Canada Digital Adoption Program

Fund Your Digital Projects with $15,000 from the Canada Digital Adoption Program

Access up to $15,000 in government funding through the Boost Your Business Technology grant + $100,000 in interest-free loans OR $7,300 in wage subsidies to hire Canadian Youth to implement the plan.

Limited Time Offer: Book with Blue Lotus Creative Today to get a Free $1500 towards implementation

What is the CDAP Grant?

The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is a government subsidy to help small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt new digital technologies. The Canadian federal government has committed $4 billion to the program over the next four years. If you’re a registered business in Canada with at least one full-time or equivalent employee, you’re likely to qualify for one or both grants.

How much is the CDAP grant worth?

The Canada Digital Adoption Program grant consists of two streams – a microgrant and the larger Boost Your Business Technology grant with firm eligibility criteria.

Stream 1: Grow Your Business Online

$2,400 microgrant to reimburse for costs related to web design, search engine optimization, social media, databases and more.
This covers hiring a digital marketing agency to plan and implement these initiatives.
Non e-commerce companies are still eligible.

Stream 2: Boost Your Business Technology

Up to $15,000 to cover 90% of the costs of hiring an approved advisor to develop a digital plan.
Up to $100,000 in interest-free loans for implementation of the plan.
$7,300 in wage subsidies to hire Canadian youth to implement the initiative

We want to give you an edge.

Where can I find a CDAP Digital Advisor?

For Stream 2, SEMs must work with a digital advisor that is approved and registered with CDAP. These are organizations that meet and maintain all of the required criteria to deliver digital advisory services. Approved advisors are required to provide vendor neutral advice and are subject to CDAP’s Code of Conduct. They will work with eligible SMEs to digital adoption plans which are required to meet the minimum viable elements identified in the CDAP digital adoption plan guide. Blue Lotus Creative is a registered CDAP Digital Advisor. A full listing of all CDAP digital advisors is available in the program’s marketplace after confirmation of approval of the CDAP grant.

Which stream is right for me and my business?

The program’s official site has a Grant Assessment Tool with these questions to determine which is right for you:

Do you have between 1 and 499 employees?
Which sector is your business in?
Where is your head office located?
Did you have annual revenues between $500,000 and $100,000,000 in any of the past three tax years?

Stream 1 is intended for customer-facing businesses who haven’t yet adopted digital tech or are looking to improve, with funding to support up to 90,000 businesses. This microgrant of $2,400 does not have the minimum revenue requirement.

Stream 2 was developed to help up to 70,000 SMEs adopt new digital technologies and strategies as part of an adoption plan, so the grant is considerably larger. It’s best designed for enterprises with high operational costs and the business is in need of capital and independent, outside expertise to move technology forward.

What costs are eligible for subsidy? How can the CDAP business grant benefit my company?

Stream 1 benefits most businesses looking to improve their technology. Businesses are paired with a government approved advisor who will develop a plan with you to determine where to best invest your funds. The microgrant can be spent on a multitude of tech initiatives. Eligible subsidization can include website upgrades, web design, search engine optimization (SEO), eCommerce implementation, online reservation and bookings, social media support, digital advertising, and fees or surcharges for eCommerce platforms and software including a portion of POS systems. See the full list of eligible and ineligible expenses on the Small Business BC program page. Initially, the grant was to hire only a government supplied student “e-Commerce advisor”, but as of Summer 2022, this has opened up to allow the hiring of digital marketing consultants and agencies for support. Stream 2 can only be used to retain an approved CDAP digital advisor to analyze the current state and create a plan for implementation. It differs from Stream 1 in that the subsidy is to develop the plan only, and not for implementation. If you choose to work with Blue Lotus Creative for this grant stream, we are currently offering a $1,500 credit towards implementation services.

The grant is to be used towards:

Providing support during the grant application process to maximize funding.
Completing a digital assessment to review the needs of your operations, a current technology and business strategy to accurately identify where you can benefit most and what to prioritize.
Research and suggest technology solutions to match your business needs and budget, including a cost / benefit analysis of the best options. Some areas Blue Lotus Creative has expertise in are marketing automation, CRM, booking systems, marketing strategy, analytics, Google Workspace integration, eCommerce and SAAS / platform recommendations.
Developing an extensive digital strategy and implementation roadmap with steps, timelines, and resources to achieve your business goals.

How do I apply?

Applications are through the official Canada Digital Adoption Program website:

Blue Lotus Creative can work with you to navigate the correct CDAP stream(s) and assist you in preparing and submitting the applications. We’ve been approved by the federal government in supporting Canadian SMEs under the CDAP subsidy program. For questions on eligibility, and what you can spend the grant on, contact one of the subsidy administrators: Alacrity Canada (French & English): cdap@alacritycanada.com or phone: 1-778-400-1808. Small Business BC: cdap@smallbusinessbc.ca

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are there two different grants and streams? This is confusing.

It’s a government grant and it has been challenging for all parties to navigate.

If you have at least one full time equivalent employee, you’re likely eligible for the $2,400 Stream 1 grant, which can be spent in many different ways (SBBC).

