Canadian Grants and Loans - The Small Business Funding Center

1-800-658-9792

$9,200 awarded to market & develop a new product line for a commercial smoker manufacturer in British Columbia!

When Wade Bradley's father and uncle first launched their business 20 years ago, they dreamed of bringing quality food smokers to the kitchens of North America. The Bradley Smoker would revolutionize home cooking; anyone who enjoyed barbecuing would find it easy to make perfect smoked food.

But it cost a lot to produce the precision instrument that would do the job better than any conventional smoker. Few backyard barbecuers would pay $2500 U.S. to make smoked salmon, no matter how delicious it was. So Bradley Smokers turned to the restaurant and hotel market, helping establishments enhance their menus with smoked foods made fresh on the premises.

The family business grew in this relatively small market, but the idea of creating an economical, high quality smoker was never far from mind. And as Wade got more involved in the business, he got ready to take the plunge.

It wasn't easy. Even if you're piloting a small, relatively agile business, it can be tough to take those first steps to grow your business. You need to continue to serve current customers, pay the bills, and maintain the overhead, all while doing what amounts to starting up a whole new business

But Wade was determined to achieve the original dream of Bradley Smokers. And two government grants helped him do it. Within a short time of filling out the forms, he received a total of $9200 from the Federal government. "The money allowed us to hire someone to help us market the product," says Wade. "And we expanded our production capabilities by automating part of the manufacturing process."

With a wage subsidy grant of $7161, Bradley hired a market researcher. She nailed down where to find the customer base, explored how best to reach them, and determined what marketing tactics would deliver the best response.

Bradley also needed to automate the manufacture of the Bradley Flavour Brisquettes, the secret ingredient in Bradley Smokers. These tiny wooden "hockey pucks" extinguish themselves once they've given off all the "good smoke", before they can pass on the resins, tars and gases you get from ordinary wood chips.

While they catered to the restaurant market, it was enough to have these made by hand with a simple machine. But with a grant of $2039, the company developed a machine that would speed up the process to meet increased demand. Since they flipped the switch on the first prototype, they've added ten more machines and increased production by more than 1200%.

"It was time. We would have gone ahead and done this anyway," says Wade. "But getting $9200 in funding helped us move and grow much more quickly than we could have otherwise."

Today, Bradley is selling their high quality smokers to aficionados throughout North America. And the dream that got Wade's father and uncle started has finally come true.

Would you like to receive money to market & develop a new product line for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

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$63,525 to create a marketing department and the manufacture of products for a lumber company in New Brunswick!

It's a long way from a banker's desk and financial consulting to marketing shingles and snow fencing, but Fern St. Amand is enjoying every minute of it. "I'm not bored, I can tell you that," he says with a laugh. "It's very, very interesting work."

It's work he wouldn't be doing without a kick-start from government funding. An infusion of $63,525 helped launch a new marketing effort which has dramatically increased sales for both St. Pierre Fence and Kedgwick Lumber Company.

Since the first loggers set saw to trunk in Kedgwick, New Brunswick, logging and mills have formed the backbone of the area's economy. The town is home to a forestry museum which recreates a 1930s lumber village and offers tours of woodsmen's camps.

The St. Pierre brothers are part of this lumbering and milling heritage. Jean-Paul's company, Kedgwick Lumber, produces cedar shingles. His brother Jacques makes wood lath and snow or sand fencing at St. Pierre Fence. For years, they had marketed their products independently of each other. Then, in an effort to reduce costs and effort while increasing sales, they combined forces to hire an outside marketing firm. The results were disappointing.

That was when they decided to bring the marketing back in-house, but to continue to market their products together. And that's when they approached Fern St. Amand.

St. Amand, who had a background in banking and financial consulting, came on as Managing Director of the new division: Wood-ex. Immediately, he set to work preparing a management plan and vision to make Wood-ex an agile marketing arm that could quickly modify its approach to adapt to market conditions.

This meant building new connections with new markets in Canada and the U.S. Before, both mills sold mostly locally and to the nearby New England states. St. Amand reasoned that more diversified markets could prove advantageous.

Naturally this was going to take money. Early on in the process, St. Amand and the St. Pierres recognized the new effort would take an injection of capital for both the startup of the new company and for the costs of marketing and building a new network of customers. So they turned to a government program which offered interest-free loans for projects which would stimulate the economy.

Once he'd located the program, St. Amand's first task was to establish a marketing plan to ensure the agency and the company owners were on the same wavelength. This process took four months, but after that things rolled quickly. Wood-ex had approval within four weeks of submitting the application.

"We were surprised at how quickly we received the money," says St. Amand. "But clearly, our preparation and the ongoing dialogue we had with the agency helped our fast approval."

Wood-ex received $37,500 toward startup, in effect covering St. Amand's salary for the first 12 months of operation. Another $26,025 covered the costs of promotional materials, travel costs, space at trade shows in Canada and the U.S., and materials for the tradeshow booths.

"The money was crucial," says St. Amand. "The $26,025 launched our new marketing effort, gave us the materials we needed, and got us rolling. We wouldn't be where we are today without that funding."

With the money in hand, St. Amand prepared brochures and pamphlets, and launched a direct marketing campaign using mail, the Internet, and tradeshow appearances. Once a prospect showed interest, he would make personal contact and meet the person.

Today, Wood-ex has opened new markets for the mills in the midwest and western U.S. and in western Canada.

