Nova Scotia Supplier Diversity Certification Program (SDCP) — Invest Nova Scotia
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Nova Scotia reimbursement program covering first-time supplier-diversity certification fees for diverse-owned businesses seeking to sell goods or services outside the province.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a diverse-owned Nova Scotia registered business in good standing (current registration on the Registry of Joint Stock Companies; federal businesses must also hold extra-provincial incorporation in Nova Scotia)
- Must be 51% owned, operated and controlled by 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, women, veterans, persons living with disabilities, Black Nova Scotians, African Nova Scotians or other racialized persons
- Must have a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia
- Must have a product or service with potential to be sold outside Nova Scotia
- Must have most of its workforce currently residing in Nova Scotia
- Certifications must be dated between February 28, 2026 and February 26, 2027 and approved by one of five certifying organizations
- Only new certifications are eligible; renewals, membership fees and expediting fees are ineligible
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- 100% reimbursement of first-time certification fees, up to $1,000 (excluding taxes) per certification, maximum $3,000 (excluding taxes) per company (up to three new certifications)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Applications close 5:00pm AST on February 26, 2027, and may close earlier if the budget runs out.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win SDCP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 12 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipOnly new certifications dated between February 28, 2026 and February 26, 2027 are eligible; renewals, membership fees and expediting fees are not covered, and the program may close early if budget is exhausted.
Rejection Pitfalls 12
- The certification is a renewal rather than a first-time certification
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 2
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for SDCP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow SDCP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about SDCP