If you have reported revenue that is less than $500k in any of the past 3 years, you can also apply for the $15,000 CDAP Stream 2, unlike the Launch Online and SMB.

Can I work with any company that offers digital services?

The program’s official site has a Grant Assessment Tool with these questions to determine which is right for you:

-Do you have between 1 and 499 employees?
-Which sector is your business in?
-Where is your head office located?
-What are you looking to do?
-Did you have annual revenues between $500,000 and $100,000,000 in any of the past three tax years?

I’m not sure how to answer the Digital Maturity Assessment, can Blue Lotus Creative provide assistance?

We’d be happy to support you through the assessment process in any way that we can.

Is Blue Lotus Creative approved for the CDAP program as a digital advisor?

Yes, Blue Lotus Creative is a registered and approved advisor with the federal government. Learn more about the criteria to be a CDAP digital advisor on the program site.

Is it challenging to apply for the Canada Digital Adoption grants and subsidies?

The federal government has put considerable effort into simplifying the grant application process, compared to previous grants like the SMB and Launch Online grants. We’re here to support you in the application process.

How long can the application process take?

The grant program administrators have said that the average application takes a few days to a week to review and approve, but they’re working on reducing this time to less than one business day.

What is required in a Digital Adoption Plan?

The federal government considers these four components to be essential in every plan: -Executive Summary: Provide an executive-level summary of the key elements of the plan for the SME. -Current state analysis and summary: Provide an overview of current and key business data, such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, external issues as well as key IS/IT information. -Digital adoption analysis and suggestions: Identify at least 3 potential digital or technology solutions for the SME to consider, including how each of those solutions will benefit the SME’s business. -Implementation roadmap: Identify the key components to implement the recommended options including timeline, dependencies, costs, etc. The plan can also include optional elements such as skill requirements and other high-level requirements for each recommendation. See the Canada Digital Adoption Plan and Guide for more details.

How long does it take to create a Digital Adoption Plan?

An SME has up to six months to accept the CDAP terms and conditions, then up to nine months to submit the Digital Adoption Plan to the federal government (see Section 3.2 of the Program Guide). Most plans can be completed in less than 60 days.

When do applications for the CDAP grant open?

Applications initially opened in January 2022 and the program is set to run for four years, with a review after one year, beginning in the new year.

How are applications approved and processed?

Similar to most government grants, if an application meets all eligibility requirements, grants are approved on a first-come, first-serve basis.

How long will it take for me to receive the funds?

Funds will be sent by the federal government to the SME within 30 days of uploading the completed digital adoption plan. SME’s are expected to work with advisors to come up with a deposit and payment structure. We are happy to discuss this with you.

Does my business qualify for the CDAP grant?

Please review the CDAP Program’s Grant Assessment Tool for eligibility criteria. Unlike other recent grants, you must have at least 1 full-time equivalent employee. For questions on eligibility, the progress of your application and eligible spending categories, contact the grant administrators: Alacrity Canada (French & English): cdap@alacritycanada.com – 1-778-400-1808 Small Business BC: cdap@smallbusinessbc.ca

Do I need to have an e-commerce store to get either grant?

We can confirm that you do not need an online store to receive approval. The grant wording does make it sound like the grant administrators prefer it. However, we’ve worked with accounting firms and environmental consulting firms who have used it to boost their SEO, update their websites and create social media plans, with approval under CDAP.

Can Blue Lotus Creative help us apply for the CDAP grant?

We can walk you through the entire process, but business owners or directors must apply for the grant.

Are there fees to apply for the grant?

No, it’s free to apply for. Blue Lotus Creative does not charge for assisting in the application process.

What experience does Blue Lotus Creative have in providing digital adoption plans?

Blue Lotus Creative has extensive experience in Consulting, Digital marketing strategy creation, Conversion rate optimization, Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising, Targeted email marketing, Brand creation + Rebranding, Graphic Design, eCommerce Development (Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace), Website Development (WordPress, Six, Squarespace, Custom).

Can I choose my own digital advisor?

For Stream 1, yes. You can choose your own digital advisor. For Stream 2, applicants will have access to the CDAP Digital Advisor Marketplace after receiving approval , which is a searchable and filterable list of all registered digital advisors. Blue Lotus Creative is on this approved list.

Can I choose multiple digital advisors?

SMEs are able to reach out to any number of digital advisors, but can only work with one when using Stream 2 grant subsidy funds.

Can I use the funds towards SEO, ads or building a website?

The funds for the CDAP Grant Stream 2 can only be used to create the Digital Adoption Plan, and is not for implementation or software or ad costs.

Taken From the Canada Digital Adoption Plan and Guide:

The SME and the digital advisor will work together to develop a digital adoption plan that meets the CDAP requirements. Upon completion, the SME will upload their completed digital adoption plan and invoice to the CDAP portal. Once accepted, the grant will be issued to the SME.

Reach out Today

We believe in the power of the Internet. If you’re looking to have your dynamic ideas heard, there’s no better medium to spread the word. With knowledge and understanding of the full digital marketing suite, comes an inherent power to spread information and ideas. Our goal has always been to collaborate with value-aligned clients on projects we can all be proud of.