"It started a little slow, but business picked up awful fast after a couple of months," says St. Amand. "We're doing more business now than we were doing with the outside firm."

The new customers are keeping St. Amand busy. He's on the road a lot, and keeps a place in Kedgwick during the week, but also works from his Bathurst home office, where he lives with his family.

It doesn't matter where you are in Canada," says St. Amand. "If you set your mind to succeed and put the heart and man-hours into it, you'll make it. There's no doubt in my mind. And don't pass up the opportunity to go after funding. The financial backing helped clinch things for us

Would you like to receive money to create a marketing department & manufacture products for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

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$21,600 awarded to create and market a website for a furniture designer in British Columbia! (file 3638)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre about his experience with the application process, his response was, "We had to design our prototype. Once we got the project underway, we were given requisition slips, and once we paid the money, they were able to recover the money in a three-week period. It wasn't a lump sum."

"There was no difficulty in applying," he continued. "The program officer was very helpful in completing the application form and giving his assistance in how to fill it out and what were the most important items to add. If you have a good solid business plan and you have an idea and have a good idea about marketing and where you'll take it, it's a great idea."

Would you like to receive money to create and market a website for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

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$7,500 awarded for purchase of an existing carpeting business for an entrepreneur in British Columbia! (file 4074)

"Sometimes applying to more than one program can be a problem." This business owner found the process of going to two particular programs very slow. He says he ended up dealing with people while they were on their holidays. As well, one program wanted to know how much the other program was going to give and vice-versa. The ongoing communication barriers between the two organizations served to slow the process down a great deal. The result was that it took 22 months to receive the loan. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"We had to do a business plan and show a three-year projection so that they could see it was a viable business that would make money. Allow yourself some time. It's not something that's going to happen overnight. Once your business plan is together I guess that's a big one to start with. It has to go to the program office, they have to go through it all and it takes time."

Would you like to receive money to purchase your own business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

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$3,414 awarded to hire engineers for development of a new product for a marine kitchen appliance manufacturing company in British Columbia! (file 61)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"Over the years, we've pretty much applied for everything that's available. We knew the guy from this particular program so we phoned him. He came over and we filled out the application and gave him the necessary data. I've been involved with them before so I was quite aware what was available."

"We were developing a new innovative product. Being a small company, we couldn't afford a long-term engineer to be permanently employed and make it affordable for the project. It was an added incentive to hire an additional person to help us meet our objectives to bring our products up more quickly or forward. The whole project was finished within three or four months. Whenever we submitted an invoice, they subsidized us by 50 percent and paid us fairly quickly."

"Right now we do a lot of things that aren't in Canada anymore. That really doesn't allow us to apply for government grants, there's a lot of red tape. The government tries to create opportunities for people here in Canada.

When asked what advice he had for future grant applicants, his response was, "Get to know the program officer very well. The people who administer the program are the key. If you don't get to know them very well and you expect them to do what you want them to do, it doesn't work out that well. We try to get to know various representative and get them to know our business."

Would you like to receive money hire professionals to develop new products for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$15,000 & a further $9,600 for the purchase of a bakery-caf� & then a year later to open a second store for an entrepreneur in British Columbia! (file IC16505/ IC18500)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"Just follow through," she advised. "There is a certain amount of administrative effort but it is for your own good in the long run to have a solid business plan & to research thoroughly the project that you're getting involved in. It takes a bit of time but ultimately it is possible. We did it. It took some time to do a cohesive business plan & research the industry & the area we're doing it in, but by following through & taking that on, here we are with a successful business & we're planning to expand, & it's all because of these grants."

"I don't think I'll be applying again. I think I will be too old by the time we finish this building... I know the lady from government office is going to help me once we've got our business plan complete, to find financing through other avenues, like a loan from a Federal program, but you can only get so many grants & we've pretty much exhausted that."

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$75,000 & a further $3,375 develop a business plan & implement a log hauling operation for a trucking company in Ontario! (file IC15687)

When asked by the Small Business Funding Centre about what he thought got him approved for this particular program, he said, "Business plan, business plan, business plan! Just like the bank, no one wants to invest in a loser, so do your research & do a business plan. You've got to have a business plan. You've got to know what you're doing before you expect someone to give you a whole bunch of money to help you out."

"The business plan got me the grant from this particular program. Just the detail & the completion of the plan. It showed how much research was put into the project. Knowing that we put that much effort into the business plan made the company look like it was going to be profitable & a success story for them, which is exactly what they were looking for."

"Every grant has conditions. I don't have to pay it back providing I stay in business... I have to maintain equipment for three years. That was the deal. It was designed so that I couldn't buy everything & sell it a year later & basically take the money that they gave me & keep it. It was designed to help me maintain a business, not make money... I would be responsible if the business failed."

Would you like to receive money to write & implement a business plan for your small business too?
There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$18,300 to purchase vehicles & equipment for a landscaping company in British Columbia! (file IC13595)

This owner of a landscaping business found out about the program through a Local Economic Development Corporation. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"This particular program is really on the game right now & they deal a lot with the government grants & loans-- there are quite a few I guess, that they deal with to help your average aboriginal who doesn't have to research all this already to have that information & what it takes to obtain those loans."

"When this particular program came into the picture, it was nothing but a plus all the way. I've tried to get funding from other places such as EI, Community Futures, & when you get one of those packages in the mail, it's a package, it's tons & tons of stuff. People around my age that are wanting to get into business don't have all that time & knowledge to be able to break things apart to come up with something that looks good on paper, as well as in the field... When you deal with this program, they take a lot of the headache away..."

