Backgrounder: Spurring business growth in Dartmouth

March 13, 2025 · Dartmouth, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

The Government of Canada is intending to invest (pending contract signatures) up to $7,031,975 to help 11 organizations hire expertise, install modern equipment, scale-up and seize new growth opportunities.

The contributions for the following project with EfficiencyOne are being provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program and  Natural Resources Canada’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP).

·         EfficiencyOne is receiving a total of $4,875,000 ($875,000 non-repayable from ACOA and $4,000,000 from Natural Resources Canada). This funding will help lower the cost of energy audits and assessments for manufacturing facilities across the province. These audits will help companies identify and prioritize energy efficiency projects and determine if the highest-efficiency technologies are affordable and can be implemented to make their manufacturing processes better performing with lower operating costs. Once the agreement is signed, this funding will be retroactively applied to any energy audit applications submitted in 2025.

The contributions for the remaining projects are being provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program:

·        Lab4 Inc., specializing in critical mineral processing and engineering, is receiving $500,000 (repayable) to expand its pilot facility dedicated to the commercialization of its innovative ARC technology that is able to process complex feed sources, one of which are lithium-ion batteries. The project will support significant facility upgrades, acquisition of advanced machinery, and hiring skilled professionals to accelerate the company’s entry into the global market. By recovering over 99% of materials without the use of toxic chemicals, Lab 4 Inc. directly addresses global supply chain challenges while contributing to environmental sustainability.

·         SimplyCast, a global leader in self-serve, interactive IT marketing platforms, is receiving $450,000 (repayable) to grow its Smart City, Smart Healthcare and Smart Government divisions. This project will support new highly-skilled jobs and marketing implementation to drive platform adoption in global markets. SimplyCast's digital transformation platform optimizes resources, streamlines processes, and empowers organizations to drive meaningful engagement. The company is also receiving a $50,000 (non-repayable) contribution to hire an Executive Director to manage and grow its Smart Government division, which aims to bring its technology into the public service sector.

·         Nova Doors and Windows is receiving $400,000 (repayable) to acquire and install vinyl fabrication machinery, increasing automation, efficiency and precision. The new equipment will enable the company to fabricate its vinyl windows and doors in a more cost-effective manner, reducing waste and production bottlenecks. This will allow them to meet growing demand and create more skilled jobs in the region.

·         CANAPacking Inc. is receiving $387,500 (repayable) to purchase modern equipment designed to handle different batch sizes to meet varying customer needs. These improvements will increase capacity and accuracy while lowering costs at its bakery mix plant in Dartmouth. CANAPacking is also receiving $50,000 (non-repayable) to engage expertise to increase production efficiencies. Together, this funding will support new product development, helping the company grow and expand in additional domestic and international markets.

·         Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc., an acoustic technology company in the ocean sector, is receiving $101,250 (repayable) to test and demonstrate its Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system. The system cancels underwater noise produced by docked and seagoing vessels, lessening sound pollution and its environmental impact on marine life. The project includes customer engagement, business development and strategic planning to maximize growth opportunities.

·         Aurea Technologies is receiving $50,000 (non-repayable) to hire an electrical engineer to enhance the capabilities of the Shine 2.0 turbine, a portable wind turbine for powering handheld devices. The engineer will find ways to reduce production costs and design a custom power station adaptor. The project will help the company scale up production of its flagship product to meet increased demand for renewable energy solutions across a variety of sectors.

·         EcoMarine Technologies Inc. is receiving $50,000 (non-repayable) to engage business development expertise to support the launch of its product in Southeast Asia. The project will support the commercialization of its subsea marine Remote Operated Vehicle-based (ROV) solutions for underwater maintenance and biofouling management on vessel hulls.

·         Farnell Packaging Limited is receiving $50,000 (non-repayable) to hire engineering expertise for planning and installing new automated production equipment ahead of a planned facility expansion. The company’s future goal is to improve workflow, reduce waste, increase production, and enhance packaging solutions for customers across a variety of sectors.

·         Sandpiper Ventures (legal name 3343407 Nova Scotia Limited) is Atlantic Canada’s only Venture Capital Fund led by women, investing primarily in Atlantic Canadian women-owned technology companies operating across various sectors. The company is receiving $45,725 (non-repayable) to hire expertise to support the attraction of new Angel investment into the region. This will increase access to capital for women founders leading to new business growth, job creation and regional economic benefits.

·         Eosense Inc. designs and manufactures advanced environmental gas monitoring devices for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is receiving $22,500 (non-repayable) to hire a marketing expert to develop a marketing and implementation strategy for domestic and international growth. This will support Eosense in achieving ambitious revenue growth targets, while enhancing customer acquisition and retention.

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NEWS RELEASE: Spurring business growth in Dartmouth