FAQs - Canada Digital Adoption Program
Overview
The Canada Digital Adoption Program is a national program supporting the growth of small and medium businesses by making the adoption of digital tools and technologies easy and accessible.
The program consists of two streams: Grow Your Business Online and Boost Your Business Technology.
Grow Your Business Online is targeted at small, consumer-facing businesses with at least one employee, and provides access to a network of E-commerce advisors, as well as a micro-grant of up to $2,400 for eligible digital adoption expenses. The Grow Your Business Online stream is delivered through regional partners, and is delivered through Connected Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan businesses.
As of February 20, 2024, the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) Boost Your Business Technology grant is fully subscribed and is no longer accepting new applications. The Grow Your Business Online grant remains open for applications.
Boost Your Business Technology is targeted at small to medium businesses with at least one employee and between $500,000 and $5 million in annual revenue. The program provides up to $15,000 for the creation of a digital adoption plan, as well as a $100,000 interest-free loan and a $7,300 wage subsidy to help implement the plan. The Boost Your Business Technology stream is delivered through the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Connected Saskatchewan is NOT responsible for delivering the Boost Your Business Technology stream, and is unable to answer specific questions or view the status of your application. Please go to https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/152.nsf/eng/00013.html to view more information and to apply for the Boost Your Business Technology stream.
Yes. Eligible businesses can access both streams of the program, subject to approval by the respective delivery agent.
As of February 20, 2024, the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) Boost Your Business Technology grant is fully subscribed and is no longer accepting new applications. The Grow Your Business Online grant remains open for applications.
The program will be available until March 2025, subject to remaining grant availability.
Update: The Canada Digital Adoption Program is scheduled to end on March 31, 2025. The Grow Your Business Online grant will no longer be accepting new applications as of September 30, 2024.
Applications for the program are available via Digital Main Street: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/sk-cdap/
Update: The Canada Digital Adoption Program is scheduled to end on March 31, 2025. The Grow Your Business Online grant will no longer be accepting new applications as of September 30, 2024.
Grow Your Business Online - Eligibility
You can get funding through CDAP if your business:
- is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
- is registered or incorporated
- is consumer-facing (sells goods and services directly to end consumers)
- has at least one employee (other than the owner) OR had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
- commits to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months
- agrees to participate in follow-up surveys, share data about the experience, and have its name published as a grant recipient
Your business is not eligible if it is:
- a corporate chain, franchise or registered charity
- a representative of a multi-level marketing company
- a brokerage firm, such as real estate agents, investment advisors, insurance agents, etc.
- a business that is engaged in online reselling or drop-shipping reliant on third-party suppliers
- a wholesale or distribution business and manufacturer (unless you sell directly to consumers)
Yes! As long as your business is registered or incorporated, and you meet the other eligibility requirements, new businesses are welcome to apply.
Businesses need to have a minimum of one employee (in addition to the owner) OR had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year.
Digital Adoption Micro-Grant
The goal of the grant is to enable businesses to serve existing customers more effectively and to attract new customers in the digital marketplace. Eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online.
How can you use your grant?
- To develop a new e-commerce website or add functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments, search engine optimization (SEO))
- Redesign of an existing site is not eligible
- To install an e-commerce platform (including subscription fees/costs)
- To hire a Canadian consultant to help with digital marketing strategies for your e-commerce store that could include activities such as social media advertising
- Your grant cannot be used solely for digital marketing or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item
- To track and manage inventory and sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty program, or increase cyber security using e-commerce software
- To pay up to 20% of the total cost of hardware and software
If you are unsure whether your investment is eligible for the Grow Your Business Online grant, please email us at cdap@connectedsask.ca.
Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Internet connectivity
- Shipping of goods purchased through the e-commerce platform
- Purchases made prior to grant approval
- Renewal of digital services such as domain names or software subscriptions (including existing e-commerce subscriptions)
- Signage and printing
- Logo redesign and rebranding
- Owner’s salary or current employee salary for executing the project
- Purchase of land, buildings or vehicles
- Intangible assets such as goodwill, whether capitalized or expensed
- Depreciation or amortization expenses
- Interest on invested capital, bonds or debentures
- Bond discount
- Monthly mortgage, loan and/or rent payments
- Refinancing of an existing debt
- Losses on investments, bad debts and any other debts
- Fines or penalties
- Litigation
- Fees for administrators, including payments to any member or officer of the business’s board of directors
- Opportunity costs
- Hospitality and entertainment costs
- Franchise fees and/or franchise licence costs
- Lobbyist fees
- New capital expenditures
- Consulting fees for submission of CDAP application
- Any costs not related to the acquisition or set-up of technology solutions
- Taxes
The grant will be provided as a reimbursement. Grant applicants will be required to submit an expense report, coinciding with their pre-approved spending plan and copies of any associated receipts and proof of payment documents.
No. Expenses cannot be incurred prior to the date of approval of your spending plan.
E-Commerce Advisor Network
An E-commerce advisor is trained to help your business better understand its e-commerce capabilities and to identify solutions to assist your businesses digitalization.
As one of the first steps of the grant application process, small businesses will be paired with an E-commerce advisor to assess your digital needs and help develop your e-commerce strategies and deploy new digital technologies.
After an initial meeting, businesses may opt-out from working with an E-commerce advisor as part of the Grow Your Business Online program, and proceed solely with the grant application. It is highly recommended however that businesses take advantage of the expertise of an E-commerce advisor to support digitization.
Saskatchewan students and recent graduates can apply to be an E-commerce advisor. You can apply to be an E-commerce advisor on Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s application page.
Update: As of August 8, 2024, applications for the e-commerce advisor position are no longer being accepted.
The Canada Digital Adoption Program is a national program through the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and delivered by Connected Saskatchewan regionally.
