Newfoundland and Labrador Business Grants: What’s Available and How to Apply
Looking to fund your business in Newfoundland and Labrador without taking on debt? This article explores the types of business grants available in the province, who provides them, how they can be used, and what it takes to qualify.
Whether you’re launching a startup, growing a small business, or operating in a rural region, this guide will help you find the right funding to move your business forward.
✅ What is a Business Grant?
A business grant is non-repayable funding offered by government agencies or non-profit organizations to support specific business activities. Unlike loans, grants don’t need to be repaid — but they typically come with eligibility requirements, performance goals, and reporting obligations. In Newfoundland and Labrador, business grants are often used to support job creation, innovation, and regional economic development.
✅ Types of Business Grants in Newfoundland and Labrador
Grants in Newfoundland and Labrador are often organized by purpose, target audience, sector, or geography. The most common types include:
◾ Activity Grants
These grants help fund business activities such as employee hiring or training, research and development, technology adoption, or expanding into new markets.
◾ Audience Grants
Some grants are aimed at supporting underrepresented groups, such as women, youth, Indigenous entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada.
◾ Industry Grants
Newfoundland and Labrador offers grant programs focused on key sectors like ocean technology, fisheries and aquaculture, energy, tourism, agriculture, and cultural industries.
◾ Regional Grants
Rural and remote economic development is a core focus in the province. Many grants are available only to businesses in specific areas, often administered through regional development agencies like CBDCs or InnovateNL.
✅ What Can a Business Grant be Used for in NL?
Business grants in Newfoundland and Labrador can be used to support a wide range of initiatives. Common uses include:
- Hiring and training employees
- Developing or improving products and services
- Upgrading equipment or facilities
- Expanding to new markets or exporting
- Adopting digital or green technologies
- Supporting cultural or tourism-based projects
Grant programs often require cost-sharing, where the business contributes a portion of the project cost.
✅ How to Qualify for a Business Grant in Newfoundland and Labrador
Eligibility for business grants in Newfoundland and Labrador depends on the program, but generally, you must:
- Be a registered business operating in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Meet criteria based on industry, business size, ownership, or project scope
- Align your proposed project with the grant’s goals (e.g. job creation, innovation, export growth)
- Provide a complete application, which may include a business plan, project budget, and financial forecasts
Some grants are competitive and may prioritize businesses with strong economic or community impact.
✅ Alternatives to Business Grants in NL
If a grant doesn’t meet your needs, or if you’re exploring other options, consider these common funding alternatives in the province:
◾ Subsidies
Programs that help reduce hiring and training costs, especially for youth, students, and individuals from equity-deserving groups.
◾ Government Loans
Low-interest or flexible loans are available through agencies such as the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, CBDCs, and federal programs delivered locally.
◾ Tax Credits
Businesses may be eligible for federal tax credits like SR&ED, or provincial incentives tied to film and television production, digital media, and innovation.
◾ Equity Investment Programs
Startups and high-growth companies can access equity funding through provincial innovation hubs, public-private partnerships, and Atlantic-region investor networks.
✅ Newfoundland and Labrador Business Grants: Current Grants Available
$750
Grant
Description:
This program is designed to provide professional development for the following:
To improve creative skills
To gain greater knowledge of the music industry
To conduct business that seeks to promote and market MusicNL members outside the province
To attend (virtual) music related conferences, festivals and events
$4,750
Grant
Description:
This funding program is designed to increase awareness of provincially produced music at local, national, and international levels, and to present NL music as an art form and viable economic driver. Export-ready musicians touring outside of the province and expanding their market reach within and outside of Canada should apply.
$5,000
Grant
Description:
Designed to increase awareness of provincially produced music at local, national, and international levels by touring.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The program provides assistance to the various industry participants and associations to develop the local skill base
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The program provides funds to local film and video industry participants to assist with travel-related expenses to market their products globally
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The program provides funds to local film and video industry participants to assist with marketing-related expenses to market their products or for receptions related to the marketing of these products.
$700
Grant
Description:
Small Business Micro Grant provides investments for small businesses (for profit) to provide musical experiences for their customers during 2024 and 2025. Businesses can avail up to $700 to help cover the costs associated with hiring musical talent in their community.
no fixed amount
Grant
Description:
Self-Employment Assistance is an employment program that provides financial and entrepreneurial assistance to eligible individuals to help them create jobs for themselves by starting a business. The maximum duration of an agreement with a participant is 52 weeks, and 78 weeks for persons with a disability.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Publishers Assistance Program supports publishers with potential for sustained or expanding business strength, sound market and business planning, employment growth over the long term, and responsiveness to the provincial literary sector. The program is designed to strengthen the publishing and the literary sectors overall by encouraging quality products, effective marketing, and by making professional development services available to publishers.
$20,000.00
Grant
Description:
The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program supports current farmers and new entrants to the province’s agriculture and agrifoods sectors. The program has two streams, focusing on land development and agriculture infrastructure. Projects must support food self-sufficiency and increase agricultural growth and secondary processing.
$12,000.00
Grant
Description:
Prospectors Assistance (PA) provides direct financial support and training to individuals who want to conduct mineral exploration in the Province. PA is designed to encourage and promote development of the mineral-prospecting industry through the discovery of wealth-generating mineral deposits. PA is comprised of two components: Prospectors Assistance Grants and Prospector Training.
