Impact is a repayable loan. Typical repayment terms are between 12 and 60 months, with low interest rates and no penalties for early repayment.

Impact offers small business loans in amounts up to $25,000, with flexible repayment terms and low interest rates. In addition to financing, Impact includes access to business skills development opportunities, so you can learn the essentials for running a successful business, while focusing on what you know best. Impact provides ongoing business advice and feedback from your loans officer, who will be by your side throughout your entrepreneurial journey.

Applicants must be Permanent Residents of Canada to be considered for the loan program.

Impact is an unsecured personal loan that must be used for business expenses. However, if the loan is used to purchase business equipment or other fixed-assets, Impact may use them as security.

Down payments are not required for an Impact loan. However, investors and lenders outside of the Impact loan program may require you to make a personal investment, should you approach them for additional funds.

A credit check will be conducted and used to assess your application for an Impact loan. However, Impact is flexible and may consider credit histories other than what a bank would typically expect.

We encourage you to discuss your situation and the possibility of using a co-signer with the Impact partner organization in your area. This decision is left to the lender and may be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If a loan payment cannot be made on time, it is important to notify your Impact lender immediately.

Young entrepreneurs can still apply for an Impact loan to start or grow their business. If the applicant is under 19, or the provincial age of majority, they be will required to have a co-signer who is of legal age.

Impact loans are typically amortized over a 5 year period. Depending on your loan amount and specific situation, terms between 12 and 60 months can be negotiated.

Repayments for Impact loans are to be made to the partner organization in your region. This would be the same organization that issued your loan funds.

Impact has flexible repayment options that are negotiated with your lender. You can discuss repayment terms with the partner organization for your region.

Interest rates begin at prime plus 2%.

Impact can consider lending requests of any amount to a maximum of $25,000 per individual/business. Check with the partner organization in your region, as there may be special terms and opportunities for smaller loans.

No. Refinancing is not an eligible use for Impact financing. Impact may only be used for new and ongoing small business expenses.

Impact financing may be used for business expenses such as: working capital, inventory, equipment, or supplies.

An entrepreneur purchasing an existing businesses may still apply for an Impact loan. The purchase opportunity will be evaluated as part of the loan assessment.

A franchise can be considered under the Impact loan program. The franchise opportunity will be evaluated as part of the loan assessment.

• Entrepreneurs complete the Impact loan application online, or by contacting the partner organization delivering the loan in their area. For the initial application we require information such as: personal contact details, personal assets and liabilities, a description of the business, any current business assets and liabilities, listing of principal owners, and projected business start-up (or expansion) costs and sources of financing.
• Once the application is submitted, a Loans Officer at the partner organization in your area will be in contact.
• To continue processing the application, your Loans Officer will request: a copy of your business plan, resume, driver’s license, projected financial statements, answers to additional questions, and permission to conduct a credit check.
• Once all necessary information has been collected, the Loans Officer will complete an assessment of the business plan and financing needs. This will then be submitted to a loan review committee for a final decision.
• A Loans Officer will inform you of the decision on your application. If approved, there are legal documents that need to be completed, but disbursement of loan funds usually follows quickly.

Newly operating businesses may still be eligible to apply for an Impact Start-up Loan. Please contact the Impact partner organization in your region for their exact eligibility criteria.

• New Brunswick: Dieppe, Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, Riverview
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Mount Pearl, St. John’s
• Nova Scotia: Bedford, Dartmouth, Halifax
• Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown, Cornwall, Stratford

• New Brunswick: Dieppe, Moncton, Riverview: 3+ Corporation
• New Brunswick: Fredericton: Ignite Fredericton
• New Brunswick: Saint John: Envision Saint John
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Mount Pearl, St. John’s: Metro Business Opportunities
• Nova Scotia: Bedford, Dartmouth, Halifax: CEED
• Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown, Cornwall, Stratford: CBDC Central PEI

The Impact loan program is designed to meet an identified small business lending gap in select Atlantic Canadian urban centres. If you’re operating in Atlantic Canada but not within an eligible city, we recommend contacting the Atlantic Canadian Association of CBDC’s for small business support in your area. If your business is outside of Atlantic Canada, please contact Canada Business for resources in your region.

Yes, but the maximum loan that you can have outstanding at any time with SEED and Impact is $25,000 (they are the same program).

The maximum Impact loan any individual/business can borrow at one time is $25,000. If you have an outstanding Impact loan that has a principal balance under $25,000, you may reapply for additional funds up to the $25,000 limit. Please note, a Loans Officer will require updated or additional information to process a new loan application. We recommend contacting your current Loans Officer regarding your new lending needs.

While the maximum value for an Impact loan is $25,000, an approved Impact loan can often be leveraged to access additional funds, and can even make you a more attractive client for other loan programs. Your Loans Officer may be able to recommend other small business loans offered through their partners.

Impact is funded by the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Government of Canada agency responsible for helping to create opportunities for economic growth in the Atlantic Provinces. The Impact loan program is delivered to entrepreneurs by members of the Atlantic Urban Partnership.