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As businesses increasingly rely on digital access and expand their digital presence, it becomes essential for them to adopt a digital-oriented approach. This has led to governmental organizations across Canada establishing financial aid and grants that assist businesses in embracing the digital realm. These grants cover various digital adaptation plans, marketing, and projects.
Canadian small businesses can access grants to help them stay competitive in global trade.
Grants come with their own complexities and may require assistance to understand fully.
This comprehensive guide can help Canadian organizations search for funding sources to support their digital initiatives. It features the latest business grants available in Canada this year and offers valuable insights into getting started.
National Small Business Grants for Canadian Businesses
Throughout all provinces and territories of Canada, from British Columbia to the Maritimes, small business grants are available for enterprises of all kinds. No matter where you are in the country, a grant may fit your business needs. Taking advantage of these grants could provide immense benefits for your company.
CanExport
CanExport’s funding program can be a great boon to Canadian SMEs looking to expand their international exposure. CanExport SMEs is open from February 29, 2024, at 9am EST, to May 31, 2024, at 5pm EDT for projects beginning on or after April 1, 2024.
It can cover overseas market development expenses and thus help to open up opportunities for further growth. The grant can be a significant advantage to your business since it can cover up to 50% of export marketing expenses in areas where you still need to secure customers.
Projects that may qualify for eligibility include:
- Obtaining business advice
- Obtaining legal advice
- Obtaining expert digital and e-commerce marketing advice
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and market intelligence
- Advertising on digital platforms, such as online marketplaces, social media platforms, and search engines
- Creation or adaption of marketing materials
okwrite has the necessary expertise to help you take your products abroad. Our team of professionals is available to offer all the assistance you need, so don’t hesitate to reach out and get in touch with us.
We can create a successful digital adoption plan for you, including improving e-commerce platforms, building an efficient digital marketing strategy, and analyzing competitor research.
The Canadian Digital Adoption Plan (CDAP)
The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) can benefit small to medium-sized enterprises.
The CDAP offers two grants to help small and medium-sized companies get online and use technology for their expansion. Businesses can get a much-needed boost thanks to these two grants:
- Boost Your Business Technology grant offers businesses up to $15,000 to help them identify the technologies that can help them grow. This grant allows entrepreneurs to get expert advice on using technology for their business success.
- Grow Your Business Online grant increases your business’s online presence and sales. Now you can access up to $2,400 for setting up an online store and other web resources. Use this opportunity to extend your business operations into the digital space.
Boost Your Business Technology Grant – Full as of February 1st
The Canada Digital Adoption Plan is a national initiative that offers up to $15,000 to small to medium-sized businesses wanting to get on board with the digital transformation of their businesses.
If you wish to apply for this grant, you must be involved in software development, digital marketing, or any other means to optimize your online presence.
okwrite is here to help you with all your Digital Adoption Plan needs, so when the time comes for you to apply for this grant, we’ll be ready – including helping to write your proposal and digital adoption after funding.
This program is currently closed (updated March 25th, 2024).
Grow Your Business Online Grant
The Grow Your Business Online grant is a fantastic opportunity to help entrepreneurs get their online presence on track. Don’t let the cost of starting your own business stop you. With up to $2,400 in funding, you can start on the right path to success. And with a local service provider taking care of all the technical setup, you’ll be able to find an experienced e-commerce advisor to help guide your journey.
You may be eligible for CDAP for your business if it:
- Is registered or incorporated
- Is for-profit entities, including social enterprises and cooperatives, are businesses that intend to make a profit
- Provides in-person services
- Is consumer-facing
- Employs at least one employee (other than the business owner) or had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year (2022)
- Is committed to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months after participating in the program
- Agrees to participate in follow-up surveys, share data about the experience, and have its name published as a grant recipient
Applications are ongoing.
Provincial Digital Marketing Grants
British Columbia – Grow Your Business Online Grant
BC’s Grow Your Business Online is a program tailored to small businesses wanting to make the most of the discounts and reach out to more potential customers via e-commerce. It is an excellent way for small businesses to increase their market exposure.
Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria may access a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to cover expenses related to introducing e-commerce.
This grant is meant to provide support for businesses that are:
- For-profit enterprises, including social businesses as well as cooperatives
- A registered or incorporated with a government authority
- A consumer-facing business
- Accessed by consumers or provides in-person services to consumers
- Employing at least one employee (other than the business owner) or had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year (2022)
- Committed to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months after participating in the program
- Agree to participate in follow-up surveys, share data about the experience, and have its name published as a grant recipient
Enrollment is ongoing.
Manitoba – Manitoba Accessibility Fund
The Province of Manitoba offers grants of up to $50,000 for local businesses that want to improve their digital accessibility. This provides an opportunity for businesses to embrace the latest technological advancements and promote their services more effectively.
To be accepted, grant proposals need to adhere to one of the following criteria:
- Create awareness to prevent and remove obstacles to digital access. This can eliminate the need for in-person services, improve user experience and provide equitable opportunities for all.
- Help bridge the digital access gap by removing restrictions and limitations so everyone can access information and communication resources.
- Establish tools, materials, and training compliant with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act to create an inclusive and accessible environment.
Many projects can help you build an accessible website, mobile app, and operations management system. Projects related to web development and application design, emphasizing inclusivity and making your brand’s information and resources easily accessible by optimizing content and operational systems, are becoming more frequent.
The deadline to apply has passed for 2024/2025 but typically falls in mid-February.
Ontario – Digital Main Street Digital Transformation Grant
The Digital Main Street Digital Transformation Grant gives small businesses the resources they need to take advantage of the latest tech and advance their operations to attain higher levels of success.
