Market Opportunities and Diversification Program
Highlights
This program is designed specifically for businesses like yours. It offers financial support to help you expand and diversify your market reach. Whether you are a producer, processor, or part of an industry association, this program can assist with product modifications, marketing activities, and capacity building. These activities are crucial for meeting market requirements and seizing emerging opportunities.
Why should you apply? The program provides funding that can be used for:
- Product and packaging modifications to meet specific market needs
- Marketing activities to adapt to changing requirements
- Selling quality agricultural and seafood products both locally and internationally
- Capacity building to enhance your competitive edge
What’s in it for you? By being approved, you gain access to resources that can significantly boost your business’s growth and market presence. The financing is tailored to support your specific needs, making it more advantageous than other funding options. Plus, the application process is straightforward, ensuring you can easily qualify and benefit from this opportunity.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Grant
Repayment Terms:
- No repayment required.
- No interest rates apply.
Eligible Expenses:
- Product and packaging modification to meet specific market requirements or preferences.
- Marketing activities to meet changing requirements or emerging opportunities.
- Sale of quality agricultural and seafood products, both within and outside Nova Scotia.
- Capacity building and other development activities that help products and businesses compete in target markets.
Ineligible Expenses:
- The funds cannot be used for general operational expenses not related to the specified activities.
- Personal expenses or unrelated business costs.
Fees:
- No fees are associated with this program.
Qualifications
Must be a farm, Mi'kmaq conducting farming activities in a Mi'kmaw community, agri-business, agriculture industry association, or seafood business.
For farms:
- Must be currently and properly registered in the correct income category under the Farm Registration Act.
- Must have generated an annual eligible gross commodity income of at least $30,000.
- Must be at least 19 years old and actively farming in the program year.
For agri-businesses:
- Must represent Nova Scotia agriculture and agri-food products.
- Must have generated an annual eligible agri-business income of at least $30,000.
- Must conduct value-added processing of a raw Nova Scotia agriculture product, with a direct partnership and significant economic impact to Nova Scotia's agricultural industry.
For agriculture industry associations:
- Must demonstrate non-profit status.
For seafood businesses:
- Must be expanding into an international market.
- Must have generated an annual eligible business income of at least $30,000.
Description
The Market Opportunities and Diversification Program is designed to help your business grow and reach new markets. You can receive financial support to modify your products and packaging, making them more appealing to specific markets. This program also covers marketing activities to adapt to changing requirements and seize new opportunities.
You can use the funds to enhance the sale of quality agricultural and seafood products both within Nova Scotia and internationally. The program also supports capacity building and development to help your business compete more effectively in target markets.
This is a great opportunity for your business to expand its reach and improve its competitiveness. The financial support provided can be a significant boost, helping you to innovate and grow.
Program Steps
Review Program Guidelines: Before starting your application, read the program guidelines thoroughly. This will help you understand the specific requirements and ensure you have all necessary information.
Prepare Documentation: Gather the required documents for your application. You will need:
- Proof of farm registration under the Farm Registration Act (for farms)
- Financial statements showing an annual eligible gross commodity income of at least $30,000
- Proof of non-profit status (for agriculture industry associations)
- Documents showing value-added processing of a raw Nova Scotia agriculture product (for agri-businesses)
- Evidence of expanding into an international market (for seafood businesses)
Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form with accurate and detailed information about your business and the activities you plan to undertake.
Submit the Application: Send your completed application form and all required documentation to the Department of Agriculture. You can submit it via mail, fax, or email to [email protected].
Await Confirmation: After submitting your application, wait for confirmation from the Department of Agriculture. They may contact you for additional information or clarification.
Follow Up: If you do not receive a response within a reasonable time, follow up with the Department of Agriculture by phone at 902-893-6377 or toll-free at 1-866-844-4276.
Prepare for Claim Submission: If your application is approved, keep track of all expenses and activities related to the program. You will need to submit a claim by the deadline of 29 February 2024.
By following these steps, you can successfully apply for the program and take advantage of the opportunities it offers to grow your business.