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Grants & Services
Here you will find a variety of links and resource information about finance options, grants and services to assist with the development of your business.
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Government of Canada
Small businesses are an important part of Canada's economy, but they face unique challenges when seeking financing. The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to obtain loans from financial institutions by sharing the risks with lenders.
Eligibility
Small businesses operating for profit in Canada with gross annual revenues of $5 million or less. Farming businesses, not-for-profit organizations, or charitable and religious organizations are not eligible under this program.
Loans can be used to finance up to 90 percent of the cost of:
· purchasing or improving land, real property or immovables;
· purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property; or
· purchasing or improving new or used equipment.
Amount of Financing
Up to a maximum of $500,000 for any one business, of which no more than $350,000 can be used for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment.
Click here for more information on this Program.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Public Works and Government Services Canada
The Kingston Police Services Board is seeking proposals from vendors to supply and install an LCD-based video wall (including all hardware, cables, LCD stand and equipment rack) in the Kingston Police Communications Centre. This video wall will initially only have as its input an interactive map from a Windows based workstation. The video wall must be able to handle live and recorded digital video feeds as part of its design and be able to display various inputs simultaneously in area(s) controlled by the user.
Reference Number: 201630
Solicitation Number: RFP 10-04
This RFP closes 2010-08-20 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Saving Time EDT.
Please Visit MERX (www.merx.com) for full document.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)
SDTC Announces Round 18
The SDTC website was recently updated with info concerning the funding timelines. The application round will officially open on September 1 and closes on October 20, 2010.
Click here for more information.
Funding Your Community Energy and Climate Change Initiatives
July 2010 Update
The Community Energy Association is pleased to announce the July 2010 update to Funding Your Community Energy and Climate Change Initiatives. This guide provides information on over 60 funding programs and resources that provide financial and educational support to BC local government energy and climate change initiatives. These programs address a broad range of initiatives related to buildings, infrastructure, renewable energy and transportation.
Production of this update of the local government funding and resource guide has been made possible through support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Click here to access the guide.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
(NSERC)
Contact Newsletter
June 2010 - Volume 34 No. 3
Click here to view NSERC’s Contact Newsletter.
Industry Canada Announces Loan Increase
Small businesses in Canada with a gross revenue of $5 million or less are now eligible for a maximum loan of $500,000 with Industry Canada.
Loans can be used to finance up to 90 percent of the cost of:
· purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property; or
· purchasing or improving new or used equipment.
Click here to view the pamphlet.
For more information on the Canada Small Business Financing Program, contact Industry Canada at:
Tel. (toll free): 866-959-1699
Fax: 613-952-0290
Email: CSBFP-PFPEC@ic.gc.ca
Website: www.ic.gc.ca/csbfp
Small Business Internship Program
An Industry Canada Initiative
Wondering how to take advantage of the latest e-marketing tools and techniques?
The Small Business Internship Program provides financial support to Canadian small and medium-sized businesses to employ a student-intern to them in increasing the usage of e-commerce strategies to improve productivity and competitiveness in the marketplace.
If you've been wondering how to take advantage of blogging, podcasting, social networking or other e-marketing tools and techniques, then this program might benefit you.
Successful applicants will receive up to 75% of eligible wages and related expenses, up to $10,000.
Click here for more information.
FUTUREWORKS
BUILD FOR THE FUTURE PROJECT: Helping You Build Your Business.
No money, no time, or no expertise to attract, retain or grow your people? If you want your business to succeed, something needs to be done.
For a limited time, 10 companies will be selected to gain up to 40 hours of expert human resources assistance through the Build for the Future pilot project. This innovative project is sponsored by the BC Government to address the HR issues of small but rapidly growing companies, at no dollar cost to the participants. The Build for the Future Project is created by FutureWorks in partnership with BCTIA, DigiBC, Life Sciences BC, and the Ministry of Housing and Social Development: Employment and Labour Market Services.
Click here to view more information on this pilot project.
Click here to view the application form.
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands -
Farm Business Advisory Services Program
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has announced the Farm Business Advisory Services Program. This program is designed to build the capacity of British Columbia farmers to better understand their financial situation and benchmark their farm’s performance, prior to making plans for the future development of their businesses.
The program supports basic financial analysis and specialized business planning services which will enable producers to make more informed management decisions and includes a farm self-assessment component and a consulting component.
