Funding Opportunities & Support
Funding programs are available that can help support your business development and growth. Click on the program link to view additional details about the opportunity and learn how to apply.
Program | Type | Description | Eligibility Requirement |
| Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program | Grant | Up to $99,999 is available in grant funding. Business development funding for Aboriginal entrepreneurs. | Individuals of Canadian Aboriginal heritage, majority-owned Aboriginal businesses, or Aboriginal community development organizations |
| Alberta Women Entrepreneurs | Loan | AWE provides repayable loans of up to $150,000. With competitive interest rates ranging from prime +2% to prime +4%. | Women-owned businesses in Alberta |
| Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant | Grant | Funded by the Government of Alberta, the Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant (AMPG) helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers with between 5 and 750 employees improve their operations, invest in technology to automate production and increase competitiveness in markets across Canada and abroad. Eligible Alberta-based manufacturing companies can apply now to access an assessment of the viability of your chosen technology, and up to $30,000 in matching funding for technology adoption. | Must be a manufacturer based on the following definition: A manufacturer is described as involved in operations to produce or support products/services related to manufacturing, processing, fabricating or refining. Must be operating in Alberta, with the investment to be made into Alberta manufacturing operations. Must be an incorporated business (federally or provincially) for 2 years or more continuously. Must demonstrate financial stability. Must have greater than 5 and fewer than 750 full-time employees (FTE) in Alberta. |
| Canada Alberta Productivity Grant | Grant | The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) helps employers invest in training that focuses on enhancing productivity skills for their current and future employees that aligns with the needs of their business. It is an employer-driven program meant to partially reimburse the cost for an employer to send their employee(s) for training. Employers apply on behalf of their employees and invest in training that enhances productivity and workforce competitiveness. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada through the Workforce Development Agreement. | To be eligible, employers must have current or potential employees who need training to fill current or future positions. The CAPG is available to: private sector employers, including incorporated and unincorporated businesses and partnerships, non-profit sector employers, First Nations and Metis Settlements. |
| Alberta Media Fund | Grant | Receive up to $200,000 in Grant Funding. Supports organizations and individuals developing screen-based media, scripts, books and magazines, and sound recordings. The program encompasses several different funding streams that support a variety of costs, including Albertan labour, so that media producers can create Alberta content and advance products towards a more successful market release. | Alberta organizations involved in the creation and development of screen-based productions, digital media, scriptwriting, book publishing, magazine publishing, and sound recording can apply for funding. |
| Alberta Innovates Accelerating Innovations Into CarE | Grant | Supports the commercialization of health technologies through collaborations between Alberta SMEs and public health providers. | Alberta SMEs with fewer than 500 employees and less than $50 million in gross revenues annually are eligible to apply. |
| Alberta Innovates Industry Commercialization Associates Program | Grant | Supports hiring an associate to perform technical commercialization activities. $52,500 - $105,000. | Alberta advanced technology businesses, incorporated with a technology that is ready for commercialization. |
| Alberta Innovates Industry R&D Associates Program | Grant | Offsets a portion of costs related to hiring an associate to perform technical research and development activities, up to $74,500. | Alberta advanced technology businesses, incorporated with a technology that is undergoing development. |
| Alberta Innovates Product Demonstration Program | Grant | Qualified SMEs may be eligible for up to $150,000 in funding over a maximum one-year term. | Alberta businesses that have commercialization-ready, innovative technology in the industries of energy, environment, nanotechnology, information & communication services, health & life sciences (forestry, agriculture, biotechnology) |
| Alberta Innovates Voucher Program | Voucher | Eligible applicants can apply for funding up to $100,000 to offset costs related to technology development and building a working prototype. | Alberta for-profit SMEs with fewer than 500 FTEs and less than $50 million in gross revenues annually are eligible to apply. |
| CanExport Innovation | Grant | Up to $75,000 or 75% of eligible expenses related to projects seeking to commercialize the technology by pursuing collaborative international Research and Development partnerships | SMEs, universities, and nongovernment research centres seeking commercialization partnerships in foreign markets |
| Digital Skills for Youth Program | Grant | Up to $30,000 to cover the wages and associated training costs of post-secondary graduates 15 to 30 years old. Provide digital and soft-skills experiences to prepare for the workplace | Between 15 and 30 years (inclusive); a post-secondary graduate; legally entitled to work in Canada, self-assess as underemployed, meaning they are employed below their level of education, outside their field of study, hold part-time employment, or unemployed. |
