This Alberta grants guide can help small businesses find funding applications that can help them start, manage, and grow their businesses, including local Edmonton grants and minority-focused and Indigenous grants. From third-party funding like Alberta Innovates to government grants like the Canada-Alberta job grant, you can find the funding you need for your business to succeed.
For more information on other provincial grants, read our Guide to Small Business Grants in Canada.
In order to be eligible for government grants Alberta and third-party support service programs, businesses must check specific criteria. Almost all grants must require the eligible businesses to possess a business license. Therefore, ensure you have registered your business name in Canada.
Generally, small businesses applying for Alberta grants should have the following ready when submitting applications:
Small business resources on the Government of Alberta’s website can help you determine the full range of documentation you will need for small business grants in Alberta.
Many of the business support programs provide a non-repayable allotment, however, some small business loans require the grant winner to pay back a percentage of the funds, so it’s important to understand the financial requirements when financial planning.
When it comes to government and third-party grants, there are a variety of eligible applicants. Many of these grant types stipulate that small businesses, or small to medium enterprises (SEM), structured as a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation, can apply. These grants are sometimes divided into for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, and industry-related and community-based.
Alberta Innovates is an organization that supports businesses within the Alberta province, providing funds for research, economic growth, and new technology. Their grant programs offer funding for a variety of industry types and business tasks.
The Alberta Innovation Voucher and Micro-Voucher programs were designed to “support innovation and creative problem-solving for Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).” The goal is to spur the development and commercialization of new technology or business solutions and generate “material risk-weighted returns on investment to the Province of Alberta based on economic, social or environmental metrics.”
If your business fits the eligibility guidelines, you can apply for $10,000 up to $100,000 based on your business needs.
For vouchers: Vouchers support technologies in the “mid-to-late developmental stages but may include some early developmental stages.” The aim is to fund SMEs that collaborate with up to three service or product providers and advance their technologies closer to commercialization.
For micro-vouchers: The Micro Voucher Program encourages “high potential, high growth Small/Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”) with novel, promising technologies, strong management, and a reasonably identified product/market fit” to accelerate the commercialization of new products.
Complete your application on their website through the online application portal.
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a government funding program that aims to provide funds to employers for hiring and training other Albertans. A business owner that is an employer can apply for funding to receive a grant that will cover the cost of training current and/ or future employees for necessary business roles.
Funding is provided to approved employers through the Workforce Development Agreement made by the Government of Canada.
Employers must contribute a minimum of one-third of the total training costs for their existing employees. The government will provide the remaining two-thirds of the cost, up to a maximum of $10,000, per trainee per fiscal year.
If the employer aims to hire and train unemployed Albertan workers, then this government grant can cover the total cost, or 100% of the training costs, up to $15,000 per trainee.
There is, however, a cap, with a maximum of $300,000 given to any individual employer per fiscal year.
Eligible individuals are divided into employers and trainees when it comes to this government funding. The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is available to:
In order to be eligible as a trainee, they must be one of the following:
Finally, both employers and trainees must live within Alberta.
The grant applicant guide can help you throughout the application process, which can be started on the Labour’s Workforce Grants Portal. The government recommends all applications be submitted at least 30 days before the start date of the training.
The Alberta Export Expansion Program offers to fund export-ready businesses and non-profits looking to expand into international markets and attract global buyers to Alberta. Alberta entrepreneurs can obtain this funding in the form of a reimbursement that covers applicable business expenses spanning international travel, including accommodations, airfare, inter-city ground travel, trade shows and event fees, interpretive and translation services, and conference room spaces.
Approved parties will receive a grant reimbursement between $1,000 and $25,000 per year to cover the cost of approved business expenses. For-profit companies are entitled to a reimbursement of up to 50% on eligible costs, while a non-profit organization can receive up to 75% back.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), municipalities, industry associations, Indigenous communities, and economic development entities promoting Alberta exports through enticing international buyers to Alberta or promoting outbound international business are entitled to this program.
For-profit businesses must possess annual sales between $50,000 and $25 million, have at least one full-time employee in Alberta, be an incorporated legal entity, operate within Alberta with a permanent establishment, have a complete application form, and present a well-thought-out market entry plan.
That being said, only Albertan SMEs that operate within the following industries can apply:
All eligible small and medium enterprises can apply for this program by creating a user account on the government site and submitting all relevant documentation there.
The Edmonton Individual Business Grant offers two forms of funding for businesses that have suffered a loss of revenue due to COVID-19:
In either case, the Local Economic Conditions Component and the Restrictions Exemption Program Component both provide a one-ff micro-grant of $1000 for eligible businesses.
Only those businesses that possess the following criteria can apply for and receive funding through this program:
Must be considered an in-scope business as dictated by the Restrictions Exemption Program to apply for the Restrictions Exemption Program Component of the Individual Business Grant
Therefore, only Edmonton-based companies will be approved for these Edmonton grants.
Start your application on the Edmonton site portal.
The Alberta Media Fund (AMF) covers multiple business support programs that offer a variety of funding opportunities for the Albertan cultural industry.
These Alberta Media Fund programs are meant to promote the economic development of the art industry, create jobs, grow national and international interest, support Alberta-made content, and attract media outlets to the Alberta area.
Alberta entrepreneurs, organizations, or businesses involved in the creation and promotion of media activities, including screen-based productions, digital media, scriptwriting, book and magazine publishing, and sound recording can apply for these four grants. In all cases, the applicant must be an Albertan resident.
