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.

Accelerating the local climate transition - Component 1

My Digital Success

Quebec Initiative for Construction 4.0 — Stream 2

SIF — Collaborations and Networks projects

Arts Abroad — Circulation and Touring

Aboriginal Business Financing Program - Private Project


Starter Company Plus

CanExport Innovation

Regional Development Program — Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC)

CED — Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative

Artificial Intelligence for Canadian Energy Innovation

LTI³ Project

Economic Development & Growth in Employment (EDGE) Incentive Program

Call for collaborative and structuring innovation projects in Quebec's strategic sectors

Innovative Projects Program

Textile circularity support program

Forest Innovation Program


Technoclimat

Support program for positioning Quebec alcohol in the SAQ network

NovaScience Program — Support for employment in research and innovation

Funding for customized AI training

Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Canada’s Health Systems Program

ÉcoPerformance — Standard Implementation stream
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Novoclimat — Construction professionals — Small Multiple-Unit Buildings

Canada Cultural Investment Fund - Endowment Incentives

Capital project: Community Energy Systems

Enbridge Gas Quebec — Custom-made project

Indigenous Intellectual Property Program (IIPP) — Project Stream

Advancing Accessibility Standards Research

Biofood Innovation Program Component 2 – Applied research, experimental development and technological adaptation

Healthy Eating Program Component 2 – Support for the development and modification of the nutritional value of processed foods

AgriInsurance

Energir — Energy efficiency program - Efficient construction

African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP) - Prevention and Preparedness Stream

Canada Council for the Arts —

AgroPerformance – Stream 2 : Support for specific agricultural sectors in adopting priority equipment

Energir — Energy efficiency program – Implementation of efficiency measures

ISDE — Advanced technologies for open-source intelligence due diligence

Energir — Energy efficiency program – Feasibility study

Program to support research and development of products made from reused and recycled end-of-life tires

Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund - Indigenous Capacity Support

International Climate Cooperation Program (ICCP)

SODEC — Support for promotion and distribution – Component 1b

FABconstruction – Stream 2 : Support for productivity enhancement

FAQDD — Action-Climat Quebec

Youth Take Charge

Community Resilience Fund (CRF)

FABconstruction – Stream 1 : Business process analysis and action plan
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Qualifying training in the workplace

Support for music and variety companies — Component 2: Support for management activities and Component 3: Para-industrial sector - Project support

Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario


Renewable Natural Gas Production Support Program — Stream 1

EnAbling Change Program

FedNor Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative

Financial Assistance Program for the Promotion of French – Stream 1

Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 3

Financial Assistance Program for the Promotion of French – stream 2

Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund

MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Industry

Hosting Program - International Single Sport Events (ISSE)

Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores

REGI — Business Scale-up and Productivity — CED (QC) — Not-for-profit

Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund - Regulatory Policy Dialogue

Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund - Engagement and Collaboration Support

Development program — Black and People of Colour stream

REGI — Jobs and Growth Fund — CED (QC) — For profit

Greater Montreal Climate Fund — 2025-2026 Call for projects

Social Economy Support Fund

Visées program — Training

Financial support to assess your energy use Hydro Quebec

Private sector support program for the deployment of public fast charging stations

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Business project grants
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CQRDA — INNOV-R SME

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) – Atlantic Canada

FedNor — Regional Tariff Response Initiative

Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 1

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Quebec

Call for innovation projects in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies – collaborative industrial research and support for entrepreneurship

Wood Innovation Program — Component 2

Wood Innovation Program - component 1

Magazine — Aid to Publishers


Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream


Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program — Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting

Production program — French market budgets $3.5M+

Canada Periodical Fund — Business Innovation

Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP)

Production program — Indigenous stream

Global Market Development Fund — Film and Television

Universal Broadband Fund (UBF)

Global Market Development — IDM Fund

Indigenous Forestry Initiative

Global Market Development for Music Managers

Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration Program

Global Market Development Fund – Book
