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If you want to apply to be an E-commerce Advisor, see
Eligibility Requirements
Your business must
- Be for-profit (includes for-profit social enterprises and cooperatives)
- Be a registered or incorporated business
- Be consumer-facing
- Have at least 1 employee (other than the business owner) OR have had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
- Primarily operate in B.C.
Ineligible businesses
- Corporate chains, franchises, or registered charities
- Representatives of multi-level marketing companies
- Real estate brokerages and sales agents
- Businesses that engage in online reselling or drop-shipping businesses reliant on third-party suppliers
- Wholesale or distribution businesses and manufacturers (unless their business model includes direct sales to the end consumer)
Businesses receive:
Micro-grants up to $2,400
Access to an E-commerce Advisor
E-commerce Advisors
E-commerce Advisors will be paired with participating businesses and will work together to review existing digital strategies and make improvement plans. These Advisors will spend up to 30 hours with each business. E-commerce Advisors will provide recommendations and undertake work to make new digital systems, make changes, or make improvements. Each business and E-commerce Advisor pairing will have a dedicated Alacrity Liaison at their disposal and answer questions and resolve concerns should they arise.
Funding
Approval of funding to successful applicants will be conditional upon the terms and conditions set out in the grant letter received upon acceptance into the program. Following project completion, the business must submit the expense summary report along with receipts and/or invoice copies, with proof of payment, for all eligible project related expenses within 90 days, to Alacrity Canada.
1 - When will money spent be reimbursed?
Money spent on e-commerce improvements will be reimbursed upon review of receipts and/or invoices copies, with proof of payment.
2 - What is required of my business after the program?
Businesses are asked to participate in follow-up surveys, agree to having their business information shared with the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada), and agree to their business name being published as a recipient of funding.
3 - How long is the commitment?
Businesses must agree to maintain their digital adoption strategy for 6 months post-intervention.
How do I apply?
Alacrity Canada acts as an intermediary for Grow Your Business Online Program on behalf of the Canadian Government. If you apply for CDAP funding through Alacrity, we will be the ones supporting you and your growth.
Documents and info you need to have ready:
- One of the following:
- A government document proving the legal existence of the business (e.g., incorporation or registration documents, CRA business number, operating/business license),
- Federal Business Number GST/HST number
- Proof of business registration with a Band Council (Indigenous businesses only)
- Attestation that the business has employed at least one employee (other than the owner) for at least three months prior to the application
- OR Attestation of annual gross revenues exceeding $30,000 in the last 12 months of operations or since incorporation/registration for businesses that have been in operation for under a year.
- Industry type and NAICS code
- Number of years in business (since business registration)
- A paragraph explaining how funds will be used towards eligible expenditures
The application process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 5
Additional Information
- Grants will be awarded in the order received.
- The application form must be submitted and approved by Alacrity Canada before the project begins.
- Meeting the program intake criteria does not guarantee that the application will be approved for funding.
- Applicants must ensure that the application form and all required information and attachments are completed and submitted.
- An incomplete application cannot be approved to receive a grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your business is a consumer-facing business that can be accessed by customers or provides in person services to customers, it is eligible (so long as all other eligibility criteria are met).
Funding will continue until 2025.
A consumer-facing business is a business that sells directly to customers (B2C). Businesses can be a bricks and mortar business or an online business.
If the business had at least $30,000 in revenue in the last 12 months of operations or since incorporation/registration for businesses that have been in operation for under a year, you are eligible to apply
Only for-profit businesses (including for-profit social enterprises and cooperatives) are eligible for this funding.
Corporate chains, franchises, or registered charities are not eligible.
Stream 1 – the Grow your Business Online program helps small businesses take advantage of e-commerce opportunities.
- Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies.
- Access to e-commerce advisors who will advise and help small businesses adopt e-commerce.
Learn more about the Grow Your Business Online program here.
Stream 2 – the Boost Your Business Technology grant helps small and medium-sized businesses with at least $500,000 of annual revenues, adopt new digital technologies.
- Use a free digital assessment tool to evaluate your own digital readiness
- The grant covers up to 90% of the eligible cost of retaining the services of a digital advisor, up to a maximum grant value of $15,000 per SME, to develop a digital adoption plan
- Businesses also have the opportunity to secure a 0% interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to facilitate the acquisition of new technology
Learn more about the Boost Your Business Technology grant here.
The program administered by Alacrity Canada is for businesses with a local B.C. address only. Please see https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/152.nsf/eng/00011.html for providers in other provinces.
No, only the business owner can apply and sign for the grant.
Yes. However, you will be required to declare that the programs are not used to pay the same expense twice, i.e. the funding provided through the Online Shops Program will be used toward expenses not covered by the other programs your business has participated in.
Please review the full list of eligible and ineligible expenses in our Program Guide
If the proposal is for improvements and/or something new it may be eligible. However, a replacement of existing features would not be.
If the proposal is for improvements and/or something new it may be eligible. However, a replacement of existing features would not be.
As the website already has a functioning online shop, expenses related to photography would not be eligible.
Costs can only be incurred from the date on which your application has been deemed eligible. You can claim your micro-grant within three (3) months of your application being deemed eligible or meeting with the E-Commerce Advisor, whichever date is later. You must provide both your invoice and proof of payment within these three (3) months.
This grant can not be used solely for marketing purposes, as the purpose of this grant program is for small businesses to create new or improve existing e-commerce solutions.
The micro-grant can be used to pay a contractor only if the contractor operates an independent business (registered and/or incorporated) that provides digital adoption services. The grant cannot be used to pay an employee’s salary.
Training costs for digital marketing are not considered an eligible expense.
No. All submitted expenses will require both proof of service completed and proof of payment.
Micro-grant disbursements require the receipt of both an invoice and proof of payment. The exchange rate can be based on the rate stated on the credit card statement or a copy of the cancelled check.
Micro-grants will be issued based on the cost of the expense(s) before taxes; tax charges will not be reimbursed.
No. Costs can only be incurred from the date on which your application has been deemed eligible. You can claim your micro-grant within three (3) months of your application being deemed eligible or meeting with the E-Commerce Advisor, whichever date is later. You must provide both your invoice and proof of payment within these three (3) months.
Yes. The grant funds are taxable and should be reported on your corporate tax return.
All receipts must be submitted within 90 days from the project start date, receipts must be submitted together for a maximum amount up to $2400 and proof of payment must be provided for each receipt.
If you have a question, support is available from Alacrity Canada. Support can be provided in both English and French at this time. Please contact Alacrity Canada by email: cdap@alacritycanada.com