Seed Capital Program
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Last Verified:
2006-05-01
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The Seed Capital Program provides loans up to $20 000 to start, expand or improve a small business, as well as up to $2 000 to acquire business skills training. The program is delivered by community based organizations that also provide training, counselling and referrals to enable entrepreneurs to be successful and accomplish their goals.
Eligibility Criteria
The following criteria apply:
- applicants must be 18 and older and residents of Atlantic Canada
- applicants under 35 may invest the loan in the start-up, expansion or modernization of a business;
- applicants 35 and over must use the loan to start-up a business;
- the applicants must be the majority owners of the business;
- businesses in most sectors are eligible, including retail and personal services, as well as seasonal enterprises;
- the loan is intended as a long-term investment in the financing of any cost of the business including fixed assets, start-up costs and working capital;
- the loan may be used as equity to attract other investors;
- the loan cannot be used to purchase an existing business;
- the loan cannot be used for refinancing of existing debts or business restructuring.
Summary
The program will provide access to a maximum of $20 000 per applicant in the form of a repayable, unsecured personal loan, with flexible interest and repayment terms, as well as a maximum of $2 000 per applicant for specialized training and business counselling.
ACOA is committed to helping Atlantic Canadians acquire the skills needed to prosper in the 21st century. By investing in the 41 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) in rural areas as well as the six other business support organizations in the metro areas, ACOA is helping to address some of the greatest obstacles facing entrepreneurs: access to capital and good, sound business advice. This program ensures that entrepreneurs throughout Atlantic Canada enjoy equal access to the information and capital they need to make their business succeed.
For more information, please call 1-800-668-1010 or you may also visit the ACOA Web site.
See below for a listing of Community Business Development Corporations.
Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Annapolis Ventures Limited
Community Business Development Corporations
26 Bay Road
P.O. Box 478
Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
B0S 1C0
Telephone: (902) 665-2635
Fax: (902) 665-2769
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: elizabeth.rice@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Blue Water Business Development Corporation Ltd.
Community Business Development Corporations
24 Rowlings Drive
P.O. Box 39
Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia
B0J 2L0
Telephone: (902) 889-9040
Fax: (902) 889-9101
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: shar.turner@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.bluewatercbdc.ca/
Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
Suite 107, Tower 1
Halifax Shopping Centre
7001 Mumford Road
P.O. Box 196
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3L 2H8
Telephone: (902) 421-2333
Fax: (902) 482-0291
Toll-free (information): 1-800-590-8481
E-mail: info@ceed.info
Web site:
http://www.ceed.info/ceedsite
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Coastal Business Opportunities Incorporated
Community Business Development Corporations
292 Charlotte Street, Suite 100
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 1C7
Telephone: (902) 539-4332
Fax: (902) 562-1016
Toll-free (information): 1-877-232-2269
E-mail: patricia.macneil@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Community Business Development Corporations
103 Water Street (Pier 1 Complex)
P.O. Box 40
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
B5A 4P4
Telephone: (902) 742-5364
Fax: (902) 742-1027
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Digby-Clare Business Development Centre
Community Business Development Corporations
68 Water Street
P.O. Box 160
Digby, Nova Scotia
B0V 1A0
Telephone: (902) 245-6166
Fax: (902) 245-5011
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: growthopportunities@ns.sympatico.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Community Business Development Corporations
P.O. Box 199
Guysborough, Nova Scotia
B0H 1N0
Telephone: (902) 533-2770
Fax: (902) 533-2016
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: wanda.macdonald@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.guysboroughcountycbdc.ca/
Community Business Development Corporations
80 Water Street
P.O. Box 2788
Windsor, Nova Scotia
B0N 2T0
Telephone: (902) 798-5717
Fax: (902) 798-0464
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: ken.crichton@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Community Business Development Corporations
15991 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 600
Inverness, Nova Scotia
B0E 1N0
Telephone: (902) 258-3698
Fax: (902) 258-3689
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: perry.inrich@ns.sympatico.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Northern Business Opportunites Limited
Community Business Development Corporations
188 Main Street, Suite 2-2C
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
B2G 2B9
Telephone: (902) 863-3365
Fax: (902) 863-4095
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: brian.patton@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.nobl.cbdc.ca/
Community Business Development Corporations
980 East River Road
P.O. Box 40
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
B2H 3S8
Telephone: (902) 752-7402
Fax: (902) 752-8856
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: ron.obrien@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.nobl.cbdc.ca/
Northside Economic Development Assistance Corporation
Community Business Development Corporations
1 Fraser Avenue, Suite 7
P.O. Box 99
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
B1V 2Y4
Telephone: 902-736-6211
Fax: 902-736-6212
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: bruce.macdonald@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
Community Business Development Corporations
157 Water Street
Enterprise Square
P.O. Box 189
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
B0T 1W0
Telephone: (902) 875-1133
Fax: (902) 875-4199
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: shelburn@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.cbdc.ca
South Shore Opportunities Ltd.
Community Business Development Corporations
137 Old Bridge Road
P.O. Box 1204
Liverpool, Nova Scotia
B0T 1K0
Telephone: (902) 354-2616
Fax: (902) 354-7355
Toll-free (information): 1-888-744-0444
E-mail: sso@cbdc.ca
Web site:
http://www.southshoreops.com/
National Contact(s):
ACOA Head Office
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
3rd Floor
Blue Cross Centre
644 Main Street
P.O. Box 6051
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1C 9J8
Telephone: (506) 851-2271
Fax: (506) 851-7403
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-7862
Web site:
http://www.acoa.gc.ca/e/
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