Creative & Media in Nova Scotia
83 programs
for creative & media businesses in Nova Scotia.
Federal programs available across Canada, plus Nova Scotia-specific and creative & media-focused programs your business can apply for.
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Nova Scotia programs designed specifically for creative & media.
Nova Scotia Digital Media Tax Credit
TAX CREDIT25% to 50% of NS labour costs
Nova Scotia Digital Animation Tax Credit
TAX CREDITUp to 50% of eligible NS animation labour, plus a 17.5% labour bonus
Nova Scotia Film and Television Production Incentive Fund
GRANT26% base of eligible NS costs (25% for non-NS-owned), with bonuses up to roughly 42% total
North End Halifax Facade Improvement Grant
GRANT50% of costs, up to $2,000 per business
Grants
27Canada Job Grant
Up to $10,000 per employee
Futurpreneur Canada Startup Loan
Up to $25,000
CanExport SMEs
Up to $50,000 (50% of eligible costs)
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Up to $50,000 (SME stream)
ACOA Business Development Program
Up to $50,000
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund
Up to $100,000
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Up to $30,000 per youth hired
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
Up to $7,000 per student
Mitacs Accelerate
$10,000 per 4-month internship
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
Project-by-project, typically $10M to $100M+
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship
50% of intern stipend, up to $7,500 per internship
NACCA Aboriginal Business Financing Program (ABFP)
Up to $99,999 (sole proprietor) or $250,000 (corporation)
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada Grants
Up to $25,000 per stream
Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur
Up to $15,000 per 4-month internship
SSHRC Partnership Grants
Up to $2.5M per partnership over 7 years
Nova Scotia Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program
Up to $15,000 (Tier 1) or up to $25,000 (Tier 2)
Nova Scotia Film and Television Production Incentive Fund
26% base of eligible NS costs (25% for non-NS-owned), with bonuses up to roughly 42% total
Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI)
Up to 75% of eligible training costs
North End Halifax Facade Improvement Grant
50% of costs, up to $2,000 per business
VAC Education and Training Benefit
Up to roughly $99,000 lifetime, with up to about $6,300 reserved for short courses
VAC Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program
Covers approved training and re-establishment costs; can pair with the Income Replacement Benefit at 90% of pre-release salary
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities (Employer Wage Subsidy)
Wage subsidy negotiated with the local delivery agent; program guidance averages about $12,000 in supports per participant
Enabling Accessibility Fund: Small Projects Component
Up to $125,000 per project (recent small projects calls); some calls have set higher per-project ceilings
Nova Scotia Workplace Support Program
Covers the cost of approved technical aids, assistive devices, and workplace attendant support for eligible employees
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital
Up to $99,999 for individuals; up to $250,000 for community businesses
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Business Opportunities
Up to $500,000 per recipient per year; up to 100% of eligible costs
CWCF Technical Assistance Grants
Up to $4,000 per grant
Tax Credits
9GST/HST Input Tax Credits (ITCs)
5–15% back on all business expenses
Provincial R&D Tax Credits
3.5–30% of eligible R&D costs
Nova Scotia Equity Tax Credit
35% credit to investors (up to $17,500 per investor)
Nova Scotia Digital Media Tax Credit
25% to 50% of NS labour costs
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)
25% of qualifying labour expenditures
Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC)
16% of qualifying Canadian labour expenditures
Medical Expense Tax Credit (Business Owner)
15% federal + provincial portion of eligible medical expenses
Nova Scotia Digital Animation Tax Credit
Up to 50% of eligible NS animation labour, plus a 17.5% labour bonus
Nova Scotia Research and Development Tax Credit
15% of eligible R&D expenditures, fully refundable
Deductions
18Small Business Deduction (SBD)
Up to $30,000 per year in tax savings
