Grant
Provincial
Active
Nova Scotia Supplier Diversity Certification Program (SDCP) — Invest Nova Scotia
Invest Nova Scotia
Maximum Funding
100% of eligible costs
Applications close 5:00pm AST on February 26, 2027, and may close earlier if ...
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
100%
Nova Scotia Supplier Diversity Certification Program (SDCP) — Invest Nova Scotia provides up to 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). Nova Scotia reimbursement program covering first-time supplier-diversity certification fees for diverse-owned businesses seeking to sell goods or services outside the province. Applications close 5:00pm AST on February 26, 2027, and may close earlier if the budget runs out..
Eligibility check
Can you win this grant?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
We use this program’s real eligibility rules. 4 short questions follow.
Want your full match picture across 850+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Free
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
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly
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
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Feb 26, 2027
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium
See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Premium
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
+11 more pitfalls
Premium
See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.
Success Profile
Premium
See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.
Evaluation Criteria
Premium
See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Premium
All 12 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
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
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 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
Premium covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Premium
6 steps
5 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm you are a business of diversity At least 51% owned, operated and controlled by one or more of: 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Indigenous people, women, veterans, people living with disabilities, Black Nova Scotians, African Nova Scotians, or other racialized people.
Required Documents 5
✓ A completed SDCP application form
✓ Confirmation of successful awarding of certification from one of the five certifying bodies
Eligible Expenses 2
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Premium
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Premium
3 partners
Compatible Programs
Creative Industries Fund (Nova Scotia)
Credit Union Small Business Loan Guarantee Program
Other Invest Nova Scotia and provincial programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
Premium
See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
How SDCP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia Supplier Diversity Certif... | up to $1,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Applications close... |
| 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 |
| Business Development Program (BDP) - ... | Varies (Repayable Contribution) | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| CUA Community Investment Grant | up to $7,500 | Easy | Advance Payment | Annual — 2026 deadline... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about SDCP
Free
How much does it pay?
100% of the certification fee you paid, up to $1,000 excluding taxes per certification, with a maximum of $3,000 excluding taxes per company for three new certifications.
Who counts as a diverse-owned business?
A business at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Indigenous people, women, veterans, people living with disabilities, Black Nova Scotians, African Nova Scotians, or other racialized people.
Which certifications qualify?
First-time certifications from five bodies: CAMSC (Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council), IWSCC (Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada), CQCC (Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce), WEConnect International Canada, and WBE Canada. Renewals, membership fees and expediting fees are not eligible.
When is the deadline?
Applications are accepted from April 14, 2026 and must be received no later than 5:00pm AST on February 26, 2027. The certification must also be approved by one of the five bodies by that same time, and dated no earlier than February 28, 2026. Approvals are subject to budget availability and the program may close earlier.
Does it matter how I pay the certification fee?
Yes, and this is easy to get wrong. The payment must be made using the company's credit card or bank account, or the founder's or CEO's personal credit card. If an individual pays, that individual must be the main applicant for the reimbursement.
I own two companies. Can each claim $3,000?
Not necessarily. Businesses and their related entities may, at Invest NS's sole discretion, be limited to funding for only one business.
Can a retailer or a consultant apply?
Sometimes. Distributors, agents, traders and retailers are excluded except where value-added products or services are part of the deliverables or the purpose is selling Nova Scotia products or services abroad. Professional service providers are excluded unless the certification represents a unique or strategic opportunity with potential economic benefit, incremental sales outside Nova Scotia, or job creation.
Browse More Funding
Full Playbook: SDCP
6 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights