Value-adding Equipment Program

💡What Is This Program?

🎁What Benefits Are Offered?

Financial support for value-adding equipment to increase local food production, and improve food security and sustainability for Nova Scotia farms and communities.

📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?

📝Steps to ApplySource

• Read and follow the Submission Guidelines carefully
• Follow the instructions in the Proposal Funding Application Form
• Submit two hard copies of your proposal to the FUND
• Email a copy of the proposal to inland@gov.ns.ca
• Ensure the proposal arrives by March 1 of the project year

🌐Application PortalSource

https://novascotia.ca/fish/funding-programs/

📤Submission MethodSource

mail

📅Key DatesSource

March 1Proposal submission deadline

March 15 to April 1Proposal review period

April 1 to March 1 of the following yearProject duration

🔄Intake TypeSource

fixed-deadline

📄What Documents Are Required?

✅Required DocumentsSource

• Proof of purchase of local ingredients
• Completed Program Funding Registration form (for new clients)
• Signed Letter of Agreement

📎Optional DocumentsSource

• In-kind labour documentation (spreadsheet)
• Letters of support

📐Format Requirements

PDF only, max 10MB

✉️Supporting LettersSource

Letters confirming partner commitments must be attached

💰What Expenses Are Eligible?

🧾Eligible ExpensesSource

• value-add processing equipment that introduces enhanced capacity
• installation costs related to equipment installation

🚫Ineligible ExpensesSource

• administrative / general overhead
• buildings / building modifications and building materials
• small construction tools
• multiple pieces of equipment with the same function
• ongoing software licensing costs or fees
• operating expenses / existing staff salaries
• HST
• Travel

📏Expense CapsSource

No more than 100% of non-repayable funding can be received for any eligible project cost incurred and paid for by the applicant.

💳Payment ModelSource

reimbursement

⏪Retroactive Expenses EligibleSource

No

🤝Is Matching Funding Required?

🔀Matching RequiredSource

Yes

📊Matching RatioSource

50%

🏦Eligible Matching SourcesSource

• cash
• in-kind

📚Stacking RulesSource

No more than 100% of non-repayable funding can be received for any eligible project cost

🛡️Proof of Matching RequiredSource

Attach copies of all invoices for eligible project costs incurred and paid for by the applicant.

📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?

🗓️Reporting FrequencySource

annual

📑Reporting RequirementsSource

• Progress reports
• Financial statement at the end of each fiscal year
• Final report within two months of project completion

🔍Audit RequirementsSource

The FUND reserves the right to conduct an audit of the financial records of the applicant.

📢Branding RequirementsSource

The proponent must give the FUND appropriate credit and acknowledge the FUND’s financial contribution in any product or any publicity.

🗄️Record Retention PeriodSource

7 years