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 opened the door 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. As of July 2026 there is no federal program called CDAP, no 'CDAP 2.0', and no general federal grant that simply pays for a small-business website. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.
What replaced CDAP, at a glance
| What you can use instead | What it is | Worth up to | Status (July 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Wave closed, monitoring |
| 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 verified caps on each program's record. Every linked page shows what the program funds, what it excludes, the official source, and the date we last checked it.
The Ontario pathway most owners actually use
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 take a different door. 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.
The program most people mean when they say 'the new CDAP' is Digital Main Street's Digital Transformation Grant, a $2,500 micro-grant that runs in waves. As of July 2026 the current wave is closed and we are monitoring for reopening, so check the verified status on its page before planning around it.
Other provinces run their own digital and e-commerce supports, and our funding list tracks dozens of them across Canada, each verified with its official source with the verification date shown on the page.
What is BDC LIFT, and would you even qualify?
LIFT is the offer BDC points former CDAP applicants to. Read its page closely and two things stand out. First, it is consulting paired with financing at preferential rates: money you repay, plus advice. It is not a grant. Second, the bar is high for a small business. 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; that settles it.
- A real program never asks you to pay to find out if you qualify.
- Grants that must approve you before you buy are the norm. 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, walk away.
Key takeaways
- CDAP ended for new applicants on February 19, 2024, and nothing federal replaced it one-for-one.
- 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 real money is provincial. In Ontario, TDP (50% up to $50,000) and RMPG (50% up to $5,000) are open as of July 2026.
- Never pay to find out if you qualify, and treat 'CDAP 2.0' offers as a red flag.
The honest answer to 'what replaced CDAP' is: for most small businesses, provincial grants like Ontario's TDP and RMPG. The federal successor is a loan that needs $1 million in revenue before it will look at you.
BBN Labs screens for the programs that exist right now, in your province, and tells you honestly when the answer is 'nothing fits today'. If a program does fit, we build the website, online store or retail technology the funding is meant for, and help you manage the application and deadlines so you do not lose the money. Qualification and approval always rest with the program administrator, subject to program rules, available funding, and approval.