Explore funding programs that support business development and growth in Alberta. Not all potential supports are listed below. For more information, please contact us.
Entrepreneurs
Business Development Bank of Canada |
| The Business Development Bank of Canada supports small and medium-sized businesses through access to financing, advisory services and capital. |
Business Link |
| Business Link helps Alberta entrepreneurs start their own businesses by providing tools and resources to entrepreneurs in the areas of advice and research, training and webinars, small business events and indigenous services. |
Community Futures |
| Community Futures supports small and medium-sized businesses through access to financing, advisory services and capital. |
Futurpreneur |
| Futurpreneur offers mentorship and loans to entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39. |
Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund |
| The Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund provides a micro-finance program open to Indigenous women-owned businesses who may lack access to conventional financing. The fund is administered through CCAB’s Tools and Financing for Aboriginal Business (TFAB) program to enhance Aboriginal entrepreneurship through providing access to development and networks. |
Women Entrepreneurship Fund |
| The Women Entrepreneurship Fund aims to assist women entrepreneurs to grow their existing businesses and enable them to mature to a state where they can pursue opportunities in domestic and global markets. It will provide up to $100,000 in non-repayable contribution funding. |
Women Building Futures |
| Through awareness, training, and opportunity, Women Building Futures prepare women for careers leading to economic prosperity. Together with their partners, they champion a more inclusive workforce. |
Agriculture
Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit (AFFB) |
The Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit allows eligible producers to receive a 9-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax exemption on the purchase of dyed gasoline and diesel. To qualify for the benefit, producers must:
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Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) – Innovate. Grow. Prosper. |
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The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial investment in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector set to begin in April 2018 and is the successor of the 2013-18 Growing Forward 2 partnership. In Alberta, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership represents a federal - provincial investment of $406 million in strategic programs and initiatives for the agricultural sector. In Alberta, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership is organized under five themes: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change; Products, Market Growth and Diversification; Science and Research; Risk Management; and Public Trust. |
Farm Cash – Cash Advance Program |
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The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has launched a program called FarmCash to administer advances for Alberta farmers and ranchers through the federal government’s Advance Payments Program. FarmCash offers interest-free and low interest rate short-term loans on 45 commodities, including all major crops, livestock, and honey through an automated web-based platform. Producers can borrow up to $100,000 interest free, and $300,000 at low interest rates. |
Farm Energy and Agri-Processing Program (FEAP) |
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The Farm Energy and Agri-Processing Program shares costs with the agriculture and agri-processing sector on energy efficiency investments. The Program is designed to encourage energy management which will result in cost savings, energy conservation, and ultimately, reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Program offers financial support, subject to financial constraint, to applicants who incorporate high efficiency equipment that is identified in the applicable Funding List in their construction and/or retrofitting projects. |
Farm Health and Safety Producer Grant Program |
| In response to the changes to the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Code to include farms and ranches that employ waged, non-family workers, Alberta Labour is funding a grant that is administered by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The Farm Health and Safety Producer Grant Program offers financial support, subject to financial constraints, to eligible employers (must have waged, non-family workers and a WCB account) for eligible costs to improve health and safety in their operations and help them comply with the OH&S Code that takes effect on December 1, 2018. The program is now open and accepting applications. Eligible applicants may apply for financial support for up to 50 percent of costs for eligible expenses identified in the applicable Funding List. Eligible applicants may submit a maximum of two applications per fiscal year. For more information on eligible applicants and expenses, funding maximums and other terms and conditions, see Downloadable Documents. |
Manufacturing & Tourism
Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) |
| The Capital Investment Tax Credit provides a non-refundable tax credit valued at 10% of a corporation’s eligible capital expenditures, up to $5 million. The CITC encourages companies to make timely capital investments by returning a percentage of the company’s costs, including the purchase of machinery, equipment and buildings, for projects related to manufacturing, processing or tourism infrastructure that will spur economic diversification and job creation. |
The Tourism Growth Innovation Fund (TGIF) |
| The Tourism Growth Innovation Fund is a project-based grant program that aims to support economic growth and improve quality of life in communities across Alberta. TGIF has 2 streams, Destination Development Support and; Product Development Support. |
Accelerated Investment Incentive & Full Expensing for Manufacturers/Processors |
The Government of Canada's 2018 Fall Economic Statement was tabled on November 21, 2018. It proposes the following measures for eligible property:
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Innovation
Alberta Investor Tax Credit (AITC) |
| The Alberta government has invested $90 million towards an Alberta Investor Tax Credit (AITC) to encourage investment in non-traditional sectors with strong job creation potential.The 3-year AITC is applicable across sectors, offering a 30% tax credit to investors who provide capital to Alberta small businesses doing research, development or commercialization of new technology, new products or new processes. It is also applicable to businesses engaged in interactive digital media development, video post-production, digital animation or tourism. |
Alberta Innovates Voucher |
| The Alberta Innovation Voucher and Micro-Voucher programs have been designed to support innovation and creative problem-solving for Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of the programs is to stimulate the development and commercialization of novel technological or business solutions, while generating material risk-weighted returns on investment to the Province of Alberta based on economic, social or environmental metrics. Depending on their needs, eligible companies can apply for funding up to $100,000 to help cover the costs for the purpose of business and technology development. |
Product Demonstration Program |
| The Product Demonstration Program is designed to support innovation and creative problem-solving for Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of the program is to stimulate the development and commercialization of novel technological or business solutions, while generating material risk-weighted returns on investment to the Province of Alberta based on economic, social or environmental metrics. Depending on their needs, eligible companies can apply for funding up to $300,000 to help cover the costs for the purpose of business and technology development. |
Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit |
| The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program uses tax incentives to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development in Canada. |
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) |
| The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) allocates repayable and non-repayable contributions to firms of all sizes across all of Canada's industrial and technology sectors. The program has a budget of $1.26 billion over five years. It consolidates and simplifies the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative, Technology Demonstration Program, Automotive Innovation Fund and Automotive Supplier Innovation Program. As announced in late February 2018, in the federal budget, the Strategic Innovation Fund will now focus its support on larger projects (over $10 million in requested contribution). The SStrategic Innovation Fund's objective is to spur innovation for a better Canada. Specifically, it serves to simplify application processes, accelerate processing, and aid that is more responsive and focused on results. |
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (IDMTC) |
| The Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (IDMTC) offers a 25% refundable tax credit for labour costs associated with interactive digital media (IDM) activities to support growth in the interactive digital media industry, encourage corporations to stay in Alberta, and attract talented tech entrepreneurs to the province. |
Workforce Development Grants
The Canada-Alberta Jobs Grant |
| The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their employee(s) for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees. |
Exports
Alberta Export Expansion Package (AEEP) |
| The Alberta Export Expansion Package creates specifically designed programs to help Alberta businesses expand internationally. The package consists of three programs: The Export Support Fund, the Global Buyers and Investors Program, and the Export Readiness Program. |
CanExport |
| CanExport provides direct financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) registered in Canada to help them develop new export opportunities and markets, especially high-growth emerging markets. |
Export Readiness Voucher |
The Export Readiness Voucher allows Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in expansion into international markets can apply for up to $10,000 to offset the cost to hire a service provider to assist with the development of export related strategies such as:
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SME Export Support Fund |
| The Export Support Fund eases the cost of exporting for Alberta’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by reimbursing up to 50% for a select range of approved export activities, such as registration at select tradeshows, specific travel costs, accommodation in a standard room, and translation of marketing materials. |
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