Export Funding NB — New Brunswick Export Development Program

Insider Tip

Consultants must be arm's-length from your business — owners, employees, and related parties cannot be funded. Submit at least two consultant proposals with your application to demonstrate competitive pricing. Eligible activities are specifically professional consulting fees and online advertising expenses only: trade show booths, travel, and printing are explicitly excluded. The $15,000 maximum is a hard cap regardless of project size — budget accordingly. Contact Sally Marchand at LearnSphere (1-877-644-2267) before applying to confirm funding is available in the current fiscal year.

Rejection Pitfalls 7

• Business head office not registered in New Brunswick
• Cannot demonstrate revenue, profit, or workforce growth over the past 2 years
• Business is in an excluded sector (retail/wholesale, real estate, personal services, softwood lumber)

Success Profile

A New Brunswick manufacturer, tech company, food and beverage producer, or professional services firm with a demonstrated 2-year growth track record (revenue, profit, or headcount) that is actively exporting or committed to entering an export market. The ideal applicant has identified specific target markets and is ready to engage a professional export consultant for market research, export planning, or digital marketing strategy.

Evaluation Criteria

LearnSphere reviews applications for eligibility (NB head office, CRA number, growth demonstration), project viability (export potential, quality of proposed activities), and cost reasonableness (two competitive consultant proposals required). No competitive scoring — approved on a rolling basis subject to budget availability. Key checkpoint: the 2-year growth demonstration must be supported by documentation.

Application Steps

Required Documents 6

Eligible Expenses 10

• Professional consulting fees for market research (target market analysis, buyer identification)
• Export plan development and export readiness assessment
• Lead generation and sales development consulting
• Export-focused website enhancements (landing pages, translated content, international checkout)
• Search engine optimization (SEO) for international markets
• Digital advertising management (Google Ads, LinkedIn, social media — managed by external agency)
• Social media strategy consulting
• Translation services for export materials (via consultant)
• Coaching and mentoring on export readiness and market entry
• Online advertising expenses (direct ad spend managed by approved consultants)

Ineligible Expenses 7

• Trade show booth rental, production, or participation fees
• Travel expenses (flights, accommodation, meals) for applicant or consultants
• Printing and physical marketing materials
• Website hosting and maintenance fees
• HST on consulting invoices
• Salaries or wages of the applicant's own employees
• Costs paid to non-arm's-length consultants (owners, employees, related parties)

Intake Periods

Continuous year-round intake. No fixed application windows. Budget is finite — apply early in the fiscal year (April-June) for best availability.

Deadline Notes

Continuous intake year-round. Projects must be completed within 6 months of approval. Apply before engaging consultants, as costs must be pre-approved. Contact the LearnSphere program team at LearnSphere (1-877-644-2267) to confirm current availability.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Businesses without New Brunswick head office and registration
• Retail and wholesale businesses
• Real estate businesses
• Government service providers
• Personal and social service businesses
• Softwood lumber producers
• Businesses that cannot demonstrate 2-year growth in revenue, profit, or workforce

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Reimbursement is tied to submission of valid invoices and consultant deliverables. If deliverables are not provided or invoices are ineligible, LearnSphere may withhold or claw back reimbursement. Standard government reimbursement grant terms apply.