British Columbia farmers may be eligible for funding towards the business consulting services. These services fall into 2 tiers:
Tier 1 – Basic farm financial assessment: 100% funding up to $1,900
Tier 2 – Specialized business planning: 85% funding up to $3,000
Click here for further details.
The SD Tech Fund™ will be accepting Statements of Interest from
February 24 to April 21, 2010.
The $550 million SD Tech Fund™ supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil.
SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ invests in late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies by Canadian companies.
The Statement of Interest (SOI) is an initial application used for preliminary screening and is subject to a competitive review process by SDTC and a panel of independent experts.SOIs are evaluated on the basis of fit with SDTC’s mandate, selection criteria, and the quality of technology, marketing and business capabilities.
A limited set of applicants who demonstrate the strongest fit will be invited back to submit a full proposal for deeper evaluation.Click here for more information
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 14, 2009
Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development
FUNDING FUELS CLEAN ENERGY FUTUREVICTORIA – The Province is making $25 million available in a new call for applications to the on-going Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund, Small Business, Technology and Economic Development Minister Iain Black announced today.
“The ICE Fund is helping to commercialize clean energy technologies that can fight climate change,” Black said. “Renewed support from the provincial government will create jobs in B.C. communities.”Clean energy entrepreneurs can apply now for the 2010 Showcase Call for Applications and expect the first project approvals early in the new year. The initial deadline to submit applications is November 20, 2009. The provincial government is considering additional application deadlines to take effect in 2010.
The ICE Fund is open to applications from municipalities, regional districts, school boards, hospitals, First Nations, not-for-profit societies, post secondary institutions, Crown corporations, public utilities and companies. For further information on how to apply, visit the ICE Fund website at: http://www.sted.gov.bc.ca/icefund/.Since 2008, the ICE Fund has approved over $47 million in investments to support 34 clean energy projects in communities across B.C., representing a total value of over $174 million including leveraged investments.
ICE Fund projects are helping make clean, renewable energy technologies ready for commercial application in areas such as solar, geothermal, wind, ocean tidal and wave, and bioenergy.Supporting the BC Energy Plan and the government’s goal of electricity self-sufficiency by 2016 and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020, the ICE Fund will showcase B.C. technologies to the world.
http://www.tted.gov.bc.ca/ICEFund/CurrentCall/Pages/default.aspx
Finance Options
Aboriginal Business Development Centre assists individual Aboriginal people to gain business experience and skills, through an Aboriginal-led non-profit centre.
Aboriginal Business
Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) is an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada program that maximizes Aboriginal people's participation in the economy through business development. Through Aboriginal Business Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) provides funding to young entrepreneurs, new businesses, existing businesses and Aboriginal organizations that are eligible for support. For more information, contact the head office located at 1138 Melville Street, 8th Floor,
Angel Forum - Vancouver introduces emerging companies to private equity Angel Investors and Venture Capital firms.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) provides Canadian businesses with flexible financing, affordable consulting services and venture capital. They work with entrepreneurs in all industries, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through all economic cycles and help businesses in their development projects, both local and global.
Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) through Western Economic Diversification (WD) will provide $1 billion over two years to address the short-term economic needs of Canadian communities impacted by the global recession. The national fund will provide an economic stimulus by supporting projects that create jobs and maintain employment in and around communities that have experienced significant job losses and lack alternative employment opportunities. To read more about CAF, Click Here.
Ecotrust Canada Capital Corporation
The Ecotrust Canada Capital Corporation is a community development financial institution whose purpose is to finance the conservation economy. We are leaders in brokering capital for small- and medium-sized enterprises and ventures that deliver healthy environmental, social and financial returns. Our philosophy is that we can make money while making a difference too.
Export Development
Export Development Canada (EDC) provides innovative financing, insurance and bonding solutions to Canadian companies that export goods and services, or invest in other countries. Contact for
Finding Angels in BC Mike Volker started out as an Entrepreneur and after he sold his company, he became an Angel Investor. This is a presentation he did to the Vancouver Enterprise Forum.
GrowthWorks is
Sustainable Technology Development
The $550M SD Tech Fund™ is aimed at supporting the late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technology solutions: products and processes that contribute to clean air, clean water and clean land, that address climate change and improve the productivity and the global competitiveness of the Canadian industry.
