Funding and grants to automate your food processing plant in Nova Scotia

If you want to find out whether you are eligible for funding programs to automate your business in Nova Scotia, this article is here to help you in your search.

You can find our article on federal programs via this link:

you can also find programs for other provinces via these links:

• Ontario

• British Columbia

• Alberta

• Quebec

Nova Scotia has a complementary set of provincial and federal programs to support food manufacturers who want to modernize and automate their facilities. The food processing, beverage, and seafood sectors benefit from targeted assistance.

The Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) is a refundable corporate income tax credit that can be claimed for capital costs directly related to the acquisition of eligible property in Nova Scotia. It is one of the most important tax incentives for manufacturers in the province.

• Financial assistance: 25% of eligible capital costs (for assets acquired after October 1, 2022), with a maximum of $100 million per approved project.

• Eligible sectors: Manufacturing, food processing, fishing, agriculture, forestry, grain storage.

• Eligible projects: Establishment or expansion of manufacturing facilities, investments in automation and processing equipment, improvement of production capacity.

• Learn more:CITC – Government of Nova Scotia

The Atlantic Investment Tax Credit (CIIA) is a federal tax credit that complements the provincial CITC. It is available to manufacturing, processing, agriculture, and fishing companies operating in Atlantic Canada, and can be applied to new eligible equipment used primarily in the region.

• Learn more:CIIA – Canada Revenue Agency

The Value-Adding Equipment Program helps agricultural food processing companies adopt new technologies and processes to produce higher value-added foods. It aims to strengthen the capacity, competitiveness, and growth of Nova Scotia's agricultural sector.

• Eligible projects: Value-added processing equipment and installation costs directly related to improving food manufacturing processes.

• Learn more:Funding programs – Agriculture Nova Scotia

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is the federal regional development agency for Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador). Its Business Development Program (BDP) offers repayable and non-repayable contributions to help SMEs grow and innovate.

• Financial assistance: Up to 50% of eligible capital costs and 75% of eligible operating costs, in the form of interest-free contributions, for Atlantic Canada manufacturers.

• Eligible projects: Equipment modernization, adoption of automation and robotics technologies, facility expansion, improved competitiveness and productivity.

• Learn more:ACOA – Government of Canada

Invest Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia's provincial economic development agency. It offers a range of incentives, programs, and services to help businesses establish and grow their operations in the province, including automation and industrial modernization projects.

• Learn more:Invest Nova Scotia – Incentives and programs