Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Business Programs

Business programs for Nova Scotia — 312 active and region-matched programs across Nova Scotia. Breakdown: 106 program, 42 event, 36 tool, 30 advisory. Administered by organizations including COVE, Digital Nova Scotia, CEED, Centre for Women in Business, Invest Nova Scotia. Every listing carries a verification date; click through to the official program page for deadlines and amounts.

All 312 programs

• Business Counselling and Advisory Services — Black Business Initiative · advisory
  One-on-one business counselling for current and aspiring Black business owners, covering all stages from idea through established business. BBI advisors provide personalized guidance on starting, developing, growing…
• Business and Professional Development Training — Black Business Initiative · program
  Free business and professional development training sessions delivered through workshops, webinars, and conferences. Topics include marketing, finance, technology, networking, and business planning, available to Black…
• Access to Capital (Loans and Grants) — Black Business Initiative · financing
  BBI provides loans and grants to eligible Black-owned businesses and connects clients with alternative funding resources. Loans can be used for capital investments, working capital, and short-term receivable financing.
• Atlantic Canada Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Program (BEP) — Black Business Initiative · program
  A federal program delivered by BBI to strengthen and expand support for Black businesses and entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada. The program provides access to funding (including loans), business development support…
• Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) — Black Business Initiative · financing
  A federally funded initiative delivered by BBI to increase the capacity of Black-led grassroots and not-for-profit organizations that serve Black communities across Canada. Provides grants to help nonprofits grow…
• Barrier Breakers Youth Program — Black Business Initiative · program
  A paid employment program for youth aged 15-30 across Atlantic Canada who face barriers to employment. Includes 3 weeks of paid job-readiness training and 14 weeks of paid work placements with employers, plus wraparound…
• Business is Jammin' (BIJ) Youth Entrepreneurship — Black Business Initiative · program
  A province-wide charitable initiative focused on motivating Black youth through education, personal development, and entrepreneurship programming. BIJ delivers enterprise and entrepreneurship learning strategy to…
• Events and Workshops — Black Business Initiative · event
  BBI hosts events and workshops on various business topics such as digital strategy, AI for operational excellence, and climate incentives for small businesses. BBI also hosts larger events including the annual Black…
• Black Business Directory — Black Business Initiative · tool
  BBI maintains a directory of Black-owned businesses, providing visibility and networking opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and connecting consumers with Black-owned businesses.
• Black Business Summit and 30th Anniversary Gala — Black Business Initiative · event
  BBI's flagship annual event celebrating 30 years. The 2026 summit theme is 'Innovation in Motion: The Future of Black Entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada,' held March 19-20, 2026 at the Halifax Convention Center.
• Resources and Networking — Black Business Initiative · networking
  BBI provides access to knowledge, tools, networking opportunities, and a Black business directory to help Black businesses grow and connect within the broader business community.
• Bilingual Grant Writing Workshop for Black Nonprofits — Black Business Initiative · event
  Virtual bilingual grant writing workshops open to all Black nonprofits across Canada, delivered as part of the SBCCI program support.
• General Business Loan — CBDC Blue Water · financing
  Repayable business loans up to $300,000 for eligible applicants in rural HRM, with competitive interest rates starting at 7.45% and flexible repayment terms. Financing can include demand or term loans, loan guarantees…
• First-Time Entrepreneur Loan — CBDC Blue Water · financing
  Loan program designed for new businesses needing capital to cover initial expenses such as equipment purchases, inventory, and working capital. Offers competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
• Social Enterprise Loan — CBDC Blue Water · financing
  Loans up to $300,000 for non-profits, charities, cooperatives, or societies in rural HRM to support revenue-generating business operations, with competitive interest rates and loan amortizations of up to ten years.
• Youth Loan — CBDC Blue Water · financing
  Repayable loan for young entrepreneurs aged 18-34 to access capital for business start-up, expansion, or modernization in rural HRM, with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
• Immigrant Loan — CBDC Blue Water · financing
  Loans up to $5,000 at 10.2% fixed interest for immigrants starting a business in rural HRM, created in partnership with ISANS. Includes counselling and training services.
• Business Advisory Service — CBDC Blue Water · advisory
  Free one-on-one advisory services from Business Development Officers covering business planning, registration, government services, market information, exporting advice, and digital marketing.
• Digital Marketing Advisory Service — CBDC Blue Water · advisory
  Advisory services from CBDC Blue Water's Marketing Coordinator to help small business clients succeed with online marketing, covering target markets, marketing channels, content strategy, social media, and referrals to…
• Entrepreneurial Training Fund (ETF) — CBDC Blue Water · program
  Covers up to 90% of business management skills training costs (up to $2,000) for entrepreneurs in rural HRM. Clients pay at least 10% of the training cost.
• Consultant Advisory Services (CAS) — CBDC Blue Water · advisory
  ACOA-funded program administered by CBDCs providing access to professional consultants for diagnostic assessments, business management development, access to capital guidance, market readiness, business coaching…
• Training and Learning Resources — CBDC Blue Water · program
  Free training resources including the CBDC Learning Library for rural small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, and a self-serve video series on social media for small business covering social media platforms…
• Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) - Grow Your Business Online — CBDC Blue Water · financing
  A federal micro-grant program of up to $2,400 to help eligible businesses in the Atlantic Provinces adopt e-commerce tools, supported by a network of e-commerce advisors. Administered through Digital Main Street and the…
