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
Individuals & groups can apply for a maximum of $750 (maximum annual funding of $750), paid 75% up front and 25% upon completion of final report
Grant
Description:
Objective: this program is designed to provide professional development for the following:
1. To improve creative skills
2. To gain greater knowledge of the music industry
3. To conduct business that seeks to promote and market MusicNL members outside the province
4. To attend (virtual) music related conferences, festivals and events
Up to 70% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $1500 (solo), $2000 (duo), $2500 (group 3-4) or $3000 (group 5+) for domestic travel and $2500 (solo), $3250 (duo), $4000 (group 3-4) or $4750 (group 5+) for international travel; 2026 annual cap of $5,000 solo, $6,500 duo, $8,000 groups (3-4), $9,500 groups (5+)
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.
Up to 70% of eligible expenses to a maximum of: $500 Solo Artist; $750 Duo; $1,000 Group (3 – 4 members); $1,500 Group (+5 members)
Grant
Description:
MusicNL offers a grant of up to 70% of eligible expenses to solo artists, duos and groups touring within Newfoundland & Labrador, for tours of at least 3 confirmed dates in at least 2 different municipalities. Applicants must have been residents of Newfoundland & Labrador for at least six (6) months prior to applying.
No fixed amount
Grant
Description:
PictureNL has a full-time Industry Development Officer who works on behalf of crew, producers and filmmakers to organize and support specific workshops, training opportunities, job placements and other projects designed to increase the local industry’s capacity.
The Sponsorship Program provides qualified individuals and organizations with funding assistance, enabling them to promote the products of the local industry. Applicants eligible for funding are Newfoundland and Labrador residents and organizations with screen industries as their principal activities.
50% reimbursement after submission of eligible receipts, up to a maximum of $2,000
Grant
Description:
The Sponsorship Program provides qualified individuals and organizations with funding assistance, enabling them to promote the products of the local industry. Applicants eligible for funding are Newfoundland and Labrador residents and organizations with screen industries as their principal activities.
Examples of applicable opportunities: Film Festivals, Markets, workshops, job shadowing
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.
No fixed amount
Grant, Entrepreneurship Program
Description:
Self-Employment Assistance is here to help you start your own business by providing financial and entrepreneurial support.
Funding allocated in two components: a Base Component per eligible title released the previous year (40% of funding) and an Evaluation Component based on assessment of the publishing program (60% of funding); 90% paid on signing the contract, 10% holdback paid on receipt of the final report
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.
$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.
Up to 33% towards an eligible project’s production financing
Investment
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.
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.
The lesser of an incentive based on first-year energy savings, at a rate of $0.4/kWh, or 80% of eligible project costs
Grant, Rebate
Description:
The 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.
Incentives paid to the customer will typically be up to 80% of eligible project costs.
Non-repayable contribution that will normally not exceed 50 per cent; the level of support will vary from project to project
Grant
Description:
The Innovation and Business Development Fund is focused on investments to grow Newfoundland and Labrador’s oil and gas supply and service capabilities, including opportunities to diversify capacities in other energy sectors.
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 specific amount specified
In-Kind Support
Description:
Heritage NL designates what it deems to be the best examples of heritage structures in the province – those it finds to be worthy of commemoration and protection. Accepted properties have the status of provincially-designated Registered Heritage Structures.
Legal owners of properties can apply for designation through Heritage NL.
Project proposals in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, funded on a 50/50 cost shared basis: 50% of eligible expenses for exterior work using traditional materials, and costs for repair/replacement of historic windows covered to 80%
Grant, In-Kind Support
Description:
Heritage NL is looking for projects that blend the restoration of a provincially-designated Registered Heritage Structure 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.
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
Grant
Description:
All provincially-designated 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.
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.
Non-repayable funding of $75,000 minimum to $3 million maximum (Indigenous/Rural projects: no minimum project size); non-commercial funding not normally exceeding 50 per cent and commercial funding not normally exceeding 40 per cent of eligible project costs; up to 100 per cent of eligible costs for innovation or research challenges issued through an RFP process
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.
Non-repayable grant of up to $3,000/tCO2e, up to a maximum cost share of 50% of eligible project costs for for-profit (private sector) projects, whichever is less
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.
Up to a maximum of $10,000 per year towards training an existing employee and up to a maximum of $15,000 for training an unemployed participant; the employer contributes at least one-third of the cost of training, except for an unemployed participant
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.
Repayable term loans at an interest rate equal to the Bank of Canada rate + 0.5%
Loan
Description:
The Business Investment Program provides term loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in strategic growth sectors as identified by Jobs, Growth and Rural Development. The fund is also available to businesses which have export potential and require assistance to enter or expand in external markets.
Non-repayable contributions up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $200,000 over 24 months ($100,000 per year) per project, per company; Development and Commercialization projects may be considered to a higher maximum normally up to $750,000 over multiple years
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.
Minimum investment of $250,000 for finfish operations and $100,000 for shellfish operations (no maximum investment level); eligible capital expenditures funded up to 50 per cent through ACEP equity financing
Investment
Description:
The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has established the Aquaculture Capital Equity Program to promote the growth and development of aquaculture in the province.
The objective of the program is to partner with companies to increase production from both hatcheries and marine sites in Newfoundland and Labrador. The program will provide a minimum investment to projects of $250,000 for finfish operations and $100,000 for shellfish to match a private sector cash investment.
Forgivable loan of $55,000-$95,000 per unit (Private Sector Stream), on the first 10 units of a project and 50 per cent of the units thereafter, up to the maximum of 20 funded units
Loan, Grant
Description:
The Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP) provides one-time capital funding in the form of a forgivable loan to assist in the creation of affordable rental housing units throughout the province.
There are two distinct application streams – the Private Sector Stream and the Community Housing Sector Stream. Successful proponents will own and manage their project and rent to lower income households at or below rates established by NLHC.
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