Aurenia Group · Funding-Fit Snapshot · Sample
Bluenose Bakery Co.
The government funding programs a business like yours most likely qualifies for — ranked, with estimated coverage and what to stack.
Estimated combined coverage
50% of an eligible project
On an illustrative $60,000 project, that is roughly $30,000 funded — about $30,000 out of pocket, before financing.
Figures are indicative estimates for planning only, not a funding guarantee. Actual coverage depends on program intake, eligibility, and per-expenditure stacking rules — the full Business Case sizes them precisely.
Programs to pursue, best fit first
ACOA REGI — Business Scale-up & Productivity
~$30,000
Anchors larger productivity/transformation projects across Atlantic Canada — typically up to 50% as an unsecured, interest-free repayable contribution (some project types reach 75%).
Watch: Structurally a 0%-interest repayable contribution (not a grant); typical awards $100K–$2M and it needs 2+ years of financial statements.
NRC IRAP
~$36,000
Funds internal technical work on genuinely novel R&D — up to ~80% of eligible technical salaries and up to ~50% of contractor costs.
Watch: Only for real technical uncertainty — off-the-shelf software adoption, training and change work are not eligible.
Invest NS Productivity & Innovation Voucher (PIVP)
~$25,000
Voucher for an NS SME to access R&D/productivity expertise — Tier 1 up to $15,000, then Tier 2 up to $25,000 as a follow-on.
Watch: The work must be delivered with an eligible NS post-secondary (Dalhousie, NSCC, CBU, Acadia, StFX) — a standalone consultant report does not qualify. Annual application window (confirm the current intake; it was closed as of mid-2026).
SR&ED tax credit
~$21,000
Refundable credit on eligible R&D labour and materials, filed annually — 35% federal for CCPCs on an enhanced base now up to $6M, plus a 15% refundable NS top-up.
Watch: For scientific/technological uncertainty only; cannot be claimed on the same labour hours as IRAP. (Enhanced base raised to $6M and capital expenditures restored under Budget 2025.)
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Financing
Improves financing access for the capex/software portion via an 85% lender guarantee — up to $1.15M ($1M term loan + a $150K line of credit).
Watch: This is financing, not a contribution — it lowers borrowing cost, it does not offset the project. Gross revenue must be ≤$10M.
How to read this. Programs are ranked by estimated offset against your profile, discounted for application effort. Grants stack at the expenditure level (the same dollar can't be funded twice), so the combined-coverage headline is an upper-bound illustration capped at the 75% government-assistance ceiling. Repayable contributions (e.g. ACOA REGI) are 0%-interest capital, not free money. Always confirm current intake and eligibility with the funder before committing. Figures as of 2026-07.
Turn this into a funded plan
The full Diagnostic + Business Case builds the application-ready case — sized to your real budget, with the funding stack that gets a large share paid for.
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