Seed Capital Program

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;
• 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 1-888-576-4444 or you may also visit the ACOA Web site. 

See below for a listing of Community Business Development Corporations.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
CBDC Chaleur
Community Business Development Corporations
Suite 212-J
275 Main Street
Bathurst, New Brunswick  E2A 1A9
Telephone: 506-548-5951
Fax: 506-548-5008
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=6

CBDC Charlotte/Kings
Community Business Development Corporations
Suite 202
123 Milltown Boulevard
P.O. Box 455
St. Stephen, New Brunswick  E3L 1G5
Telephone: 506-466-5055
Fax: 506-466-4859
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=11

Enterprise Fredericton
570 Queen Street
Barker House
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 6Z6
Telephone: 506-444-4686
Fax: 506-444-4649
Toll-free (information): 1-800-200-1180
E-mail: info@ent-fredericton.ca
Web site: http://www.enterprisefredericton.ca/

Enterprise Greater Moncton
910 Main Street
Suite 101
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 1G6
Telephone: 506-858-9550
Fax: 506-859-7791
Toll-free (information): 1-888-577-0000
E-mail: info@greatermoncton.org
Web site: http://www.greatermoncton.org/welcome.php

Enterprise Saint John
Business Resource Centre
40 King Street
Saint John, New Brunswick  E2L 1G3
Telephone: 506-658-2877
Fax: 506-658-2872
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-2877
E-mail: info@enterprisesj.com
Web site: http://www.enterprisesj.com/en/index.php

CBDC Kent
Community Business Development Corporations
190 Irving Boulevard
Bouctouche, New Brunswick  E4S 3L7
Telephone: 506-743-2422
Fax: 506-743-1033
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=15

CBDC Madawaska
Community Business Development Corporations
24 St-François Street
Edmundston, New Brunswick  E3V 1E3
Telephone: 506-737-8925
Fax: 506-737-8922
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=9&

CBDC Northumberland
Community Business Development Corporations
158 Wellington Street
Miramichi, New Brunswick  E1N 1L9
Telephone: 506-778-2121
Fax: 506-778-2224
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=16

CBDC Péninsule Acadienne
Community Business Development Corporations
439 du Moulin Street
P.O. Box 3666, Main Station
Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick  E1X 1G5
Telephone: 506-395-9700
Fax: 506-395-5672
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=7&

CBDC Restigouche
Community Business Development Corporations
95 Roseberry Street
P.O. Box 1089
Campbellton, New Brunswick  E3N 2G6
Telephone: 506-753-3344
Fax: 506-753-7131
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=8&

CBDC Southwest
Community Business Development Corporations
Suite 112
1910 Route 3
Harvey Station, New Brunswick  E6K 2P4
Telephone: 506-366-3022
Fax: 506-366-3444
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=12&

CBDC Victoria Madawaska-South
Community Business Development Corporations
Suite 300
551 Main Street
P.O. Box 7295
Grand Falls, New Brunswick  E3Z 2W4
Telephone: 506-473-6446
Fax: 506-473-1280
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=10

CBDC Westmorland Albert
Community Business Development Corporations
337A Main Street
Shediac, New Brunswick  E4P 2B1
Telephone: 506-532-8312
Fax: 506-532-1373
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=13&

---

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-apeca.gc.ca/e/