SituationalForgivable loanOpen
ACOA Business Development Program (BDP)
ACOA · Federal
In plain language
ACOA's flagship funding tool for Atlantic businesses. Most awards are interest-free repayable contributions rather than grants — budget for eventual payback. Strong fit for capital purchases, productivity upgrades, and market expansion. Typical award $100–250K; large projects go higher. Paperwork-heavy; expect 3–6 months from application to agreement.
Realistic range
$50,000 – $500,000
Avg award
$150,000
Max advertised
$500,000
Cost share
50%
Accessibility
3 / 5
Effort
2 / 5
Deadline
Continuous intake
Repayable?
Yes
Who qualifies
Entity types
Incorporated, Sole Prop, Coop
Sectors
Manufacturing, Technology, Tourism, Fisheries, Food Service, Professional Services, Agriculture
Regions
NL Wide
Demographics prioritized
None specifically
What you'll have to report
Progress reporting quarterly; final report + financials at project end; repayment schedule if applicable.
Stacks well with
Cannot stack with other ACOA contributions on the same project costs, but stacks with provincial BIP and SR&ED.
- NL Business Investment Program (BIP)NL Department of IET
- CBDC NL Business LoanCommunity Business Development Corporation
- Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax CreditCanada Revenue Agency
- Futurpreneur Canada Startup FinancingFuturpreneur + BDC
- JobsNL Wage SubsidyNL Department of IET
- NL Research & Development Tax CreditNL Department of Finance
People like you who got it
Recent NL recipients disclosed under this program.
| Recipient | City | Year | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Craft | Happy Valley-Goose Bay | 2024-2025 | $105,000 |
| WBMS | Witless Bay | 2024-2025 | $125,000 |
| CB Fab | Corner Brook | 2024-2025 | $310,000 |
| Red Cliff Cidery | Portugal Cove | 2024-2025 | $95,000 |
| LMS | Lewisporte | 2024-2025 | $210,000 |
| Avalon AgriTech | Goulds | 2024-2025 | $120,000 |
| St. Anthony Processing | St. Anthony | 2024-2025 | $265,000 |
| PCP | Pouch Cove | 2024-2025 | $155,000 |
| Torbay Agri | Torbay | 2024-2025 | $85,000 |
| GB Composites | Grand Bank | 2024-2025 | $245,000 |
| SJRC | St. John's | 2024-2025 | $115,000 |
| Northcove Marine | St. John's | 2024-2025 | $285,000 |
| MPMW | Mount Pearl | 2023-2024 | $275,000 |
| Bonavista Ropeworks | Bonavista | 2023-2024 | $140,000 |
| Labrador Sea | Cartwright | 2023-2024 | $230,000 |
| BPM | Marystown | 2023-2024 | $320,000 |
| Eastport Hospitality | Eastport | 2023-2024 | $180,000 |
| Gander Logistics | Gander | 2023-2024 | $175,000 |
| PBAW | Placentia | 2023-2024 | $285,000 |
| Witless Bay Seafoods | Witless Bay | 2023-2024 | $195,000 |