| Black Entrepreneurship Program | Loan | Up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country | Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions |
| Creative Export Canada | Grant | Government funding program that offers to fund projects that generate export revenues and help Canadian Creative Industries reach more people around the world. | Canadian for-profit or non-profit organizations with a minimum 1 FTE and a maximum of $500M in annual revenues. The minimum project budget of $300K. |
| Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) | Grant | Canadian government funding program designed to accelerate the research and development projects of Canadian innovators. | Incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized business with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and plan to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services, or processes in Canada. |
| IRAP Youth Employment Program | Grant | Assists in the funding of hiring young Canadian post-secondary graduates. Graduates can be applied to most areas, from business development to technical to customer service/administration. | Incorporated and financially stable Canadian business with 1-500 employees; must be responsible for finding graduates before applying. Candidates must be between 15-30 years old. |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | Grant | The program helps startups and small/medium-sized businesses (SMEs) overcome technology development hurdles so that they can produce globally demanded products and services while also improving government operations. | For-profit Canadian incorporations with <500 employees are eligible to apply. 50%+FTEs and senior executives must be located in Canada |
| CAP Alberta | Grant | Supports businesses and organizations completing projects that lead to the growth and competitiveness of Alberta agriculture. Up to 50% of eligible project costs | Sectors: Agriculture and food sustainability assurance, environmental stewardship and climate change, farm water supply, irrigation efficiency, products to markets, public agriculture literacy, value-added products to markets, and youth agriculture education. |
| Alberta Export Expansion Program | Grant | Minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000 per year for funding support to Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), municipalities, industry associations, Indigenous communities and economic development organizations promoting Alberta exports. | Alberta non-profits promoting sales of products and services in new international export markets. Alberta SMEs promoting sales of products and services in a new international export market. |
| Career Ready Program | Grant | Cover up to 75% of the costs of a work term placement, to a maximum of $7,500 per placement, when you hire a post-secondary student. | Provide a meaningful, tech-focused work placement opportunity to a student. Students must be registered in an accredited post-secondary institution and must work in a role that is tech immersive. They aren’t required to be studying something in tech. |
| Mitacs Elevate | Grant | Up to $30,000 match in research grant money | For-profit corporations receiving no more than 50% of revenues from government sources or not-for-profit corporations. Projects must demonstrate economic or productivity direction |
| Work Integrated Learning Digital Subsidy | Grant | Wage subsidy to cover up to 75% of the costs of a work term placement that provides post-secondary students with digital learning | Hiring an eligible student from all disciplines of studies, including Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, and Business. Hiring for a Net New position. |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Loan | Finance for purchasing equipment, business vehicles, renovations, and commercial property. | Start-ups and for-profit small businesses with gross revenues of $10 million or less. |
| Small Business Deduction | Tax Credit | Up to $500,000 annual income tax credit for small businesses | Canadian-controlled small businesses |
| Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit | Tax Credit | Up to $2,000 non-refundable tax credit per year per eligible apprentice hired | Companies that hire an eligible apprentice in the first two years of their apprenticeship contract; eligible trades are currently listed as Red Seal Trades |
| Futurpreneur Canada Indigenous Program | Loan | Collateral-free loan of up to $60,000, along with 2 years of expert business mentoring and resources to get your startup off the ground. | Indigenous person(s) between 18–39 years old. |
| BDC Startup Financing | Loan | Up to $250,000 to help get your business off the ground, finance operations and replenish working capital spent on start-up costs, if you've been in business for at least a year. | Established Canadian-based business, in operation for 12 months, business plan, financial investment, age of majority, experience/expertise, realistic market |
| Apeetogosan Metis Development | Loan & Grants | Loans ranging from $5000 to $325,000 for Métis, Inuit or Non-Status Indigenous people for startup or expansion business projects. Non-repayable grants are offered for projects exceeding $20,000. | For projects exceeding $20,000. Projects must be either a start-up or an expansion of an existing business.
The business must generate an annual income of at least $20,000 for the applicant. Total project must exceed $20,000 |
Last edited: October 1, 2025