Business Development Program - E-Commerce

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's (ACOA) Business Development Program (BDP) aims at supporting Atlantic Canadian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and those who wish to establish in Atlantic Canada.

Unsecured, interest-free contributions can help cover the cost of acquiring the technologies and skills necessary to participate more fully in electronic-based business activities. It seeks to increase the level of e-commerce awareness and skills and help SMEs adopt enabling technologies that reconfigure their ways of conducting business.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include commercial enterprises and not-for-profit* organizations, including Aboriginal businesses and social enterprises.

Eligible sectors include, but are not limited to, manufacturing and processing, service to business, tourism and information technology. 

Ineligible sectors include retail/wholesale, real estate, government services, and services of a personal or social nature.

Eligible Area

Atlantic Canada

Summary

The ACOA Business Development Program (BDP) can provide an interest-free, repayable or provisionally repayable contributions of up to 50% for eligible capital costs such as hardware related to the e-commerce project and 75% for eligible soft costs - up to a maximum of $500 000.

What costs are eligible?

Eligible projects may include:

• e-business planning activities;
• hiring of outside expertise to assist in the adoption of e-business models suited to the firm;
• development of enabling technologies;
• acquisition of enabling technologies;
• marketing activities; and
• skills training.

Non-commercial operations: Under the Business Support Element of the BDP, assistance may be provided directly to non-commercial organizations to support projects that will contribute to the successful implementation of ACOA's e-commerce strategy which is to build on awareness, leadership, training and skills development. This is open to all sectors.

For more information on this program contact the ACOA office nearest you or visit their Web site.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
570 Queen Street
P.O. Box 578
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5A6
Telephone: 506-452-3184
Fax: 506-452-3285
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-4030
Web site: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/

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National Contact(s):
Claire DuLong
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
8th Floor
Blue Cross Centre
644 Main Street
P.O. Box 6051
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 9J8
Fax: 506-851-7403
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-7862
E-mail: claire.dulong@acoa-apeca.gc.ca