Grants you can apply for · Federal program · Non-repayable contribution
ACOA — Innovative Communities Fund
Government of Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Taking applications?
Apply through the funder’s page; no deadline stated
Read from the official page on October 13, 2026. Confirm the deadline on the official page before you apply.
- Amount
- Not stated on the page
- Cost share
- Not stated on the page
- Who can apply
- Universities and colleges; Indigenous organizations and businesses; Municipalities; Non-profits and charities
- Where
- New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
What it is
Funding for economic growth projects in rural Atlantic Canada
Get a non-repayable financial contribution for strategic projects that build on the existing strengths of your community, leading to long-term employment and enhanced economic capacity.
Description from the Government of Canada’s Business Benefits Finder (list of July 17, 2025), Open Government Licence – Canada.
What applicants actually got
From the federal records of every agreement signed under this program.
- Agreements, last 12 months
- 46
- starting Oct 2025 or later
- Typical award
- $112K–$462K
- the middle half, since Oct 2023
- Median award
- $239K
- 60 agreements since Oct 2023
- All agreements
- 62
- $24.5M
Federal grants and contributions, agreements starting Jan 2006 to Oct 2026, each counted once at its latest amended value. Source: Treasury Board proactive disclosure, published October 11, 2026. Filed as “Innovative Communities Fund (ICF)” (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, 62).
Who got it
Organizations with the most funding under this program, all years.
Who got it in your province
Open a province to see the organizations there with the most funding under this program, all years.
Nova Scotia25 agreements · $9.1M
New Brunswick10 agreements · $6.4M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Fredericton Playhouse Inc. | 1 | $3M |
| City of Saint John | 1 | $972K |
| Ville de Saint-Quentin | 1 | $500K |
| Hartland | 1 | $479K |
| Le Pays de la Sagouine Inc. | 1 | $450K |
| Imperial Theatre Inc. | 1 | $401K |
| Miramichi | 1 | $363K |
| Grand Sault / Grand Falls | 1 | $201K |
| Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission | 1 | $56K |
| Neguac | 1 | $18K |
Newfoundland and Labrador19 agreements · $5.8M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset Eskimo Carving Committee Inc. | 1 | $875K |
| Norris Arm Heritage Society Inc. | 1 | $523K |
| Town of Holyrood | 1 | $521K |
| Town of George's Brook-Milton | 1 | $424K |
| Cabox Geopark Inc. | 1 | $415K |
| Town of Flower's Cove | 1 | $405K |
| Green Bay Regional Tourism Association Inc. | 1 | $397K |
| Town of Torbay | 1 | $359K |
| Newfoundland T'Railway Council Inc. | 1 | $306K |
| Town of Carbonear | 1 | $293K |
| Heart's Content Mizzen Heritage Society Inc. | 1 | $288K |
| Western Sno-Riders Inc. | 1 | $231K |
| Town of Long Harbour - Mount Arlington Heights | 1 | $179K |
| Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation | 1 | $137K |
| Town of St. Anthony | 1 | $116K |
Prince Edward Island8 agreements · $3.2M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Summerside Port Corporation Inc. | 1 | $1M |
| Abegweit First Nation | 1 | $750K |
| Town of Stratford | 1 | $587K |
| Friends of the Farmers' Bank of Rustico Inc. | 1 | $278K |
| Lennox Island Development Corporation | 1 | $206K |
| Boys and Girls Club of Summerside Inc. | 1 | $130K |
| City of Summerside | 1 | $125K |
| Island Walk (PEI) Inc. | 1 | $100K |
Latest agreements
| Start | Recipient | What for | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | Cape Breton University | Contribution | $200,000 |
| Mar 2026 | Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation | Contribution | $246,750 |
| Mar 2026 | The Men of the Deeps Society | Contribution | $100,000 |
| Mar 2026 | Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation | Contribution | $137,436 |
| Mar 2026 | Green Bay Regional Tourism Association Inc. | Contribution | $396,617 |
| Feb 2026 | Summerside Port Corporation Inc. | Contribution | $1,000,000 |
| Feb 2026 | Newfoundland T'Railway Council Inc. | Contribution | $306,490 |
| Feb 2026 | Destination Cape Breton Association Inc. | Contribution | $918,000 |
| Feb 2026 | Pathways to Employment Society | Contribution | $100,000 |
| Feb 2026 | Inverness/Victoria Federation of Agriculture | Contribution | $150,000 |
| Feb 2026 | City of Saint John | Contribution | $971,520 |
| Feb 2026 | Town of Torbay | Contribution | $358,700 |
| Feb 2026 | Festival Antigonish Society | Contribution | $120,000 |
| Jan 2026 | La Société acadienne de Clare | Contribution | $200,000 |
| Jan 2026 | Imperial Theatre Inc. | Contribution | $401,309 |
| Jan 2026 | ARTS-WELLNESS-HERITAGE Community Site - PCSP Inc. | Contribution | $90,413 |
| Dec 2025 | Cape Smokey Race Team | Contribution | $65,000 |
| Dec 2025 | Acadia University | Contribution | $455,000 |
| Dec 2025 | Municipality of the District of Digby | Contribution | $37,452 |
| Dec 2025 | Le Pays de la Sagouine Inc. | Contribution | $450,342 |
By year
Agreements by the year they started.
| Year | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | $278K |
| 2022 | 1 | $951K |
| 2023 | 3 | $1.4M |
| 2024 | 5 | $5.7M |
| 2025 | 36 | $10.5M |
| 2026 | 16 | $5.7M |
The full record: Innovative Communities Fund (ICF).
More programs: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.