When asked how the funds helped his business he answered, "The contribution dollars went a long way," he said. "It was a big plus when you're getting into a business & you don't have all the dollars you need, & then there's someone who contributes according to what you're going to throw in. As long as you know your project's going good, you're paying off your loan, it's a plus."

Would you like to receive money to acquire vehicles & equipment for your small business too?
There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$28,000 & a further $10,200 to start up a new regional branch office for a retail insurance broker in Alberta! (file 3652 / 3653)

This recipient was familiar with the program through Industry Canada. She also heard of it while working with other organizations.

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre about the application process she replied, "I handed in a business plan, shareholders' agreement, probably a list of clients & everything else that would be involved in the business plan," she said. "Financial statements are part of the business plan. This particular program provided a percentage for marketing, 60% for which they paid for & we paid 40%. We paid a percentage of the capital costs, but we call it a grant because as long as we put in our share & completed the work & provided the proper documentation that we did what we said, we didn't have to repay anything to the government."

"Any business that qualifies should apply, & it's an excellent source of funding. I mean, man, anytime you don't have to repay funds to keep your business operating & expanding & growing, that's a great opportunity."

When asked if she had any advice to future government applicants her response was, "Make sure you have a good business plan. Don't hesitate on marketing efforts, follow up, & follow through with the program. They require reports & documentation. If they're flowing funds to you, you have to be prepared to follow the rules & regulations."

Would you like to receive money to open your regional business branch too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or
e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$325,000 & a further $83,000 in marketing funds for a trucking & foundation-block manufacturing company in Ontario! (file 3532)

This recipient applied in early 2000. After submitting a business plan, feasibility and market studies, it took four to five months to receive government funds of $83,000 and $325,000 from the two programs he applied too.

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre about his experience with the application process for this particular program he replied, "Everything is done in person," he said. "You can't do any of the preliminary application process by phone. In the final stages, yes, but the application process takes place face to face."

When asked if he submitted a business plan, he said "yes" with a slight laugh. "Business plan is the key, and a good feasibility study. Get someone who's reputable to do it, it won't guarantee success but it will help."

Would you like to receive money for a marketing campaign of your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

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$26,500 for start-up costs for a tanning salon in Ontario! (file 3448)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"I had knowledge from my family that there were grants available. I did some research on the Internet about government grants & stuff."

"The tanning salon was basically a new business. I did market research in the area. There had been a tanning salon in the area that had closed. After working with a business developer, I believed it would be a go. I had never done a business plan before. I did it all based on personal research in libraries & on the Internet & stuff like that. I was up late at night, trying to make it look feasible, so that it would count. That was the biggest obstacle on top of my timing... & the fact I didn't put the money out to get someone knowledgeable to do it professionally. But to do it myself made me more knowledgeable in the area."

"Anybody looking to open a business should apply for a government grant, as long as they're 100 percent sure that this is what they want to do, that they're going to make a go of it. Just make sure it's what's you want. Work hard at it, & don't back down if you get a first refusal. You may not get accepted from one program, but you may get accepted for another grant from the government. Don't stress about it because it does take a long time."

Would you like to receive money to start your own small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$53,600 to finance a pizzeria franchise for an entrepreneur in Alberta! (file IC16653)

This entrepreneur received a grant to open up a pizzeria that was part of a larger franchise. After giving in his business plan, it took six months to get the funding. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"They look at you closely. It's a screening process, so as long as you meet the criteria, you know that's the main thing in their books."

"You have to find out what their program's all about, & actually go in & get the information first-hand. It's a long process. You have to write a business plan & that takes a while, & you have to get an accountant to verify your business plan. You know, it's not an easy thing. You don't just go in & get the money, so all i's have to be dotted & the t's crossed. It's very thorough."

Would you like to receive money to purchase your own franchise too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$3,640 to acquire computer equipment to improve inventory control for a bookstore in Newfoundland! (file IC14211)

This business owner got a grant to buy computer equipment for her bookstore. In order to get the funds, she had to send in a business plan with a three-year financial projection. Her testimony illustrates the importance of looking for funds at the beginning of the fiscal year. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"You had to prove that your business was going to work & that it was viable, & you had to put some of your own money in. You had to show that you were willing to risk your own dollars as well as theirs. I find retail is hard to get any funding for it at all. Anything to do with a tourism, they seem to be generous with that. I don't know why."

"Just make sure you have a really good solid business plan, & make sure that you know the business plan. Don't get someone to do it for you & not know what's on page three. The guy I spoke to -- he told me he was impressed with my business plan, & that they get a lot of people applying without one & right away they're not looked at seriously. I think they described it as innovation, because I use the computer program for my inventory control."

"I wanted more than I got from them, but I didn't get it, of course. They had run out of money, & I really had to fight for what I did receive. They were willing to pay for a lot more, but then I would have had to wait until the following April to apply when they had a new pot of money, & I didn't want to wait. I wanted to go ahead with my plan because I had everything else almost in place to go ahead any way. I just would have had to borrow more from the bank. The funds did help. It was money that I didn't have to pay back, which from the bank's side looked good too."

"I was going to open my bookstore regardless, & I think they got that from me. I traveled to a local office to meet them, but I did that on my own, so they knew I was determined."