Home Office Expense Deduction
Typically $3,000–$12,000 per year
Motor Vehicle Expense Deduction
Typically $4,000–$15,000 per year
Accelerated Investment Incentive (AII)
30–100% of asset cost in year 1
Business Meals & Entertainment Deduction
50% of all qualifying expenses
Zero-Emission Vehicle 100% Deduction
Full vehicle cost in year 1 (up to $55,000+)
Eligible Capital Property Deduction (Class 14.1)
5% of eligible capital costs per year
Education and Training Expense Deduction
100% of qualifying training costs
Canadian Advertising Deduction
100% of qualifying ad spend
Bad Debt Deduction
100% of uncollectible receivables
Professional Fees Deduction
100% of qualifying fees
Trade Show, Conference, and Certification Deduction
100% of event costs (excluding meals)
Provincial Small Business Tax Rate Reduction
Up to 15% combined effective rate savings
Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE)
Up to $1.25 million in tax-free gains (2026, indexed to inflation)
Individual Pension Plan (IPP) for Owner-Managers
$10K to $40K+ extra annual deductions vs RRSP
Shareholder Loan Interest Deduction
Variable: based on loan amount and rate
Incorporation and Reorganization Costs
100% of qualifying costs
Worker Co-operative Capital Gains Exemption
Up to $10,000,000 in capital gains exempted from tax
Incentives
29BDC Growth & Transition Capital
Up to $5,000,000
Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)
Up to $1,000,000 in financing
Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB)
Access to ~$1.5B annual federal procurement set-aside
Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Up to $50,000 loan
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (FACE)
Loans from $10,000 to $250,000
BDC Commercial Real Estate Loan
Up to 100% of property value (with partner lender)
BDC Working Capital Loan
Up to $250,000 with no fixed asset
Nova Scotia Small Business Loan Guarantee Program
Loans, working capital, and lines of credit up to $500,000, with a provincial guarantee up to 90%
Graduate to Opportunity (GTO)
25% to 30% of first-year salary, plus 12.5% to 15% in year two
Ulnooweg Indigenous Business Financing
Loans up to $750,000; non-repayable ABFP contributions up to 40% of expansion costs
IWSCC Veteran-Owned Business Certification
Certification costs $500 per year; opens access to corporate and government supplier diversity procurement
CFMWS HERCS Entrepreneur Workshop
$0 fee (free workshop); covers small business startup and financing fundamentals
IWSCC Disabled-Owned Business Certification
Certification costs $500 per year; opens access to corporate and government supplier diversity procurement
Futurpreneur Newcomer Startup Program
Up to $25,000 in loans plus two years of mentorship
Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship (IWE) Program
Microloans up to $50,000 plus advisory support
Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship (IYE) Program
Up to $75,000 in combined loans and grants
Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund (CCIF)
$50,000 to $1,250,000 in loans, quasi-equity, or equity
CWCF Tenacity Works Fund
$15,000 to $50,000 term loans
Social Finance Fund (SFF)
Repayable investment capital (part of $400M+ deployed through intermediaries)
Social Finance Fund: Boann Social Impact
$154,000,000 deployed nationally through impact funds and intermediaries
Social Finance Fund: Realize Capital Partners
Part of $400M+ SFF capital deployed through intermediaries
WEOC National Loan Program
Up to $50,000
BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan
Up to $350,000
Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP)
Up to $5,000 per vehicle (up to 10 vehicles for a business)
Efficiency Nova Scotia Small Business Energy Solutions
Rebates plus 24-month interest-free financing
Ulnooweg Indigenous Business Loans (Atlantic Canada)
Micro loans up to $5,000; women and youth up to $25,000; general loans up to $750,000
Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP)
Up to 50% of project costs, max $2,000,000 per project (75% for Indigenous organizations)
Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) Employer Program
$0 cost to employers (federally funded program, roughly $30M to 2027)
Nova Scotia Nominee Program: Entrepreneur Pathway
Requires $100,000 to $150,000 investment; pathway to permanent residence
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