Atlantic Canada Opportunities Board
The board provides advice on matters of policy and strategic direction, and helps support ACOA's efforts to enhance economic development in Atlantic Canada. The board has no authority to make decisions or to direct actions of the Agency. Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of ACOA. They hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding three years. Members may be re-appointed for one additional term only.

Policy and Programs Branch
The Policy and Programs branch supports the Agency in the administration of a large number of funding programs. It comprises the following directorates –Policy, Enterprise Development, Community Development, Trade and Investment, Advocacy and Industrial Benefits, and Integrated Planning and Operations Directorate.

The Policy directorate's function provides a solid base of understanding for the development of the Agency's strategic priorities and initiatives, program design, and input to national policy development and federal-provincial relations, including the development of policies, frameworks, and advice. The Agency's policy work is supported, in part, by a dedicated ACOA fund, the Atlantic Policy Research Initiative, which contributes to building policy research capacity in Atlantic Canada. Three divisions are included in this directorate – Strategic Policy Development, Innovation Policy and Research Projects, as well as Economic Analysis.

The Enterprise Development directorate comprises the Programs division, as well as the Innovation division and the Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development division. The directorate is responsible for the following funding programs.

The Business Development Program (BDP), which focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offers access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable, non-repayable and provisionally repayable contributions; the Productivity and Business Skills Initiative, which is part of the Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP), supports the hiring of skilled personnel and fosters increased innovation capabilities; the Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative, which is part of the AIP, provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions and municipalities to offer business skills training, information and support Atlantic Canadians under 35 years of age; the Venture Capital funds and foster the development of financial markets in Atlantic Canada; the Women in Business Initiative, which is part of the AIP, provides non-repayable assistance to not-for-profit business organizations that help women business owners get the resources they need to grow their businesses and compete; and the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) which is part of the AIP, invests in large, cutting-edge research and development projects in the region's private sector and research institutions. The AIF Advisory Board considers all proposals received under the AIF and provides recommendations to the Minister of ACOA, based on a thorough analysis of the proposals. ACOA also provides funding to the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership under the AIP-II Tourism component. The Enterprise Development directorate is also responsible for recovery actions on all funding programs.

The Community Development directorate comprises three divisions – Community Economic Development, Aboriginal Affairs, and Official Languages and Multiculturalism. The directorate is responsible for the following funding programs.

The Agency fosters Aboriginal economic development through its BDP by focusing on areas jointly identified by government and Aboriginal partners (Joint Economic Development Initiative and the Mi'kmaq-Nova Scotia-Canada Tripartite Forum) by investing in the development of management skills, productivity improvements, market expansions, innovation, and access to financing. The Community Development directorate provides funding under the BDP to 41 Community Business Development Corporations that serve rural Atlantic Canadaand othercommunity-based organizations to deliver the Seed Capital Program. ACOA, in co-operation with other levels of government, also supports 52 Regional Economic Development Organizations, which are responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of strategic economic development at the local and regional level.

The directorate is also responsible for the delivery of infrastructure programs on behalf of Infrastructure Canada. The Building Canada Fund'sCommunities Component helps support smaller scale municipal infrastructure projects, while the Major Infrastructure Component focuses on larger projects that will have a national or regional/provincial impact and that will generate significant benefits in terms of a growing economy, a cleaner environment or stronger communities. In addition to infrastructure programs, the directorate also delivers the Innovation Communities Fund, which is part of the AIP-II, invests in strategic projects that build the economies of Atlantic Canada's communities; the Community Futures Program, which helps communities identify priorities and implement economic development projects; and the Saint John Shipyard Adjustment Initiative, which responds to the loss of manufacturing activities and the resulting economic impact on the province of New Brunswick. The Agency works closely with Francophone economic organizations, regional economic development authorities, commissions and boards to keep them informed of the vast range of services available to Francophone entrepreneurs and businesses under the Official Languages and Multiculturalism division.

The Trade and Investment directorate comprises four divisions – theInternational Business Development Agreement, Team Canada Atlantic, Trade and Investment. The directorate is responsible for the Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which is part of the AIP, aims to improve the performance of existing exporters by working with its partners, and to promote more inward Foreign Direct Investment. This partnership includes the following five elements: Team Canada Atlantic, Sector Export Strategies, Trade Education and Skills Development, Export Internship for Trade Graduates and Atlantic Investment Strategy. This directorate is also responsible of the International Business Development Program, which is strategic in developing an exporting culture in Atlantic Canada through its four inter-related programs: international business development activities, planning and research, training and awareness, and market information and intelligence.

