Program is aimed at Canadian SMEs to help grow their online presence and upgrade or adopt digital technologies.
Under the CDAP, Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to assess their digital readiness and apply for grants and loans online. This funding will help them leverage e-commerce opportunities, upgrade or adopt digital technologies, and digitize their operations to stay competitive and meet their customers’ needs in the digital marketplace. Depending on their size, specific needs, and goals, businesses can apply for funding through the Grow Your Business Online or Boost your Business Technology streams.
Announced in Budget 2021, the CDAP is expected to support as many as 160,000 small businesses and help create thousands of jobs, including nearly 30,000 job placements for young Canadians to gain valuable work experience, while helping businesses succeed.
Funding under the CDAP consists of $1.4 billion in grants and advisory services to SMEs and up to $2.6 billion in loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to help SMEs cover the cost of implementing digital transformation plans.
Grow Your Business Online funding provides micro grants of up to $2,400 and youth e-commerce advisors’ support to help small businesses implement digital storefronts and e-commerce capabilities.
Boost Your Business Technology funding provides grants covering 90 per cent of costs up to $15,000 to access advisory services to develop a digital adoption plan, access to zero per cent interest loans from the BDC, as well as opportunities for student placements.
SMEs interested in applying for a grant or loan under the CDAP can answer a few quick questions online to help determine the funding that is best suited to meet their needs.