AgriAssurance Program — National Industry Association
Highlights
This program is designed specifically for businesses like yours. It offers significant financial support to help you adopt assurance systems that meet market and regulatory requirements. You can receive up to $1 million per year in funding, with the government covering up to 75% of eligible costs. This means you only need to contribute 25%, which can include both cash and in-kind contributions.
What You Get:
- Up to $1 million per year in funding
- Government covers 75% of eligible costs
- Support for adopting assurance systems to meet market requirements
Benefits:
- Increase and diversify exports
- Enhance product safety and quality
- Build public trust in your products
Applying for this program can help you manage risks, improve resiliency, and make verifiable claims about your products. This can open new markets and boost your business's credibility. The application process is straightforward, and your business is already qualified. Don't miss this chance to strengthen your business and expand your market reach.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Grant
Repayment Terms:
- There are no repayment terms or interest rates, as this is a grant.
Eligible Expenses:
- Development and improvement of assurance systems.
- Costs associated with managing risks and ensuring product safety and quality.
- Adoption of assurance systems and tools to meet market requirements.
- Expenses related to making verifiable claims about health, safety, and quality of agricultural products.
Ineligible Expenses:
- General operational costs not related to the project.
- Expenses incurred outside the project scope.
- Costs that do not contribute directly to the development or improvement of assurance systems.
Fees:
- There are no fees associated with applying for or receiving this grant.
Qualifications
- Must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
- Business must be operating in Canada.
- Must be involved in agriculture or agri-food sector.
- Must be seeking to adopt assurance systems and tools to make verifiable claims to meet export market requirements or domestic markets for Indigenous Peoples.
Must be able to contribute a minimum of 25% of the project costs, which can include both cash and in-kind contributions.
Disqualifications:
- Businesses not operating in the agriculture or agri-food sector.
Description
This program offers your business a chance to receive up to $1 million per year in funding. This money can be used to develop or improve assurance systems that help manage risks and ensure the safety and quality of your products. These systems can also help you meet market requirements and make verifiable claims about your products.
The government will cover up to 75% of eligible costs, while you will need to contribute at least 25%. Your contribution can be a mix of cash and in-kind contributions, like equipment or services you already have. In-kind contributions should not exceed 10% of the total project costs.
This funding can help your business increase and diversify exports, especially to markets where Canada has free trade agreements. It supports efforts to meet regulatory requirements and make credible claims about the health, safety, and quality of your products. This can open new opportunities and build trust with your customers.
Program Steps
Gather Necessary Documentation: Prepare the following documents to complete your application:
- Business plan
- Financial statements (balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements)
- Proof of business registration
- Detailed project plan and budget
- Quotes or estimates for project costs
- Any other documents that support your project and its alignment with program objectives
Create an Account on the Application Portal: Visit the official program website and create an account on the application portal. This will allow you to save your progress and submit your application online.
Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form with accurate and detailed information about your business and the project. Ensure all sections are completed, including:
- Business details
- Project description
- Expected outcomes
- Budget breakdown
- Funding sources
Upload Supporting Documents: Attach all the necessary documents you gathered in Step 1 to your online application. Ensure each document is clearly labeled and easy to identify.
Review and Submit Your Application: Carefully review your completed application and attached documents. Make sure all information is accurate and complete. Once satisfied, submit your application through the portal.
Follow Up on Your Application: After submission, monitor your email and the application portal for any updates or requests for additional information from the program administrators. Respond promptly to any queries to avoid delays in the processing of your application.
Prepare for Potential Interviews or Site Visits: Be ready to provide further details or clarification about your project if requested. This may include interviews or site visits by program officials to verify the information provided in your application.
Await Decision and Funding: Once your application is reviewed, you will be notified of the decision. If approved, you will receive details on the funding agreement and next steps for project initiation and fund disbursement.
