit unions |
| Revenue requirement | $1M+ (digital/AI) or $5M+ (equipment) | No stated revenue floor |
| What it funds | Data infrastructure, ERP/CRM, AI, cybersecurity; equipment, robotics and automation | Equipment, leasehold improvements and property, with limited room for intangibles and working capital |
| Worth up to | No stated cap | $1.15M per borrower |
| Repayable? | Yes | Yes |
How to avoid the 'new CDAP' trap
- Check the official page first. BDC's CDAP page states the program is closed.
- A real program never asks you to pay to find out if you qualify.
- Most real grants approve you before you buy anything. Be suspicious of anyone who says you can claim money for work you already did.
- Program names matter. If an offer will not name the exact program and its official page, do not use it.
Key takeaways
- CDAP ended for new applicants on February 19, 2024, and no single federal program replaced it.
- BDC LIFT is a loan with advice: it needs at least $1 million in annual revenue, and BDC states no dollar caps.
- For most small businesses, the main grant options are provincial. In Ontario, TDP (50% up to $50,000) and RMPG (50% up to $5,000) were open when we last checked in September 2026.
- Never pay to find out if you qualify, and treat 'CDAP 2.0' offers as a red flag.
BBN Labs checks which programs are open now in your province and tells you when nothing fits today. If a program fits, we explain its rules and deadlines and send you deadline alerts. You apply on the official program site. The program administrator decides who qualifies and who is approved, based on its rules and available funding.