• Events and Workshops — CBDC Blue Water · event
  Regular events and workshops hosted or co-hosted by CBDC Blue Water for entrepreneurs in rural HRM, listed on Eventbrite. Open to collaboration with private, public, or non-profit organizations.
• Self Employment Benefits Program — CBDC Blue Water · program
  Program covering the fundamentals of starting and running a business, including business planning, marketing strategies, and financial management. Some eligibility conditions apply.
• Boardroom Space Rental — CBDC Blue Water · workspace
  Boardroom space available for rental at the CBDC Blue Water office in Porters Lake.
• Introduction to Social Media for Small Business — CBDC Blue Water · program
  Free self-serve video training series covering social media fundamentals for small businesses, including platform selection, branding, content strategy, and content creation using Canva.
• Business Advisories — Centre for Women in Business · advisory
  One-on-one business advisory sessions available to women at all stages of entrepreneurship, from pre-startup through high-growth. Business advisors provide guidance on business planning, growth strategy, and operational…
• Blueprint for Success — Centre for Women in Business · program
  An eight-week virtual business planning program designed to guide and support women through getting started in business and creating or updating their business plan. Free to participants, now offered in partnership with…
• Advanced Management & Mentoring Program (AMMP) — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A six-month growth accelerator program for women business owners committed to increasing their business volume, markets, revenues, and profits. Now in its fourteenth year, AMMP includes peer-to-peer advisory sessions…
• SPICE (Specialized Program in Cooking Entrepreneurship) — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A complimentary program for underrepresented Nova Scotian women ready to move from their kitchen tables to a fully compliant food business. SPICE provides 8 weeks of active learning and ongoing support for up to a year…
• RBC Alliance of Young Women Entrepreneurs (AYWE) — Centre for Women in Business · program
  The first program of its kind in Canada, the RBC Alliance of Young Women Entrepreneurs empowers female students to reach their full potential as entrepreneurs through connection and learning. A free program open to MSVU…
• Coffee Talk — Centre for Women in Business · networking
  A weekly networking session for women entrepreneurs at all stages from pre-startup through growing (excluding high-growth). Provides a regular opportunity for connection, peer support, and community building.
• WEOC National Loan Program — Centre for Women in Business · financing
  As an official Loan Fund Partner for the WEOC National Loan Program, CWB provides access to loans up to $50,000 with terms up to 5 years and flexible payment options for women entrepreneurs. The program is made possible…
• Supplier Diversity Programs — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A suite of supplier diversity programs for women business owners at sustaining, growing, and high-growth stages, including introduction to supplier diversity, corporate roundtables, and the Advancing Supplier Diversity…
• Trade Missions — Centre for Women in Business · program
  Trade missions for women business owners at sustaining and growing stages to explore international markets, including past missions to Jamaica, Miami, Boston, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
• Grow Now for Female Tech Founders — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A program for female tech founders in Atlantic Canada at the startup, sustaining, and growing stages of business development.
• Greater Heights of Growth — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A program designed for women business owners in the high-growth stage ($1M+ annual revenue) looking to continue their growth trajectory.
• Certificate Training Programs — Centre for Women in Business · program
  Certificate training programs offered in partnership with Labour, Skills and Immigration Workplace Education, available to women at pre-startup through growing stages. Programs include business fundamentals courses and…
• International Women — Centre for Women in Business · event
  CWB's largest annual event and Atlantic Canada's biggest IWD celebration, featuring inspiring speakers, networking, and community building for women-identifying and gender diverse business owners.
• CWB Business Directory — Centre for Women in Business · tool
  An online business directory at cwbbusinessdirectory.ca featuring women-owned businesses in Nova Scotia, providing visibility and exposure for listed businesses.
• The EDGE Initiative — Centre for Women in Business · program
  An entrepreneurship development initiative listed under CWB's learning programs.
• Virtual Power Lunch — Centre for Women in Business · event
  A virtual lunch-hour learning series for women entrepreneurs at pre-startup through growing stages, featuring presentations from members and external speakers on business topics.
• MSVU SparkZone — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A co-ed student entrepreneurship program at MSVU for pre-startup and startup stage ventures, providing resources and support for students exploring business ideas.
• Networking Events — Centre for Women in Business · event
  Regular community networking events held across Nova Scotia including Networking Nights, Networking Lunches, and themed networking experiences. Both free and paid events are available.
• Tech Advisor Training Program — Centre for Women in Business · program
  A training program for business advisors to build capacity in supporting technology-focused entrepreneurs, listed under CWB's learning programs.
• Stella Maris Testing Solution — COVE · program
  A unique test-bed for marine instrumentation featuring a subsea platform, dockside testing area, shoreside operations centre, and 24-hour access for technology validation in real-world harbour conditions.
• Digital Harbour — COVE · program
  An ecosystem of on-shore and off-shore infrastructure that collects and analyzes data from satellites, surface vessels, and below the waterline — from seabed to space.
• SmartATLANTIC — COVE · program
  The SmartATLANTIC Alliance supports operational efficiency, situational awareness and safety in the marine environment, providing support for Canada's coastal and ocean operations.
• NATO DIANA Accelerator — COVE · program
  As an official NATO DIANA accelerator site, COVE supports companies developing dual-use technologies with access to advanced facilities, expert guidance, international defence networks, workshops, and mentoring.

Each program is independently listed and linked to its official page. To search across all 385 Atlantic Canada business support programs, visit navigator.aicrafted.ca.