This ACOA program is designed to help you
set up, expand or modernize your business. Focusing on small- and medium-sized enterprises,
the program offers access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable
contributions. Non-profit organizations providing support to the business community may
also qualify.
What qualifies for BDP financing?
Most business sectors are eligible except
retail/wholesale, real estate, government services, and services of a personal or social nature.
Both commercial and not-for-profit
applicants are eligible.
Eligible activities include business studies,
capital investment, training, marketing, quality assurance, and not-for-profit activities that
support business in the region. Assistance is also available to help you bid for and acquire
public and private procurement contracts or to develop an innovative product or service.
Overall, your project should meet the following
criteria:
- Provide economic benefit to an area or a community
- Demonstrate need for financial assistance
- Be economically viable.
How much assistance is available?
ACOA can provide an unsecured, interest-free
loan towards the eligible costs of a new establishment, expansion, modernization or a project
which improves your competitiveness. ACOA's contribution is repayable on a time schedule tailored
to your circumstances. The maximum level of assistance under the program is as follows.
Costs eligible for up to 50% financing include:
- The construction or acquisition of a building
- machinery and equipment needed for the project
- working capital requirements related to an establishment or expansion project
- site improvements such as land clearing and paving required for the project
- leasehold improvements required for the project
- leased equipment and conditional sales contracts
- infrastructure such as sewer and water needed for a project
- self-built assets
- intangible assets such as patents, trademarks and licenses
- start-up costs such as insurance and interest capitalized during construction
Costs eligible for up to 75% financing include:
- Marketing: Includes the development of a marketing plan, the hiring of marketing expertise to implement the plan, and related marketing activities such as labelling, packaging, promotional materials, advertising, product demonstrations and participation at trade shows.
- Training: Includes the development of a training plan, the hiring of training expertise to implement the plan and related activities such as training materials, seminar fees, and wages during the time that employees received off-the-job training.
- Productivity/Quality Improvement: Includes the development of a productivity or quality improvement plan, the hiring of expertise to implement the plan, and related activities such as obtaining a recognized quality certification such as ISO, and the cost of needed technical equipment.
- Innovations: Includes costs related to researching and developing new or improved products, services and processes such as the labour costs of expertise, materials, special equipment, testing and patents.
- Consultant Advice: Includes the cost of hiring a qualified consultant to prepare a business plan, feasibility study, investigate licensing opportunities, conduct a venture capital search, technology transfer search or provide advice to improve your business skills.
- Contract bidding: Includes the cost of improving your competitive ability to bid on and acquire public and private sector contracts.
- Business proposal development: Includes the cost of turning your idea into a viable business proposal, example the completion of feasibility study, prototype development, and gathering information on markets and raw material suppliers. Maximum contribution is $10,000 for this activity.
- Business Support: Not-for profit organizations may qualify for assistance towards activities that support the business community, entrepreneurship or economic development.
Call or write the
ACOA office nearest you to obtain further
information on the Business Development Program. One of ACOA's Account Managers will help you
identify your project's needs in terms of professional advice and financing. You can also obtain
business development information from a Canada Business
Service Centre, a Business Development Centre, or your local industrial or economic development
commission.
Some of the documents available on this site are in Adobe Acrobat format.
To read Adobe Acrobat files you need
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 (or later) on your system.
If the Adobe download site is not accessible to you, you can download Acrobat Reader
from an accessible page.
If the accessibility of PDF is a concern, you can have the file converted to HTML or ASCII text by
using one of the access services
provide by Adobe.
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Electronic Application Form
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To assist potential clients, ACOA offers an electronic
copy of the application form for the Business Development Program that
can be downloaded and printed out, then filled in. Alternatively, you
may fill the form and then print it, producing a form that is ready to
sign. To save you time and effort, and to ensure your project is eligible,
PLEASE contact the ACOA office nearest
you before submitting the completed form.
Click here for help with fillable forms
'Once completed, print the completed form and submit the paper copy to the Agency.
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Printable BDP Claims Forms
To assist clients, ACOA offers electronic copies of claims forms for the Business Development Program that can be downloaded and printed out, then filled in. Alternatively, you may fill the forms and then print them, producing forms that are ready to sign. To save you time and effort,
and to ensure your project is eligible, PLEASE contact the ACOA office nearest
you before submitting the completed form.
Printable PAD Form
To assist its current clients, ACOA also offers
an electronic copy of the Pre-Authorized Repayment / Direct Deposit Authorization form. This can be downloaded and
printed out.
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