The following outlines the 2024-25 Program and is subject to change. ACADA is in the process of revising program requirements. Updated details will be available upon the 2025 Program launch in November.

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Program Objective

The Atlantic Canada Aerospace & Defence Association (ACADA), with the support of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is providing Human Resources (HR) support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Aerospace, Defence, Marine, and Security industries.

ACADA’s HR Essentials Program (“the Program”) is designed to help SMEs address key workforce development challenges – including the fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), recruitment and selection for mid- and senior-management roles, and retention and workplace culture.

Eligible Companies

To qualify for the Program, companies must meet the criteria outlined in the program guidelines.

Project Costs

Approved projects will be cost-shared between ACADA and the SME. The maximum project cost eligible for support is $11,250, with the SME responsible for 35% of the total cost.

(Example: For a project with a total cost of $10,000, the SME’s portion would be $3,500.)

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

  • DEIB Policy and Commitment Development
  • DEIB Education Series and Training Programs
  • Development of DEIB Calendar of Events
  • Recruitment for Mid-level or Senior-level Roles
  • Development of HR Policies and Processes (onboarding, interviews)
  • Workplace Culture Measurement Tools and Activities
  • HR Program Development (e.g., rewards programs)
  • Training programs/sessions
  • Other deliverables discussed with individual SMEs (to be approved by ACADA)

Program Timeline

 * Program Timeline will be available in November 2025. *

Read Full 2024-25 Eligibility Guidelines HERE

For more information about the program, please contact us at info@ac-ada.ca