Head over to the Alberta government website to start your application for the above grants in the new year.
The Albertan Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is a federal-provincial-territorial investment in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. The Government of Canada awards funds to each province to help develop economic and investment growth within the agricultural sector.
The CAP grant offers eligible businesses funding through multiple grant programs.
Both the Efficient Grain Handling Grant and the Farm Technology grant guidelines state that eligible businesses must operate in Alberta and be responsible for input costs, agricultural crops, or livestock production of at least $25,000 worth of farm commodities each year. Landlords of the farmland do not count. Businesses must also have either a current Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Certificate or a letter of completion from an EFP technician or are currently working towards the certification before the end of the project term.
The Emerging Opportunities Grant and the Market Assurance Grant are open to registered businesses in Alberta that operate out of the province and fall under one of the eligible agricultural categories of food processors or agri-processors, industry organizations, primary producers, or Indian bands.
Finally, small, medium and large-sized businesses operating out of Alberta can apply for one of two Water Grants. Applicants applying for the on-farm irrigation projects are eligible if they produce at least $25,000 in farm commodities annually, own an irrigated agricultural operation in the province, and have not been previously approved from the former CAP programs. Applicants can apply for the on-farm water supply projects if they produce at least $10,000 in farm commodities a year and are liable to pay Alberta income tax or corporate tax on income from the production of farm commodities.
Depending on the Alberta government grants you are applying for, you will need to contact different departments to start the process.
To start the application process for the Efficient Grain Handling grant, complete the Application Form, and forward the complete form with all other applicable documents to cap.egdp@gov.ab.ca.
To apply for the Emerging Opportunities grant, you will need to contact the program office, AF.AG-GRANTS@gov.ab.ca, to discuss the process.
Ensure you cover all Farm Technology Program Terms and Conditions when applying for this grant, and then send all forms and documentation to cap.farmtech@gov.ab.ca.
For the Market Assurance grant, fill in the Application Form and submit the form and all other documentation to CAP.PublicTrust@gov.ab.ca.
For the on-farm irrigation water grant, contact AF.IrrigationEfficiency@gov.ab.ca to apply. For the on-farm water supply project, contact FarmWaterSupply@gov.ab.ca to start the application process.
The Métis Entrepreneurs’ Assistance Program (MEAP) offers equity assistance for startups and the expansion of small businesses owned by Métis, Inuit or Non-Status individuals in western Canada.
This MEAP grant is a non-repayable grant that can cover 30% of the cost of your project, with a maximum contribution of $99,999. That being said, applicants must provide 10% of the project’s total cost, with the remaining 60% coming from a third-party business loan provider.
Applicants must be Alberta residents with a business located in the province and are either Métis, Inuit or Non-Status individuals. You must have a minimum of 6 months of experience within the industry you are starting your business in as applicable projects must be a start-up or expansion of an established business. The business must possess an income generation of at least $20,000 annually and the total project must exceed $20,000.
To apply, download and complete the MEAP (Métis Entrepreneurs’ Assistance Program) application form. Send the completed application, and all applicable documents, including a copy of your Métis card to info@apeetogosan.ab.ca.
The Status Entrepreneur Assistance Program (SEAP) provides equity assistance for a start-up or the expansion of a small business for Status individuals. This is a non-repayable grant meant to mitigate the borrowing amount of status individuals from financial institutions.
Like the MEAP grant, this SEAP grant provides a maximum amount of $99,999 to cover up to 30% of a business’s start-up or expansion costs.
Albertan residents with a business located in the province can apply. The applicant must be a status individual and have a minimum of 6 months of experience within the industry their business is starting in and it must generate an annual income of at least $20,000. The project must exceed $20,000 and the applicant must obtain financing through a commercial lender for the remainder of the project costs.
Download the application form and apply directly on the AIIC website.
The Targeted Wage Subsidy (TWS), put on by Treaty Seven, provides funding to businesses and employers that are willing to hire First Nations individuals who lack the necessary work experience and skills required for the job. The aim is for these First Nations individuals to become full-time employees through the help of funding, and once the funding is complete, they will keep their positions within the business. The wage subsidy cannot exceed 12 weeks (3 months) in duration.
The TWS subsidy ensures the employer will receive a reimbursement of a percentage of the wages of the hired individual on a monthly basis. The maximum amount allowed is either $10.00 per hour or 50% of the total wages- whichever is the lesser amount.
Eligibility for this funding is divided into eligible employees and eligible employers. First Nations individuals applying as an employee must be unemployed, possess marketable skills but have been unsuccessful in finding employment, and be able to work full-time. Persons with disabilities are eligible for part-time positions.
Eligible employers must agree to provide work experience to those who might not otherwise be considered for employment in the absence of the wage subsidy. The employer must have the intent to hire the individual on a full-time basis once the TWS funding comes to an end. The employer cannot lay off an existing position to make room for this TWS role and they cannot hire immediate family members for the position.
Apprenticeship training for new and existing employees is not eligible for this wage subsidy program.
Employers can apply for the Wage Subsidy Program by requesting an Employer Wage Subsidy Application form from one of the Urban Indigenous Employment Centres. Once complete, a Career Counsellor from the Centre will forward your application package to CFT7 for a funding decision.
Start the application process through Calgary’s Aboriginal Futures Career and Training Centre or the Medicine Hat and Lethbridge Aboriginal Employment and Training Association.
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