Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Who is eligible for the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program?

To be eligible for the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program, you must: • Agriculture producers (individuals or groups) • Agri-businesses

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education?

You can contact Government of New Brunswick by email at sustainable.cap@gnb.ca.

Q: Where is the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education available?

The Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program is available the province of NB.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

NB, Canada

Agriculture business planning and skills development in New Brunswick

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $25,000
Up to 80% of project cost

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Gain access to financial support to cover the costs of agriculture business planning, skills development and awareness training.

Financing terms and conditions

Up to 70% of eligible training costs, maximum $3,000 per project; maximum $6,000 per applicant annually for skills development.
Up to 60% of eligible business planning costs, maximum $10,000 per applicant per year; maximum $6,000 per year for an eligible business plan project.
Up to 50% of initial financial IT investment costs, maximum $2,000 per project per year.
Up to 80% of eligible costs for training events or delegate travel for agricultural organizations, with a maximum of $12,500 per training project and $25,000 per applicant per year.
Up to 100% of eligible costs for strategic plan/agricultural initiatives, maximum $25,000 over the program duration; up to 100% of translation expenses.

Activities funded

Participation in strategic events and projects focused on new training, management concepts, or technology adoption.
Specialized training for farm managers and employees in areas such as management, marketing, production, and innovation.
One-on-one mentoring initiatives to strengthen management and technical skills for agricultural producers and new entrants.
Development and implementation of business or value-added plans for agricultural producers and organizations.
Public awareness projects and group training initiatives related to the agriculture sector in New Brunswick.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 20,000

Hosting an annual association meeting to discuss sustainable farming practices

$ 25,000

Developing a strategic plan for organic vegetable production in Eastern Canada

$ 25,000

Public awareness campaign on the benefits of local agricultural products

$ 25,000

Implementing a new Financial IT system for data analysis and farm management

$ 25,000

Initiative to evaluate innovative agricultural technologies through investigative travel

$ 20,000

Specialized training for farm managers in innovative sustainable farming techniques

Eligibility

The applicant must be an agricultural producer (individual or group), agri-business, Indigenous person or organization, or an agricultural industry organization or association.
The project must focus on business planning, skills development, or agriculture education within the New Brunswick agriculture sector.
The project must consist of eligible activities such as specialized training, business planning services, or public awareness initiatives relevant to agriculture.
The applicant must comply with the administrative guidelines provided by the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries.

Who is eligible?

Agriculture producers (individuals or groups)
Agri-businesses
Indigenous Peoples or Organizations in the agriculture sector
Agricultural industry organizations and associations

Who is not eligible

Companies seeking funding for entertainment, capital purchases, software, or licensing expenses.
Businesses intending to cover costs for activities that are already directly funded under other Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership programming or government programs.
Organizations planning to claim expenses for nutrition breaks, lunches, or similar hospitality-related costs.

Eligible expenses

Strategic event and project participation costs for training and skills development.
Professional fees and services for the development, implementation, and benchmarking of business plans.
Initial investment in financial information technology applications that support business process management and data analysis.
Group training expenses for specialized topics such as management, marketing, production, human resource management, value-added processes, innovation, and technology.
Rental of facilities and specialized equipment for training or events.
Consultant and speaker fees for training events or organizational meetings.
Travel expenses for approved training and investigative travel, within provincial guidelines.
Administrative costs related to training projects (up to 10% of eligible costs).
Translation costs related to program activities (up to 100% of eligible expenses).

Eligible geographic areas

New Brunswick

Selection criteria

The evaluation and selection criteria for this grant focus on the impact and alignment of proposed projects with the program's objectives and eligibility requirements.

Alignment with program objectives and eligibility criteria
Demonstrated need for skills development, business planning, or agriculture education
Feasibility and clarity of the proposed project
Expected benefits and outcomes of the project
Capacity of the applicant to successfully implement the project
Potential for long-term impact on the agriculture sector

How to apply

Consultation with Department Staff

Discuss your application with appropriate Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries staff, such as a Business Growth Officer, Development Officer, or Specialist.
Identify which sector your project falls under and find the relevant departmental contact.

Prepare the Application

Familiarize yourself with the SCAP Administrative Guidelines.
Ensure necessary permits, environmental approvals, or certifications are obtained if required for the project.
Prepare all necessary documentation and information needed for the application process.

Submit the Application

Submit completed applications via email to Sustainable.CAP@gnb.ca.
Alternatively, send applications by mail to the Sustainable CAP Program Administrator, Industry Financial Programs, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, PO Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1.

Reporting

Be prepared to fulfill reporting requirements outlined in the letter of offer, detailing the impact of the funding received.

Additional information

Applicants must review the administrative guidelines before applying to ensure compliance.
Reporting on the impact of received funding may be required, as outlined in the offer letter.
Applicants are responsible for securing any necessary permits, environmental approvals, or certifications for their project.
Projects that benefit more than one province may qualify for regional funding consideration.

Contacts

sustainable.cap@gnb.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.