Created to equip businesses with the necessary tools for a successful digital transformation, this program offers training, assistance, and grants to make your organization more efficient. With its help, you can access resources that will empower you to reach your objectives.
This grant has been created to help small businesses become digitally proficient, which is essential for success in this digital age. To remain competitive in today’s market, businesses must equip themselves with the proper skill set through self-learning or customized services.
Businesses meeting specific criteria can apply for the Digital Transformation Grant.
These include:
- Having a permanent ‘brick-and-mortar’ establishment in Ontario
- Employs 1-50 employees
- Being a registered and/or incorporated business in Ontario
- Paying commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent
- Being open for business at the time of application
- Being owned by an Ontario resident who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Being operated in Ontario
okwrite specializes in crafting interactive and engaging website content. Contact us now, and let’s review how you can take advantage of the terrific grant opportunity for Ontario small businesses.
Ontario – ShopHERE Powered by Google
ShopHERE is a great initiative that provides businesses and artists with an inexpensive and straightforward way to establish an online presence quickly. Started to help them cushion the economic shock caused by COVID-19 and keep businesses running, it remains a popular grant.
The Federal Government, the Province of Ontario, and several corporate partners support ShopHERE.
This program makes establishing an online store effortless. It guides you in setting up your store and offers clear insights on managing it. On top of that, the program also provides helpful assistance when launching your online store and supports marketing activities, including offering free .CA domain registration.
To be accepted into the ShopHERE program, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Be a registered business in Ontario
- Be a business or artist
- Be a home-based or commercial business
- Employ under 10 full-time employees, or 25 if the company is a restaurant
okwrite can significantly boost your organization’s projects with our range of digital business solutions. This includes website design, digital marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization, social media management, and paid advertisement campaigns. On top of that, we can also help you with the grant application and writing processes.
Ontario – Grow Your Business Online Grant
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federal Government have partnered to launch the Canada Digital Adoption Program, which features the Grow Your Business Online grant.
This program was formed to assist businesses in thriving during digital acceleration.
Small businesses can receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 with this program and make their digital presence more powerful, develop e-commerce operations or digitalize their companies.
Grant recipients must keep up their digital adoption strategy for at least six months.
To be eligible to qualify for the micro-grant, you must:
- Have a for-profit structure and be located within Ontario, including both social enterprises and cooperatives
- Be a consumer-facing business
- Be a registered or incorporated business
- Be physically accessible to consumers or provide in-person services to consumers
- Have one or more employees (excluding the owner) or meet specific financial criteria
- Consent to take part in follow-up surveys, provide information to the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada), and allow the name of your business to be published as a recipient of funding
Atlantic Canada – Business Development Program
The Business Development Program (BDP) is designed to help entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada launch, modernize, and expand their businesses. It offers essential resources that can foster success and drive business growth. Funding is interest-free and unsecured.
Startup businesses, expansions, and other activities such as staff training, efficiency studies, marketing/trade activities, productivity improvements, quality assurance, and environmental management systems are eligible for up to 50% of their costs covered by this program. An interest-free contribution is also available to cover up to 75% of the qualified expenses incurred.
Criteria for eligibility include being one of the following:
- Not-for-profit organization
- Small and medium enterprise (SME)
- Startup
Newfoundland and Labrador – The Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP) Heritage Component – Support for Heritage Projects Component
This initiative targets community heritage organizations, including museums, archives, and historical societies. In 2012, a Heritage Advisory Committee was established for the Community Economic Development Program (CEDP).
This committee comprises representatives from the Department, the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives, and the Association of Heritage Industries.
The committee is responsible for evaluating, overseeing, and offering recommendations to the Department regarding the Heritage component of CEDP.
The Advisory Committee has formulated a logical framework for the CEDP Heritage program, outlining long-term outcomes for heritage organizations:
1. Strengthening the preservation and presentation of heritage resources.
2. Enhancing sustainability.
3. Augmenting the relevance of heritage organizations to their community, province, and region by fostering increased social and economic contributions.
The CEDP for Heritage consists of two distinct components:
Applications will reopen in April of 2024.
Prince Edward Island – Marketing Assistance Grant
Provided by the province of PEI, the Marketing Assistance program helps Island businesses to cover the expenses associated with marketing and exporting. This initiative allows them to expand their client base and increase sales quickly.
With a maximum of $16,000, this funding program will enable businesses to access up to 40% of their eligible costs. Each business can make two applications throughout the year for (a combined total of $16,000) within 12 months.
The applicant must:
- Be legally registered and actively operating in Prince Edward Island to conduct business operations
- Not have unpaid debt obligations that are registered in the Province’s Central Default Registry for this to be applicable
- Spur growth in the economy, create jobs and attract more investment to benefit the province financially
- Manufacture, process, or provide exportable services in specific sectors
Enrollment is ongoing.
Digital Solutions From Grant Application to Implementation
At okwrite, we’d be delighted to assist you in making your digital project a reality. We can help you at each step – from coding your program to constructing vital messages and grant writing.
Our business solutions and digital production services bring your vision to life. We specialize in digital marketing services, so we can help you take the steps you need to get your business to where you want!
Our highly qualified team of writers, marketers, and strategists is dedicated to helping you optimize your communication approach for your application.
If you are still in the process of determining how to make the most of your business resources, or if you simply want to explore new avenues for boosting digital adoption, reach out to us. We can provide you with a reasonable budget estimate for the project and engage in collaborative brainstorming sessions.
By leveraging our expertise, you not only enhance the effectiveness of your communication strategy but also ensure that you succeed in getting the maximum benefit from your allocated funds. Our commitment is to drive results that align with your business objectives and contribute to the overall success of your digital initiatives.
