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Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education - NB - Canada

Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education

Last Update: July 22, 2025
NB, Canada
Agriculture business planning and skills development in New Brunswick

Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education at a glance

Eligible Funding
  • Max. $25,000
  • Up to 80% of project cost
Timeline
  • Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Grant Providers
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)
  • Government of New Brunswick
  • Aquaculture and Fisheries (NB)
Program status
Open

Overview of the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program

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.

Eligible projects & activities

  • 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 criteria of the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program

  • 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

Eligibility criteria of the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program

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 to the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education program

1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.

Contact Department of Agriculture

sustainable.cap@gnb.ca
Apply to this program

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