Updated June 2026 · Verified against Opportunities NB (ONB) guidelines
✨ New Program Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Est. 2025
Program Provincial Active

NB Competitiveness and Growth Program

Opportunities NB (ONB)
Maximum Funding
Up to $54.3M
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Mixed (Advance + Reimb.)
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
Co-Funding
Varies
NB Competitiveness and Growth Program provides Up to $54.3M program-wide over 3 years; flexible per-company performance-linked assistance. A flexible, performance-linked assistance program ($54.3M over 3 years) providing non-repayable contributions, payroll rebates, and conditionally-repayable assistance to large, export-intensive New Brunswick companies modernizing operations, raising productivity, and keeping workers employed. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Program Description

A flexible, performance-linked assistance program ($54.3M over 3 years) providing non-repayable contributions, payroll rebates, and conditionally-repayable assistance to large, export-intensive New Brunswick companies modernizing operations, raising productivity, and keeping workers employed. Announced in Budget 2025-26 and scaled to $54.3M in early 2026, it targets industrial companies significant to the NB economy with long-term provincial growth plans. Engagement is via proposal to ONB, not an open public window.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Industrial, export-intensive company significant to New Brunswick's economy (typically 50+ employees with major NB presence)
  • Long-term commitment to grow and retain operations and jobs in New Brunswick
  • Proposal submitted to ONB outlining competitiveness investment plan, job-retention/creation targets, and productivity improvements
  • For-profit private-sector company (government bodies and non-profits ineligible)
  • Financially viable with a realistic growth or stabilization plan
Provinces
Industries
Manufacturing Food Beverage Natural Resources Supply Chain Technology
Business Stage
Expansion Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $54.3M program-wide over 3 years; flexible per-company performance-linked assistance
Type
Program
Level
Provincial
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
High
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

This program is designed for companies large enough to have a meaningful impact on the NB economy — think 50–500+ employees, significant NB manufacturing or processing footprint, and a realistic case for long-term provincial commitment.

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Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • Company too small to constitute a significant NB economic impact
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win NB Competitiveness and Growth Program

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Initiate contact with ONB Contact Opportunities NB through onbcanada.ca. Request a meeting with a senior business development officer to discuss your company's NB operations, investment plans, and interest in the Competitiveness and Growth Program.

Required Documents 6

Company overview and NB operations profile (employment, facilities, revenue, NB economic footprint)
Detailed competitiveness investment plan (what the company will do, at what cost, over what timeline)

Eligible Expenses 5

Ineligible Expenses 5

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

PrairiesCan / ACOA — Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ONB Tariff Working Capital Loans NRC-IRAP (R&D component)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

High Risk

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How NB Competitiveness and Growth Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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