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

Application Period: October 15, 2024 – October 28, 2024.

Review Completion and Selection: November 1, 2024.

Project Completion Deadline: March 31, 2025.

*This program is supported by ACOA.

Read Full Eligibility Guidelines HERE

Apply for the Program HERE

For a copy of the application form, or questions about the program, please contact us at info@ac-ada.ca