Regional Economic Growth through Innovation

The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program creates the right conditions to start and grow businesses in Atlantic Canada. Through REGI, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is helping businesses and non-profit organizations develop a strong, dynamic and inclusive economy.

Regional Economic Growth through Innovation


The REGI program offers two options for funding:

Business Scale-up and Productivity

We help businesses speed up their growth so they can be more productive, compete on the world stage and reach new markets.

REGI can help you reach the next level! Our repayment contributions are unsecured and interest-free. Your agreement will explain all the details including the schedule and conditions for repayment.

You can use this funding to:

Regional Innovation Ecosystems

ACOA funds non-profit organizations that support businesses at each stage of development. By doing this, we create strong and inclusive regional networks to fuel growth and innovation.

We also focus on making business support networks stronger for under-represented groups. These include women, Indigenous peoples and young entrepreneurs, among others.

We provide non-repayable contributions for organizations such as:

Who can apply?

Business Scale Up

This option funds businesses, including:

It also funds non-profit organizations that offer services to businesses.

Regional Innovation Ecosystems

This option funds non-profit organizations such as:

We know it can be harder for Indigenous businesses to succeed. If you're an Indigenous youth or woman, or if you lead a community-owned Indigenous business, you could get extra support. Contact us to see if you qualify for more funding or flexible repayment options.

How to apply

Contact your nearest ACOA office to discuss your project and then complete and submit the Application for financial assistance.

Contact us today!

Need help? If you have a business idea but don’t know where to start, ACOA Business Information Services can help. It's your one-stop information shop.

Call 1-888-576-4444.

Or contact us by email:

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (Atlantic time)

Grants and Contributions Awarded

Did you know that you can search the Open Government Portal to see previous successful applications for funding? Use the keyword ”REGI” in the search field to see recently approved recipients.

Business impact stories

A.F. Theriault produces diverse types of vessels designed and built in the predominantly francophone community of Meteghan River, Nova Scotia to serve Canada's unique, expansive coastline and our network of coastal marine communities.

In May 2022 Moncton-based Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada (ABAC) will celebrate its 20th anniversary. In just two short decades, the only professional ballet company in Atlantic Canada has toured original creations throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

A new company’s first few years are challenging, with unexpected obstacles and setbacks around every corner. For Wabanaki Maple, a newly established New Brunswick business and ACOA client, having to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic along with other growing pains was the most unexpected challenge of all.

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