Would you like to receive money to purchase computer equipment to improve your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

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$203,783 for development of new software for a multimedia company in Nova Scotia! (file 2988)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre about this particular program, the recipient said, "The program is for regional businesses. That's sort of the big thing." She said "You have to have a strong connection to the area. They seem to like any growth industry, like high tech. Anything that's going to generate revenue or jobs in the region, they're very open to look at & may even bend the rules if you can show it will be of economic benefit to the area."

"A lot of people in the production business do not generate revenue. So I think the biggest thing they were looking for was a solid business plan, & a return to show that our project was going to be a revenue generator," she answered when asked what she thought got her approved.

When asked about the program restrictions, "The funding from this program purely pays for development," She said. "We used the money to create a specific software product, although we used the product in our production process, we could see it as a component-based piece of software that other companies could use as a template. Even though the money was purely for development. It helped to start up the company. "

When queried about the application process she replied, "It wasn't like we thought, 'Let's go to the government & get some money.' It was, what do they require, what's their mandate, what kind of documentation did we have to submit? So because we did our homework beforehand, there were really no problems. They were straightforward, no hidden thing. We really didn't have any difficulties."

"Do your homework," was her advice to future applicants. "Give them what they want, same as any funding agency you're going to for help. I mean, the proposal that we gave to this program is not the same proposal we'd put together for another funding agency because they all have slightly different requirements & slightly different mandates, so we played up how many people we were going employ, how much money we're going to pump into the area, the spin-off products that could be used to generate jobs in the area, & we did this because we know that is their mandate, so we tailored our proposal focus on that."

Would you like to receive product development money for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or
e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$59,341 to expand facilities for a warehouse in Prince Edward! (file 2284)

This owner of a warehouse received an interest-free loan from the local government. After sending in a business plan, the officer of this particular program called to tell him they wanted financial projections. He kept in contact with them throughout the applications process. Six months later, he received $59,000. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"There were funds available for building warehouses. My business plan worked out & my credit history was excellent, so there were funds there for new storage. I had to follow certain guidelines, like I had to get a new computerized ventilating system. They had certain guidelines for constructions, an engineer to design it all. It went very smoothly."

"I haven't really thought about applying again. I'm not planning on expanding in that sector anytime soon. I guess I'll have to look at seeing what kind of funds are available. The funds change from year to year. A person has to really look into it as far as the local governments allotment for money."

"In this sector-- I'm into farming & real estate-- for anyone who's fairly young like myself who has the resources, you have to be able to supply a portion of it, & I think it's a great help to anyone that can fall into that criteria. Anytime you can get assistance like that, it's a big help, if you're going to put up construction, you're going to need a bit of money for a down-payment."

When we asked him what advice he would give to future funding applicants he said, "I think anytime you're applying for a grant or any assistance, you've got to make sure your business plan is viable because even though you're getting assistance, you're still going to have to have payments every year," was his reply. "You're not actually getting free money, so I advise don't jump at it because it's free... Be prepared. Know all the consequences."

Would you like to receive money to expand your small business facilities too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or
e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$66,934 to expand the facilities of a wholesale seafood company in Newfoundland! (file 1504)

This mussel farmer received a $66,000 interest-free loan to help start up his business. The experience, however, did not go smoothly. As supportive as the local government has been to aquaculture, he advises entrepreneurs to be cautious about this particular program. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"The local government has been the only player that's been consistent in providing the funding to get us to where we are today. We couldn't go through the bank because we're new, & because we're new, we're high-risk. Without a doubt, the government has been an essential player to develop the whole industry, not just my farm, but the entire industry."

"It took a long time to get this particular program funding because the government money was contingent on other sponsors putting in their share. I found that overall the length of time it took (a year & a half) was detrimental to the business. Like most government programs, they don't recognize business cycles or farm cycles. If you don't have the funds at the time you pick the seed, then you've missed the whole year... This caused us to miss most of the first year's operation."

When asked what advice he would give to future applicants to this particular program his response was, "Start applying a year in advance because this particular program doesn't work like banks with a three-week turnaround on a business proposal," He said. "You need to make sure you're very clear as to what the program will pay for so you don't get caught by surprise after the fact. For this particular program you need a source of financing that will finance the government's portion to get reimbursed."

Would you like to receive money to expand the facilities of your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or
e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$5,000 to expand, renovate & purchase equipment for a retail health food bakery in Nova Scotia! (file 1168)

A bakery & natural foods grocery owner got a low-interest loan from a local government program to help start up his business.

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre about the difficulty of convincing this particular program to accept his proposal, his response was, "It was all new to this program because they were used to working with regular bakeries. Natural foods is a whole new ball game in this area of the woods so I had to convince them that it was a good idea in the is area to open up this kind of business. The person I was working with was quite supportive, but it was iffy."

"Just be well-prepared, research the whole project, do your homework & make sure the idea is a good one," was his advice to future grant applicants. "Most businesses fail, so do a lot of research & make sure there's a demand for what you want."

Would you like to receive money to purchase equipment & expand your small business facilities too?
There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$21,000 for the purchase of grading & handling equipment for a wholesale potato company in Prince Edward Island! (file 477)

This potato farmer received an interest-free loan for $20,000 to buy equipment for his farm. "Their mandate is to try to get business to expand," he said in an interview with the Small Business Funding Centre. "On the other hand, they want to make sure you make the right decision that it's not just to get some free money, so how do we fit into that situation? Well, we wanted to expand our operation into making things a little more capacity & streamline the unloading line somewhat better. We bought an electric forklift with it that would make the air quality better on the building... so that was the criteria we had to meet. I guess this particular program's idea of expanding a business or improving on it was uphill with that plan."