$9,500
Grant
Description:
This program is designed to support professional development for the following:
To conduct business that seeks to promote and market NL musicians and music industry professionals outside the province. This may include attending music related conferences, festivals, and events.
To showcase at music conferences, festivals, and events, or to represent a showcasing artist.
To undertake training that enhances creative and/or industry skills.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Atlantic Fisheries Fund supports innovative projects in the fish and seafood sector that help meet the growing global demands for seafood globally. The objective of the program is to drive new ideas and solutions to help the seafood sector meet market demand for sustainability sourced, high quality fish and seafood products.
$150,000
Grant
Description:
PictureNL’s, Low Budget Production Program is available for eligible screen industry companies which are majority owned by a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador. Projects with production budgets up to a maximum of $150,000 are eligible to avail of this program. PictureNL can invest up to 33% towards an eligible project’s production financing. Low Budget Production projects are not eligible to apply for a tax credit through this program.
no fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Labor Market Partnerships Program provides funding to support employers, employer or employee associations, community groups and communities in developing and implementing labor market strategies and activities for dealing with labour force adjustments and meeting human resource requirements. Labour Market Partnerships may be used to provide assistance for employed persons who are facing loss of employment.
no fixed amount
Grant, Rebate
Description:
The takeCHARGE Isolated Systems Business Efficiency Program targets Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s (Hydro) commercial customers in isolated systems, providing support and financial incentives for a wide range of energy saving projects.
no fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Innovation and Business Development Fund is focused on investments to grow and diversify Newfoundland and Labrador’s oil and gas supply and service capabilities. The fund provides funding to commercial and non-commercial applicants for business development, emerging technologies and industry diversification. The fund supports The Way Forward on Oil and Gas – Advance 2030: A Plan for Growth in the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industry.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Grants to Individual Artists aims to support the artistic development of individual artists, to support arts organizations in fulfilling their mandates, to contribute to the grown and sustainability of the St. John’s arts community, to improve the well-being of the community.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
Registered Heritage Structures are generally heritage buildings or engineering works that are good examples of their type in a good state of preservation and which help to tell the diverse stories of Newfoundland and Labrador.
$40,000
Grant
Description:
Heritage NL is looking for projects that blend the restoration of a designated property with community planning workshops, architectural history research, and opportunities for transmission of traditional skills related to conservation of the site or the site’s history. The grant is intended to direct funding to projects that demonstrate community value as well as a need for material conservation.
$3,000
Grant
Description:
All Registered Heritage Structures are eligible to apply for a Maintenance Grant once every three (3) years, dated from the last payment of a grant for that property. Maintenance grants cover 50% of eligible expenses for exterior work using traditional materials, with costs for repair/replacement to historic windows covered to 80%, both to a maximum of $3,000. There is no fixed deadline for the submission of a Maintenance Grant application. The number of grants approved in a year will be based upon available funding.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The City of St. John’s aims to conserve significant heritage resources including buildings and streetscapes. The Heritage Financial Incentives Program assists property owners to maintain designated heritage buildings and homes. Properties in the City’s Heritage Areas will also be considered.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Newfoundland and Labrador Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is established in the Management of Greenhouse Gas Act (the Act; sections 6 to 9). GGRF revenues accrue from the purchase of fund credits by regulated industrial facilities pursuant to the Act (sections 5 and 5.1), and by revenues received from enforcement activities pursuant to the Act and its regulations. The GGRF is an application-based funding program designed to support projects that result in verifiable greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in the industrial sector in the province. The industrial sector includes electricity generation, mining and quarrying, oil and gas, and manufacturing.
$75,000.00
Grant
Description:
The Green Transition Fund provides financial support to businesses, organizations, post-secondary institutions, and industry associations to assist with the province’s transition to a green economy. The program will de-risk commercial and non-commercial activities that facilitate collaboration, investment, and industry growth required for the transition.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Climate Change Challenge Fund is a competitive, application-based grant program open to the private sector, not-for profit organizations, public sector bodies or boards, municipal governments, and Indigenous organizations to undertake greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.
$15,000.00
Grant
Description:
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant (CNLJG) provides funding to eligible businesses and organizations to help offset the cost of training for their existing and future employees.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The Business Investment Program provides term loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in strategic growth sectors as identified by Industry, Energy and Technology. The fund is also available to businesses which have export potential and require assistance to enter or expand in external markets. Funds are provided to complement funding from conventional sources, where a need has been demonstrated, and are also intended to increase the capital base of businesses allowing them to leverage new private-sector investments.
$200,000.00
Grant
Description:
The Business Growth Program provides non-repayable contributions for projects or initiatives to assist businesses start, innovate, scale and improve sales locally, nationally or internationally.
$10,000
Grant
Description:
This program fosters and supports Newfoundland and Labrador musical culture through the funding of diverse artists and genres in singles, EP’s, full-length sound recordings, marketing and promotion materials.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
The objective of the program is to assist in increasing
production of commercial aquaculture products
in the province, from both hatcheries and marine
sites, thereby increasing employment and spin-off
opportunities in the processing, manufacturing, supply
and service sectors, primarily in rural Newfoundland
and Labrador
$95,000
Grant
Description:
The Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP) is funded by NLHC and partners with private and community housing developers to create new affordable rental units for lower income households. Support is provided through capital funding in the form of a forgivable loan for new construction projects, conversion from non-residential or additions to an existing residential structure. Funding amounts are determined by a combination of project location and attributes
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Maurice
