Updated June 2026 · Verified against Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly In Kind Est. 2017
Program Federal Active

Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy (ATIGS)

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Maximum Funding
~$15,000 in subsidized services (Launch Export); tailored...
Ongoing — Launch Export annual cohorts (fall); MEDP continuous
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
In Kind
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
75%
Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy (ATIGS) provides up to ~$15,000 in subsidized services (Launch Export); tailored market entry (MEDP). Federal-provincial partnership delivering subsidized export development services to Atlantic businesses. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~30–50% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

37 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 269 awards since 2017. Typical award: $110.2K. Half of all awards fall between $61.4K and $183K. Top sectors among classified recipients: Religious, civic, professional org, Provincial government, Colleges and professional schools. Top provinces: Nova Scotia 51% · New Brunswick 24% · Newfoundland and Labrador 13%. Covers: ACOA ATIGA contributions — all 7 sub-stream variants, 269 rows total. Recipients are primarily Atlantic trade associations, sector bodies, and provincial trade agencies (not direct individual SMEs). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy award is $110.2K — the median of 269 awards since 2017. In 2025, 37 organizations were funded.

37funded in 2025
$110.2Ktypical award
269awards since 2017

Award size distribution. Half of awards fall between $61.4K and $183K, with a typical award of $110.2K.

Award sizes middle 50% of awards
$110.2K typical $183K
Top sectors Religious, civic, professional orgProvincial governmentColleges and professional schools(of classified recipients)
Top provinces NS 51%NB 24%NL 13%
37 organizations received this grant in 2025. See the 37 most recent — and how much each received. Get Premium — $39/mo

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Federal-provincial partnership delivering subsidized export development services to Atlantic businesses. Launch Export: 8-month cohort ($15K value for $250 fee, 8 spots/province). MEDP: tailored European/Indo-Pacific market entry via consultants ($1,250-$2,500 fee). Businesses access expert coaching at a fraction of market cost.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Registered business in Atlantic Canada
  • SME (<500 employees)
  • Exportable product or service
  • For MEDP: a proven record OR strong potential of revenue growth; senior management commitment
  • For Launch Export: desire to expand sales outside Atlantic Canada
Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Growth Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
~$15,000 in subsidized services (Launch Export); tailored market entry (MEDP)
Type
Program
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing — Launch Export annual cohorts (fall); MEDP continuous

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~30–50%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win ATIGS

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Launch Export is one of Atlantic Canada's best-value programs — 8 months of training, coaching, and a trade mission for $250.

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Monitor Intake Announcements (Launch Export) Watch launchexport.ca for annual cohort intake announcements, typically opening in fall. Subscribe to the mailing list to be notified. The 2025-26 cohort intake is closed.

Required Documents 4

Online application (province-specific)
Business registration

Eligible Expenses 7

Ineligible Expenses 4

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

CanExport SMEs ACOA Business Development Program (BDP) Export Development Canada (EDC)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

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How ATIGS Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth ... ~$15,000 in subsidized services Easy In Kind Ongoing — Launch Export...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...
Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... Varies Easy Equity Ongoing
Ocean Supercluster Up to $5 million Hard Reimbursement Call-specific — no open...
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... Up to 50% of capital costs Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

Related Programs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about ATIGS

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Can I apply if I'm a sole proprietor?
Yes — sole proprietors qualify if registered in Atlantic Canada, under 500 employees, and have an exportable product/service. MEDP requires revenue growth proof.
What's the typical fee for MEDP?
MEDP fees range from $1,250 to $2,500 for $10K-$30K in services. You pay 4-8% of the service value upfront.
When are MEDP spots filled?
MEDP is continuous until capacity is reached — contact provincial trade offices April-June to secure a spot before fall.
Why do applications get rejected?
Common rejections: not Atlantic-registered, services not exportable, or gaming/real estate ineligible for MEDP (Launch Export spots fill fast).
Can I stack with CanExport?
Yes — CanExport covers up to $75K for market development, stacking with ATIGS for Atlantic exporters. MEDP and Launch Export are complementary.

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