"This particular program would look at our business plan & it would either be approved or not be approved, & if was approved, they would set conditions for it & they would require you put some kind of presentation together of how it would work & if it works."

"The program's funding was definitely helpful because you could secure the rest from the bank & use the government money for a down payment... It made it a lot easier to get the financing in place.

"From the time we applied 'til the transaction & everything was over, it went into quite a bit of overtime, because it took a while to get the application right, & by the time we got the application right, we had to look for the equipment. We had some it lined up but not all of it, so when we got the rest of the equipment, then it took a while for the paperwork to come through & to get the cheques paid out, & we had to bring the canceled cheques to get funding. It was probably eight months from the time we applied until everything was completed."

Would you like to receive money to purchase grading & handling equipment for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$10,422 undertake a building expansion & installation of a lift system for a retail stone craft store in Nova Scotia! (file 288)

A stonemason who has had a long history of getting grants & loans from different government departments was reimbursed for $10,000 worth of the expansion costs to her business. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"I was looking for money in March, which is a really bad time of year to look for money, so I called the local government & told them what I needed, so within a week, I had the money. I didn't do an application. I did it on sight. I had been looking for a grant because you always try to look for a grant first when you're doing something experimental.

When asked how the program benefited her business, she replied, "I work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. They were trying to figure out a way that I didn't have to work as much. Basically, this particular programs goal is to have you hire other people. That's their mandate, to build business. That's what they want me to do, so they're trying to find ways to help me.

When queried about advice that she would give to future government grant applicants, she said, "I know my business... I don't go out & say, 'Who's got grants? Well, if I did that & this, I could get that grant.' It's like I have an idea, something I want to do. Then I say, 'Who's going to help me?' I just find that if you try to manipulate your business to fit the program, you end up doing stuff you don't want to do anyway, & normally, you have to put in your own money."

"When you get involved with this particular program, you get your person from the program & they know the ropes & the stuff, so if you're honest & right out there with what you want to do, they know that, 'Okay, you're going to have to get a consultant so that we can give you this money. There's not as much paperwork-- once you get involved, there's very little paperwork."

Would you like to receive money to expand facilities or upgrade & install equipment for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$7,500 / $59,857 / $150,000 / $63,525 for various activities such as: marketing, strategic planning, & equipment purchase for an electronic components company in New Brunswick! (file 231, 1580, 2783, & 2708)

The General Manager on behalf of an Electric Components manufacturing company has received several interest-free loans from a local government program, ranging from $7,500 to $150,000 for marketing & product development. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"Our economy in Atlantic Canada is less than what it is in Central Canada. We don't have the government representation. We don't have the population, we don't have the economic spin, we don't have the central government on our doorstep. We're farther away. We're a tentacle of the country, you see, & we're economically deprived because of it. We don't have the centre of government here so we don't collect the taxes."

"All the money is gravitating towards all the head offices of organizations, & there aren't many head offices here, compared to central Canada so we become economically deprived, just like a lot of businesses in Canada. They're national business. They only have regional offices here. They don't have big budgets for regional offices. Their major budgets are spent in central Canada, just like all the big pension funds & all the big pension funds & venture capital funds. They spend the majority of the money in Central Canada, not in regional areas, & it creates economic disparity which is counteracted by things like this government funding program, which is kind of like a regional development organization that's set up to develop & promote & encourage, & they'll step in between banks & investors. They would rather have the bank handle it. They would rather you get the money from the investor, but where there's a gap between the two, they fit in between."

"Each project stands on it's own. A lot of them are bringing in new technology to the region or they're creating new initiatives of some sort or perhaps they're getting ISO standards at the factory, or they're studying a new market, which is promoting exports. We studied Mexico because we had a customer in Mexico. We're exporting large volumes to them & I want to see what's there. We could tap into some of that too. So we got a loan from them to do research."

When questioned about the experience of applying for tax credits, his response was, "Let's say we apply. We might have got a contract within, say, three weeks, & then I started claiming after a month & a half or something like that, & then it might take six months to claim it all. You have to spend the money before you claim it. You can't spend the money prior to the contract date, otherwise you get disqualified because you've in effect made a contact with the vendor prior to the contract with the agency. Let's say I have a contract February 28th... if you have a receipt that says January 21st, it's disqualified because it's prior to the contract date because that was made before the contract was signed so it's invalid. The claims have to be inside the contract date... the invoices have to be dated inside the contract, otherwise they're disqualified."

"After you apply, maybe there's very little contact or quarterly or once a year-- It's kind of like a strategic partnership, so you have a contact... you talk to them a lot," was his advice to future government funding applicants. "If you have a problem, you call them. Say, 'Hi, John, how are ya doing'? Okay, why don't you come over to the plant because we've got to talk about things.' Or, 'I've got this coming up. What do you think?' You become partners. We become strategic alliance partners. That's how we deal with it. It's like a banker except you don't have to pay any interest... If you have a requirement to call them directly, then you do. As an example, if it's to discuss the repayment schedule, or if it's talking about the next project, then perhaps there's a requirement for the review of financial statements as to, then you're going to talk to them, same as your bank or any kind of lender."

"We've been featured in some of this particular programs literature on occasion because we're quote-unquote a success story. We've created jobs, we've created business, which employs a lot of people & pays a lot of taxes, pays a lot of payroll, provides services & uses services. We have what they call 'economic spin-off'. In other words, we created something, which uses the business community as a tool, so we need electricians, we need ventilation specialists, we need consultants, we need accountants, we need lawyers, we need all kinds of services that are required to fulfill our businesses, so its economic spin-off, & we do that & that's what they want. They want that as well as employment. We employ a lot of people, so that's what they're measuring. They're measuring employment & spin-off. We're not really looking to this particular program anymore. You can over-tap your funding sources. You can't go to the well every month. You can't look for a new bucket of water from the same well every month because they're not your sole source of funding. You have other places too like Angel financiers, or people who want to buy preferred shares, venture capitalists or other lenders."

"They're going to coach you, they're going to help you as consultants to apply the right way so that you have a better chance of being successful in winning your application because you don't want to just apply. That's just stupid. That's like going to the bank & saying, 'Give me the forms for a loan', & then just throwing it at them. You're not going to get a loan, especially a large one. You have to build up a rapport. Like if you're interviewing a new bank, you have to show them your factory. You have to spend time with them, you have to let time take place, like six months. They have to visit you three times, you have to go visit them twice, & then they know what bank you're with & why you want to change. Then they're interested or they're not interested, then a deal is struck... & you do need a business plan or a marketing plan or both, & this program's staff will help you finance writing one up, hiring a consultant, writing a business plan."

When asked what advice he has for grant recipients, his reply was, "Everybody's into co-finance now. Nobody's in finance. Everybody's into co-finance, co-financing meaning they're a part of a package, not a whole. No one is interested in that. Everybody wants to be part of your package, spread the risk. It's partly equity, partly other loans from conventional lenders, government-sponsored lenders, which is no-interest loans. You see, part of the problem is the people have this misconception that it's easy or that it's automatic or that you just apply & you get it. You know, that's bullshit. Nobody gives you money just because you apply... you have to do the work before you apply to find out how you fit & whether it fits, otherwise you're wasting your time. You're not going anywhere. If you're prime standard-A roast beef, it's easier to get your application through because you're prime grade-a roast beef instead of hamburger, or electronics manufacturing. We're creating secondary manufacturing, not primary resource-related manufacturing, right, & we're hiring people form traditional industries such as fish processing, & training them in electronic assemblies."

He continues, "I talk to them first. Then I apply & get it. Guaranteed. Because I know what I'm going for, I apply for exactly what I know I can get, & then I get it. I never get refused, ever. I haven't been refused for anything yet. That's why you talk to them first. You find out how you fit & then you find out what you can get, & how it works, & how you apply, & what's the process & what you need to apply & whether you can get it or not, or whether you can apply, & the people-- they tell you. The people who work the accounts tell you. They know the ins & outs of it, & they can tell you, & that's how it works. It's not a guessing game or Russian Roulette. It's not like going to the casino. It's guaranteed. You can go, know what you're applying for & get it, just like that."

Would you like to receive money for marketing, strategic planning, & equipment purchase for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses.
Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$20,544 in wage subsidies for a communication company in Whitehorse! (File 20)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"The government subsidized the wages of a person we hired to market a technology we had developed. It took about six weeks from the time we applied to get approved. Both times we established guidelines specifically outlining what the funds were going to be used for & what the expected results were. We kept the government informed of the progress of the project. When it finished we wrote a report providing costing information relative to the budget we had established."

"This government program was designed to allow us to do things we wouldn't otherwise do, whether it's because a risk is involved or because the project is experimental. It was designed to let us do projects that we wouldn't normally undertake. It did achieve it's objective. We did go out & do this. We didn't get rich, but hey, there's always tomorrow."

Would you like to receive wage subsidies to hire employees for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$53,545 to hire intellectual talent to help develop new technology for a forestry company in British Columbia! (file 26)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"Without this programs financial support we would have had to rethink our strategy & if you have to rethink strategy a lot of times creativity is lost, & next thing you know you're inventing a can opener."

"The nice thing about this program is if you can get yourself a very good representative you do not have to chew through the overwhelming bureaucracy."

When asked what advice he would give to future program applicants, he responded, "The advice would be make sure you have a solid business plan because you'll never get past first base until you know exactly where you are going. A lot of the guys, & me being an inventor is guilty at this at times, you get off into dreamland & dream about all the great things you're going to do but when you sit down & you start putting down all the real hard-core reality of the project & its feasibility your dreams get dashed against the rocks of reality pretty quickly. Don't fall in love with your project before you fall in love with your business plan."

"It's free money. If your costs are a hundred thousand all of sudden they're fifty. That's a nice chunk of cash."

Would you like to receive money to hire intellectual talent to develop new technology for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses.
Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$1,594 for research, development & marketing of a new product for a manufacturer in British Columbia! (file 38)

In an interview with the Small Business Funding Centre, this business owner stated, "I would say that my advice would be to make sure that you've done enough work & research on the project in the first place to make sure it's going to be successful before you even apply for the funds," he said. "If the likelihood is it's going to be a successful project then certainly apply for the funds, because all you're really doing is taking out a loan. You'll be repaying their money at the same time you're repaying your loan money for the money you've invested yourself."