The Advocacy and Industrial Benefits directorate comprises two divisions – Cabinet and Policy Advocacy, and Industrial Benefits. Advocacy encompasses mandated/legislative issues, strategy, program direction and approach, as well as horizontal policy issues. It complements policy efforts by engaging other players in the discussion of issues and refinement of positions, seeking out opportunities to advance Atlantic regional development at the national level. Through its advocacy function, the directorate seeks to inform, engage, and influence decision-makers so as to effectively defend and promote Atlantic Canada's interests in the national context. Through its advocacy role, ACOA anticipates and undertakes analysis in the critical areas influencing Atlantic Canada, coordinating the development roles of other departments as appropriate and advocating Atlantic Canada's interests in national decision-making. The Industrial Benefits division helps promote Atlantic Canadian capacity and expertise in the pursuit of major federal procurement projects within the federal Industrial Regional Benefits (IRBs) policy. It also monitors ongoing development of federal procurement policies from a regional perspective.

The Integrated Planning and Operations directorate coordinates the budgeting and financial forecast processes and is responsible for disbursement of all operating payments and grants and contributions for the Policy and Programs branch. It conducts audits of claims for grant, contribution and operating payments to ensure compliance with relevant policies. It also coordinates input from within the Policy and Programs branch to the annual integrated operating plan exercise. The directorate offers assistance to managers within the Policy and Programs branch in regard to staffing and human resources management, particularly in the long-term planning and management of collective staffing pools and the implementation of competency-based management techniques.

Finance and Corporate Services
The Finance and Corporate Services branch provides sound management as well as financial and administrative support for all of the Agency's program activities. This branch includes the following directorates – Internal Audit, Corporate Planning and Performance Management, Corporate Secretariat, Finance and Administration, and the Chief Information Officer.

The Internal Audit directorate provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services on the effective design and operation of the Agency's risk management strategies and practices; management control frameworks, systems, and practices; and governance processes. The directorate also assists management in a number of areas, including validating reports to senior management, helping in the decision-making process and assessing policies or programs in the design, implementation and results phases.

Using results-based management principles, the Corporate Planning and Performance Management directorate coordinates Agency-wide planning, evaluation, performance measurement, reporting and risk management.

The Corporate Secretariat directorate provides advice and administrative services to the Minister, President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities (ACO) Board and Executive Committee. The Corporate Secretariat works closely with the President's Office and the Ministerial Liaison Office to coordinate specific information requests received from the Minister or the Minister's Office, the President, or the ACO Board. It is also responsible for the Agency's Access to Information and Privacy function, Head Office reception services, presidential and ministerial correspondence and Agency-wide translation services.

The Finance and Administration directorate provides financial management, supply chain management and facilities/asset management services. Financial management services include activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support advice and financial systems. Supply chain management services include procurement of goods, procurement of services, inventory control of acquired assets and/or resources, and the related logistical management. Facilities/asset management services include the maintenance, administration, and operation of facilities and assets, including office buildings, fleets, machinery, and other capital assets, that are possessions of the federal government.

The Chief Information Officer directorate is responsible for the management of corporate information as a critical asset to ensure its effective use in support of the Agency's mission. The directorate has two principal services: Information Technology and Information Management which include: Business Intelligence, Information Technology Support, Application Support and Maintenance, Business Solutions Development, Enterprise Architecture, Records Management, and Security of information.

Communications Branch
The Communications branch provides timely and accurate information to the public about policies, programs and initiatives; provides strategic advice, services and expertise to the Minister, the President and senior management; and ensures that the Agency is visible and accountable to the public. The Communications branch comprises three directorates – Public Affairs, Client Services, and Marketing and Outreach – whose activities include the production and distribution of corporate publications, public opinion research, website development, media relations, parliamentary affairs, advertising and outreach activities, public events and announcements and internal communications.

Regional Offices
The Agency has four regional offices and several field offices in cities and towns across the four Atlantic Provinces. The regional offices are responsible for the delivery of ACOA programs within the respective province.

Based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is responsible for delivering most of ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island.

In Ottawa, an ACOA office advocates the interests of Atlantic Canadians in the development of national policies and programs, and is responsible for the interests of the region's entrepreneurs related to federal procurement.

Human Resources Branch
The Human Resources (HR) branch provides strategic human resource services and products to Agency personnel. This branch includes the following directorates – Classification and HR Systems, Staffing, HR Planning and Employment Equity, and HR Development. The functions within the directorates are: classification, HR planning, learning, official languages, staffing, compensation, labour relations, HR modernization, Public Service Renewal, employment equity, and awards and honours.

Regional Federal Council Secretariat
The Regional Federal Councils in the four Atlantic Provinces support the professional development of its federal government managers and coordinate the exchange of information among the region's federal departments. Each council is chaired by the local ACOA vice-president, whose offices are responsible for providing financial and administrative services to the council.