
For small brick-and-mortar businesses that have always operated offline, it can be difficult to adapt as more and more customers bring their business online. Fortunately, government programs like the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) exist to help small to medium businesses utilize digital tools.
Keep reading to learn more about CDAP and how to apply for funding through this Canadian government grant program and reap the benefits of working with an approved CDAP advisor.
The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is a government grant program announced by the Canadian federal government in 2021. It is designed to help small-to-medium-sized businesses reach their full potential by developing an online presence and adopting digital technologies.
The goals of CDAP are to help businesses:
More specifically, some of the services that CDAP funding covers include the following:
The federal government has pledged $1.4 billion in grants for advisory services to small-to-medium enterprises, along with $2.6 billion in loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), to help implement your digital adoption plan.
CDAP is comprised of two streams:
Still unsure of which stream to apply for? Fill out the official CDAP grant assessment tool to determine which CDAP stream is right for your business.
In order to take advantage of the grant in this program, you would need to hire an approved CDAP digital adoption advisor. 90% of the fees (up to $15k) for the services provided by the CDAP advisor will be reimbursed with the funding your business receives through this grant.
The Consultus Digital Team is an approved CDAP advisor and can assist you with the application process and design a digital adoption plan that will help your business reach new heights.
While our team of CDAP advisors has the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the application process and ensure your application is successful, it’s important to familiarize yourself with all the steps involved.
Applying for CDAP involves completing the following steps:
It’s very important that you confirm that you are, in fact, eligible for one of two CDAP streams before proceeding with the application process. This ensures that you are applying for the correct stream and are not wasting your time applying for a program you are not eligible for.
If you meet the following criteria outlined below, you are most likely eligible for Grow Your Business stream of online CDAP funding:
Note that the following businesses are not eligible for CDAP funding:
The CDAP Assessment Tool can also help you determine your eligibility.
For the Grow Your Business stream, to submit your application, connect with your local service provider in the province or region where your business operates. Your service provider will assist you with the application process.
To apply for the Boost Your Business Technology Grant, you must sign in with a GCKey or through a Sign-In Partner on the Government of Canada website to apply.
Once applications are submitted, they will go through a screening process to make sure they were completed properly and meet all of the proper criteria.
For applications that are deemed incomplete or do not meet the eligibility criteria, the applicants will be notified in writing that their application was unsuccessful.
Applications that were completed properly and meet all of the eligibility criteria are then evaluated using more defined assessment criteria.
The results of this evaluation will help determine the applications that are accepted for CDAP funding, along with the government’s priorities and the available funding. Applicants that have been selected for CDAP funding will then be notified in writing.
Once you have been approved for CDAP funding, you will begin working with a CDAP advisor to develop and implement a digital adoption plan.
Consultus Digital is an approved digital advisor in the CDAP program helping eligible applicants with digital marketing, CRM and sales enablement. It’s our goal to help you transform your business, reach new customers and develop an online presence through a digital adoption plan customized to your business. Contact us today to get started!
You're one step closer to a FREE 20-minute consultation with an industry leader!