When asked what pitfall a grant applicant can expect, his response was, "Do the research first. Don't just do the project because you get money from the government. If the likelihood is it's not going to be successful, you're going to spend money of your own, & you're not going to be repaying the government. Think of it in terms of a loan, not a grant. This would have been a grant if we hadn't been successful because we didn't have to repay it. I think that the method of repaying out of your success is an excellent way of being able to give funds, help companies, but hopefully get some money back. It helps companies in Canada spend the time & effort & energy to develop new technology but at least have some participation of the risk coming form the government. I haven't minded paying them back at all, because as long we're paying them back, we're obviously paying ourselves back."

Would you like to receive money to research, develop & market a new product for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$33,041 to develop & manufacture a new product for a manufacturing company in British Columbia! (file 53)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"We received a $33,000 grant from the government that we used for the engineering of a new technology."

"Our contact with this particular program was done through correspondence. We filled out application forms, but also provided some extra descriptions of the technology we wanted to develop. This particular program did not require a business plan, because the funding was for 'proof of concept.' This is when you think you know how to do something that is quite innovative, & you basically have to prove that it can actually work; you have to prove the concept. It was six months after we applied that we received our first funds. We received our grant money over a two-year period. During that time, we submitted quarterly reports."

"It was crucial to get the support that we did at that particular time, there's no doubt about it. If we hadn't received that support we wouldn't have been able to carry on with the technology we were developing & see the project through to the end. I think it is crucial that the government provides such monetary support because without it you would probably have fewer technological developments in Canada."

Would you like to receive money to develop & manufacture a new product for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$19,745 to hire university students for a systems company in British Columbia! (file 54)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"It was crucial for us that we received this funding. It was important to us because our competitors get huge amounts of money. In order to compete with them we need a little bit too."

"The grant we received was used to hire university students to work on the project. We had to submit a business plan about the project we wanted assistance with. We also had to do some additional research about its marketing potential."

"We've applied for assistance many other times & have never had difficulties with the application process."

When asked about his opinion on government grants, his response was, "It's definitely worth doing if you think you can get it. It is worth going for. Even the process of having to develop a business plan is beneficial. It gives you a little advanced planning on what it is you're actually doing."

Would you like to receive money to hire students for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or
e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$3,750 for research & testing of a new product for a manufacturing company in British Columbia! (file 55)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"It's free money. Plus, it helps you learn proper documentation for your company & how to deal with the government"

Would you like to receive money to research & test a new product for your small business too?
There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$12,800 to field-test a new product for a chemical products company in British Columbia! (file 70)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"We had no problems during our application process. You're either in compliance with what the program is laid out to do or you're not. If you are, then fill out the form & do what you have to do. If you're not in compliance, then don't bother doing it. Once you understand what the program is there for, it's quite easy to assess whether it is going to help you. If it is, you'll likely get your grant if you go through the hoops. My advice is simply to make sure that you understand exactly what the assistance program has been set up to accomplish & be sure that you're in compliance. There is definitely good value in this program for our company at times."

When asked about the experience he had with this program, he replied, "I remember our contact person was extremely helpful & very supportive. Everything he said he was going to do he did, which was very nice. As long as we complied with everything we said we were going to, everything rocked & rolled!"

Would you like to receive money to field-test new products for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.>

$4,375 to design, develop & produce a new product for an equipment supplier in British Columbia! (file 71)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"My advice for companies would be to do their homework FIRST. Be practical in your expectation of success &/or failure & include this in your synopsis. Document EVERYTHING. Any small business with well researched market opportunities should apply."

Would you like to receive money to design, develop & produce a new product for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$81,741 & a further $28,057 for product research & development for a software development company in British Columbia! (file 103/137)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"We are a software development company with 20 employees. We've applied to many different government funding programs in the last few years & received varying amounts of grants."

"We received a grant of over $80,000, & a year later we received another for almost $30,000. The money was used to support research & product development. We were able to increase our staff by paying existing employees & hiring new people. It was crucial to us that we received these grants so that we were able to do this."

"The applications for these larger amounts were done mainly in person, with a lot of contact with the program officers throughout the application process. It took two to three months to get approval. We had to submit a ten page written proposal that outlined what we were going to do, & when & how we were going to do it. For applications for smaller grant amounts, we simply filled out application forms."

"I only encountered standard difficulties in the application process. The program representatives ask very specific questions. We had one application that was not approved & I think it was because it wasn't specific enough. How easy the process goes depends on whom you work with, but basically we've had only good experiences. For another application we needed to clarify some things, but we worked together with our program representative & he helped us through it. We've also had to sit with various committees & undergo reviews, but it was a constructive process."

When asked for his opinion on government funding, his response was, "Going through the process is absolutely worth it. I think this particular program is really good. It's better than other government programs because the representatives provide some help with the application process so that you're not completely on your own. My advice is to be well prepared. Talk & work with your advisor very closely because that really helps."

Would you like to receive money to research & develop a new product for your small business too?
There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$87,250 to finance the purchase of a barn, new equipment & to install a ventilation system to help bring a newly purchased agricultural business up to operating capacity in New Brunswick! (file 145)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"I applied to this particular program to help me rebuild the business & get it up & going again."

"I called the program office & asked them a few questions, & then asked them to send an application form. Afterwards I went to the program's office to submit my application."
"I used the loan to reconstruct a potato barn, install a ventilation system & to buy new machine equipment. I applied a second time to the program because we had not finished our ventilation system & needed more time & money. I received an $87,250 interest free loan that I used to finish the ventilation system."

