New Brunswick Business Grants 2026

ONB strongly recommends (and effectively requires) a pre-application meeting with an ONB Business Development representative before submitting a formal application. Companies that submit cold applications without prior ONB engagement are frequently asked to resubmit after an ONB consultation — adding months to the timeline. Contact ONB at the earliest planning stages of your project.

ONB and ACOA routinely fund different portions of the same NB business project — this stacking is expected and encouraged. A NB manufacturer expanding capacity might receive ONB contribution (provincial) + ACOA BDP contribution (federal) covering different eligible cost categories. Apply to both simultaneously (with disclosures) to maximize non-dilutive capital on your expansion project.

The NB Jobs Act is one of the most valuable NB incentives — up to 75% payroll tax rebate for 10 years — but requires pre-negotiation with the government before establishing new operations. Businesses that establish NB operations without first negotiating Jobs Act terms lose the decade-long tax benefit entirely. Any business establishing a new NB location with 10+ employees should negotiate Jobs Act terms before signing commercial leases.

The NB Innovation Foundation (NBIF) is separate from ONB and administers significant R&D funding for NB companies. Many NB businesses know ONB but are unfamiliar with NBIF — which can fund the same R&D work that IRAP funds federally. For NB tech companies and manufacturers doing innovation, apply to both IRAP (federal) and NBIF (provincial) for the same project — both can fund different aspects of the same R&D program.

NB's Workforce Expansion program requires submission before the approved employee's start date — retroactive applications for employees already hired are not accepted. NB businesses planning new hires should assess Workforce Expansion eligibility and submit applications 4–6 weeks before the planned hire date for every qualifying position.