Community Futures British Columbia plays a significant role in entrepreneurial and community development. Comprised of 34 locally and strategically positioned organizations, the BC Community Futures Network has a significant impact on the socio-economic development and diversification of the rural communities it serves.
Grants and Services
BC Online - Access to Government information is your one-stop gateway to Government registry information in B.C.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers accelerated immigration for qualified skilled workers and experienced entrepreneurs who wish to settle in British Columbia (BC) and become permanent residents of Canada.
Canada Business - Services for Entrepreneurs provides a single access point to all the government services and information needed to start, run and grow a business.
Canada Export Centre and Canadian Horizon Captial Corp.
Introduce the International Corportae Finance Network
Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.
Canadian Technology Network (CTN) is a network of more than 300 experts in technology and business. They are all inspired to advise innovative SME by providing them with rapid access to specialized resources likely to contribute to their success.
CANARIE announces $12 million second round of Network-Enabled Platforms Program
CANARIE is pleased to announce that a $12 million second round of the Network‐Enabled Platforms Program (NEP) is now open for proposals of innovative research projects based on the use of the CANARIE advanced network. The NEP‐2 program will focus on the development and deployment of middleware tools and related platform technologies or infrastructure that will be used by virtual organizations and interested research communities to support their existing and proposed research activities.
The Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) NRC-IRAP offers two kinds of financial assistance.
Industry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development, investment, and innovation/research and development.
InfoExport Canada from Canada to the rest of the world, we offer services to help Canadians in the international marketplace.
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is committed to providing the business climate for a competitive and profitable industry providing safe, high quality food for consumers and export markets.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is the catalyst and facilitator for developing sustainable and competitive energy and mineral resource sectors for British Columbians.Ministry of Forests and Range believes the building a strong and diverse forest sector through revitalization, while maintaining high environmental standards, will help ensure long-term jobs and economic benefits.
Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development. The Ministry of Economic Development offers three key programs to help small business gain access to capital. These programs offer tax credits to investors so that small businesses may continue to lead the economic future of British Columbia Venture Capital Programs our provincial Venture Capital Programs encourage investments in British Columbia businesses by providing British Columbia investors with a 30 percent refundable tax credit. Employee Share Ownership Program our Employee Share Ownership Program promotes investment by employees in their company by providing them with a 20 percent provincial income tax credit. Retiring business owners can use an employee share ownership plan to transfer ownership of their company to employees by selling shares directly to their employees, who receive a 20 percent provincial income tax credit on their investment. Labour Sponsored Funds Program our Labour Sponsored Funds Program assists in the creation of investment funds which are able to invest in small and medium sized businesses with high growth potential that need equity financing to achieve success.
National Research Council (NRC) administers research and development activities, including grants and contributions used to support a number of international activities.
Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve security of the food system, health of the enviorment and innovation for growth.
Research and Technology Development Activities NRC-IRAP provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian SMEs interested in growing by using technology to commercialize services, products and processes in Canadian and international markets. NRC-IRAP also provides mentoring support and invests on a cost-shared basis for research and pre-competitive development technical projects, upon assessment of a project and firm by a team of Industrial Technology Advisors. NRC-IRAP's partner organizations also receive contributions to provide technical and research assistance to Canadian SMEs.
SDTC Calls for Applications to its SD Tech Fund
(February 25, 2009) Technology Developers Should Take Advantage of Tremendous
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program The SR&ED program is a federal tax incentive program, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in
Small Business Guide to Provincial Sales Tax Includes the basic procedures related to provincial sales tax, such as how to register, how to collect and remit the tax, and how to apply for a refund.
Western Economic Diversification Canada provides indirect funding for business through a network of community and industry-based organizations that offer small loans or assist with access to small business financing.
The Virtual Trade Commissioner - Your Personalized Gateway to Trade
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has launched a new tool designed to aid exporters. The Virtual Trade Commissioner, an interactive digital assistant, offers a variety of services for exporters or those companies thinking of exporting. By registering, companies receive a personalized Web page containing market reports, business news and leads that match their international business interests. It can be used to request services from the Trade Commissioner Service, and makes information about their company available to the 500 Trade Commissioners in 140 offices around the world. To take a tour and register for this free service, visit http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/. Visit www.bctradeevents.com for a listing of current trade events.
Youth Employment Strategy Programs: IRAP's Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Collaborative Research Internships Program provide firms with support to hire post-secondary graduates.