"I believe that any agricultural business should apply for government funding because in order to stay in agriculture you need to invest a lot of money in your business, which is investing in the future of the provincial & national economy. The banks are afraid of the agricultural industry because it is a seasonal industry, where there is often little money."

When asked what advice he would give to government fund applicant, he answered, "I would advise people to submit their application on time, know what you can & cannot get, & look for other sources of government & private financial assistance other than this particular program, just to be on the safe side."

Would you like to receive money to purchase new buildings or acquire & install new equipment for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$457,000 to purchase new equipment for a textile manufacturer in New Brunswick! (file 146)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"This was not the first time our company had turned to this particular program to help us out. We usually have meetings with the program officer prior to submitting our application form, just to give them a heads-up on the project. Afterwards, we submitted our application in person since the program office is located in the same town as us."

"It usually takes about three to four weeks to sufficiently review our application, so I called them after three or four weeks to get an update on the status of the application form."

"It was important that we received the $457,000 interest-free loan; otherwise we would not have been able to purchase the equipment we needed to help our company grow & move forward."

"We have never encountered a difficulty with this particular program. This time, the application process moved a bit slower than we would have liked, but the program had personnel to take care of that."

"We apply over & over again to this particular program because the personnel are great to deal with, they are accessible since their head office is in the town as us & they have done more than enough to help us develop & grow as a manufacturing business. I think this particular program is a great resource for my region."

"I think that manufacturing businesses should apply for government funding, because the interest-free loans are available for financing & equipment acquisitions."

When asked what advice he had for future grant applicants, he said, "I would advise people to submit their application with complete information, otherwise the government won't be able to make a decision until they have all the necessary information. Follow their requests. Do your homework before you submit your application form because the program officer needs to base their evaluation on good information because it is tax payer's money that needs to be put to good use."

Would you like to receive money to purchase new equipment for your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$23,000 for renovation & improvement of a wax museum for a golf club & resort in Prince Edward Island! (File 149)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre about his opinion of the program, his response was, "I find that these are good people to deal with. For the past six years, I have dealt with one, woman supervisor, who is really good & I haven't had one problem yet. She lays out all the cards on the table, making sure I know what I can & cannot do. I believe the easy application process has partly to do with the fact that I applied in person at the program office so I was able to ask the questions I needed & get the answers upfront."

"I applied to this program in October & was quickly approved by the end of November for an interest free loan of $23,000. The agreement was 60/40, meaning that I cover 60% of the project costs & the program covers 40% of it."

"Since I have dealt with this program in the past six years, I didn't need to submit anything since they have my business plan from the first year. The only thing I submitted was a description of my project, which was to make renovations to my wax museum."

"It was VERY important that I received the funds when I did, because without it I would not have been able to start my project."

"I think any small business should apply to help his or her business grow further because everyone needs help now & then."

"Specifically, any business in the tourism industry should apply to this particular program, because the banks won't help them out. Any seasonal business in any industry, whether it is fisheries or tourism should apply, because the banks just won't look at them, so they need help from the federal government."

"For those applying to this particular program for the first time, I would strongly advise people to go to the program office & talk to their personnel to get all the cards laid out on the table, as to what they can or cannot do. When you find this information out, it makes life a lot easier. I generally find it's a lot easier to call the program office to set up an appointment with a counselor a day or two in advance."

Would you like to receive money to renovate & improve the facilities of your small business too?
There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free:
1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$58,000 to expand the existing premises for a hotel in Newfoundland! (File 152)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"I sent my first application form to this particular program by mail. After that, I sent out another four application forms over the next two & a half years to receive funding from this program. But I never gave up! Every few weeks, I would call the program office & check up on the status of my application form."

"It was very crucial that I received the $58,000 loan from this particular program. With this, I expanded my hotel & helped my business to grow & flourish."

Would you like to receive money to expand the existing premises of your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$112,150 to expand the facilities for a resort in New Brunswick! (File 157)

This resort owner received an $112,150 interest-free loan from a local government program for the expansions & upgrades necessary to make her a year-round resort & activity centre. When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"I found the program personnel were great people to work with. At the local level, the program personnel were very open to ideas, tremendously helpful & gave us their advice."

"Without this particular programs help, the project would have fell through. For this project we had to go to a number of other financial resources, some which were contingent on whether or not this particular program agreed to give us a loan. We had about a two-month period where we had to quickly put together a good business plan; otherwise we would have lost the project."

"With this particular program's $112,150 interest-free loan, we plan to make resort & an all year round activity centre. The money is being used to build activity resources, such as bike rentals & tube slides for the summer. Our whole focus is to change the resort so that it runs activities in the winter & summer; preferably have the resort open ten months out of the year. With this program's interest-free loan our vision for the resort will become a reality."

When asked what advice she has for future government grant applicants, her response was, "As a first time user, I found that this particular program required a number of documentations, which involved an amount of paperwork involved," she said. "For other first time users, I would suggest that they find a good accountant who has the time to put together a good business plan with a good background. For those applying, make sure to have your i's dotted & t's crossed!"

Would you like to receive money to expand the facilities of your small business too? There's monies available now for qualified existing & start-up small businesses. Phone toll free: 1-800-658-9792 or
e-mail The Small Business Funding Centre.

$500,000 to purchase a new building for a manufacturing & distribution company in Prince Edward Island! (file 158)

When interviewed by the Small Business Funding Centre, this grant recipient stated:

"Working with this government program is not like working