Business Financing in Canada
Funding is a crucial element for any business looking to start, grow, or innovate. In addition to traditional options such as bank loans or relying on investors, there is a frequently underestimated alternative: grants. This detailed guide explores the various sources of grants available, as well as the financial services and sustainable funding strategies for businesses in Canada. By following the outlined steps, entrepreneurs can identify grants suited to their projects, whether they are government programs, innovation funds, or initiatives specifically targeting certain sectors. Grants are an advantageous solution, often non-repayable, allowing businesses to fund their projects without resorting to debt.

MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE)
- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Alberta Agricultural Societies Program
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Attractions, activities, and amenities
- From $30,000 to $95,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Genome British Columbia — Societal Issues Competition
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

MRC L'Islet — SME Propulsion Measurement
- From $3,000 to $25,000
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Accommodation and food services

Évolution-Compétences — Call for projects Parcours Exploration
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

APCHQ — Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
- No Condition
- Construction
- Finance and insurance
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Health care and social assistance

MRC Bellechasse — Social Economy Enterprise Development Fund (FDEÉS)
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

IP financing - Full members of IAC
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII) in the Prairie Provinces
- From $200,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing

MRC Beaharnois-Salaberry — Propulsion Funds
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Support Program for Events and Festivals
- From $500 to $5,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Regions and Rurality Fund – Component 3 – Market Gardening Program
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Fjord-du-Saguenay — Development Optimisation Fund
- From $2,000 to $3,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade

Sustainable Growth Investment — Growth Support
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Support program for the development of reserved designations and promotional terms — Component 2
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Caniapiscau — FDE
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Matane — Green Fund Program
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

True North
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Transportez vert — Coaching for energy management
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

MRC Beaharnois-Salaberry — Company succession
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Canada’s Next Sustainable Changemaker Challenge
- No Condition
- Utilities
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Financial assistance to promote food security in northern communities
- Maximum amount : 275,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Portneuf — Support Fund for Structuring Projects
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

MAPAQ — Prime-Vert — Component 3.3
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
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MRC L'Islet — Measures to help develop places in educational childcare services in a family environment
- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Novoclimat — Construction professionals — Big Multiple Unit Buildings
- No Condition
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing

- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

SODEXPORT — Component 3: Collective presence at markets and fairs, and other export activities
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Strategic Science Fund (SSF)
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

MRC Les Appalaches — Water quality improvement fund
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Musicaction — National marketing – Stream 1 - Promotion
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Tourism Innovation Program — Stream 3 - Networking with regional innovation organisations
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Maskinongé — Futurpreneur Canada
- No Condition
- All industries

Support program for economic development projects (PAPDE) — Component 1 : Supporting the development of entrepreneurship
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- All industries

SODEC — Support for innovative initiatives
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

MRC Joliette — Business Assistance Fund (FAE) – Stream 3
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Marguerite-D'Youville — Business Support Fund – Stream 2
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

PROMPT — GHG reduction – Academic component
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

MRC Portneuf — Capitale-Nationale Region Fund (FRCN)
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Media Artists Program : Creation
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Call for artists - creating artworks with residents of Villeray
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Beauce-Centre — Labor fund
- From $3,500 to $5,000
- Manufacturing

MRC La Jacques-Cartier — Capitale-Nationale Region Fund
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services

Sustainable Development Support Program for Mining Sector Companies — Stream C
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Cultural Development Fund
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Saguenay Promotion — FRR – Business Support
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Développement Vaudreuil-Soulanges — FDEÉS
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative - Indigenous stream
- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
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MRC Charlevoix-Est — Intercultural Projects
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Témiscouata — Signature Innovation Fund - Component 3 - Rurality and Region Fund
- Maximum amount : 218,798 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — Emergence Fund
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

MRC de Rivière-du-Loup — FRR – Stream 3: Signature innovation - renewable energies
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC L'Islet — Financial assistance program for the restoration of buildings of heritage interest
- From $3,000 to $30,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- All industries

Community Organization Assistance Program (PAOC) – Support for projects
- Maximum amount : 80,000 $
- Up to 95% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Sept-Rivières — Support for entrepreneurship (SE)
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Collines-de-l'Outaouais — Festivals and Events Support Fund (FSÉF) – Component 1
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Fund to stimulate international business tourism – Stream 1 - Produce a bid book or business plan
- From $5,000 to $200,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Impulse-Skills program
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

SODEC — Assistance for businesses in the arts and crafts sector — Stream 2
- From $5,000 to $10,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Black Arts Projects
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support for food processing companies
- Maximum amount : 12,800 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing

MRC de Mékinac — FRR Stream 4
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Nicolet-Yamaska — Regional development fund (FRR volet 2)
- No Condition
- All industries

MRC de D’Autray — Business Development Program
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Beaharnois-Salaberry — Rio Tinto Alcan Diversification Fund
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- All industries

Digital Museums Canada — Digital Projects
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC L'Islet — Support fund for creative caravans
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Policy Dialogue Program
- No Condition
- Public administration

Indigenous Justice Program - The Capacity-Building Fund
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Canadian Semiconductor R&D Partnering Delegation to France
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

innovÉÉ — Primo-adoptants
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Creating, Knowing and Sharing — Short-Term Projects
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Supporting youth employment centers
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
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MRC Marguerite-D'Youville — Business Support Fund – Stream 3
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

Musicaction — Title production and promotion
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Portneuf — Young Leaders Fund of the Portneuf Region
- Maximum amount : 500 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grants for women entrepreneurs
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Health care and social assistance

MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for structuring projects (PSPS)
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

Call for projects showcasing Sherbrooke’s intangible heritage
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Brome-Missisquoi — The Brome-Missisquoi Pact 2025
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

MRC Arthabaska — Social Economy Business Development Fund (FDEÉS)
- No Condition
- Manufacturing

FAQDD — Sustainable destination and concerted action — Component 2 - Support for the implementation of projects arising from a participative and concerted approach within the destination to promote responsible, sustainable tourism adapted to the context of climate change
- No Condition
- All industries

MRC L'Islet — Fund to help architectural design companies conquer new markets
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Subsidy for companies to install electric charging stations
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

PME MTL — Business Diversity Support Program for the Southwest
- From $10,000 to $20,000
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Bellechasse — Support for initiatives from rural areas (AIMR)
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

MRC de Montcalm — New Entrepreneur Fund
- Maximum amount : 14,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC L'Islet — Local Services Development Fund
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges — Fonds de développement des communautés (FDC)
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

MRC La Matanie — Community Development Program - Special Collaborations Stream
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) - Component 2 - Support for local and regional development skills
- No Condition
- All industries

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 1
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

AgriInvest
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Assistance program for venues
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials
- From $500 to $1,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Biofood market development program — Component 1
- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Bécancour — Social Economy Fund (SEF)
- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Business Support
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries