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.

Efficiency Nova Scotia — Agriculture Program
Efficiency Nova Scotia- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Small Cidery Program
Agricorp- Maximum amount : 220,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Program for financial contributions to the ecological transition
City of Montreal (MTL)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole — FLI/FLS
Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Rain Ready Ottawa
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PISAQ – Stream 2
Gouvernement du Québec- From $2,000 to $30,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
Beach Infrastructure Program
Government of PEI- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

PacifiCan — Lytton Business Restart Program
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Retail trade
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

SOCAN — Work Commissioning Assistance
SOCAN Foundation- From $1,000 to $3,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Lead Pipe Replacement Program
City of Ottawa- No Condition
- All industries

Agriculture Research and Innovation — Agriculture Technology Advancement
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 80 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Supported Employment
Ministry of Colleges and Universities- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Arts Funding Program - Operating Grants
Capital Regional District- No Condition
- All industries

Advancing Canada’s Engagement in Horizon Europe
Mitacs- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

PrairiesCan — Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- No Condition
- Utilities

Rural Association Partnership Program
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 7,500 $
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI)
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Alberta Innovates — Commercialization Associates Program
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 120,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Communities and Artists Shifting Culture
City of Vancouver- From $2,500 to $15,000
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

CALQ — Promotion and awareness-raising
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

AFA — Art Acquisitions by Application
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Indigenous Relations Office Sponsorships
City of Edmonton- No Condition
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Program to support the fight against climate change in the bio-food sector – Component B
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $57,142 to $330,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Rural Economic Development (RED) program
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries
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First Nation Infrastructure Fund (FNIF)
Indigenous Services Canada- Up to 10% of project cost
- Public administration

Social economy support program (PSES) – Stream 1: Specialized support for social economy enterprises
Social Economy Cluster — Central Quebec- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Cranberry Industry Development Program (CIDP)
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 45,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

PrairiesCan — Francophone economic development in the Prairie provinces
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- No Condition
- All industries

Cultural Operating Funding (COF)
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

District of Sicamous Community Service Grant
Shuswap Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

MRC Caniapiscau — Structuring projects
MRC de Caniapiscau- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

MEDTEQ+ — Impact
Consortium de recherche et d’innovation en technologies médicales du Québec- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

City of Salmon Arm Grants-in-Aid Program
Shuswap Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Cultural Equity and Accessibility Funding (CEAF)
City of Vancouver- From $15,000 to $40,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Ministerial initiative for the remuneration of agri-environmental practices (RPA)
La Financière agricole (FADQ)- From $1,500 to $50,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)
Government of Ontario- No Condition
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing

Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta - Community Impact Award
Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta- No Condition
- All industries

RDAR — Accelerating Agricultural Innovations 2.0
Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR)- Up to 60% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Territorial and sectoral development program — Stream 2.1
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $5,000 to $250,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

OAC — Exhibition Assistance
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- From $500 to $2,000
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Neighbourhood Matching Fund
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- All industries

Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta - WestMET Community Grant Fund
Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta- Maximum amount : 35,760 $
- All industries

Crop and Livestock Sector Development (CLSD)
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Regional Innovation Ecosystems — ACOA
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- No Condition
- All industries

Cultural Indigenous Funding (CIF)
City of Vancouver- From $15,000 to $40,000
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Operating Grant Program
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Canada Periodical Fund - Business Innovation
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Unpuzzling: Greening Your Food Manufacturing Operation (Atlantic Companies Only)
Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing

NGen — Cluster Accelerator Program
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 150% of project cost
- Manufacturing
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Civil Forfeiture Grant Program - Anti-hate stream
British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Help for community media operations
Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC)- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MyPG Community Grant
City of Prince George- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Adaptation Canada 2026 Opportunity
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)- No Condition
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Manitoba Mineral Development Fund
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Community Workforce Response Grant — Workforce Shortages Stream
Government of British Columbia- From $15,000 to $300,000
- All industries

Community Interaction Program — Awareness-raising
Government of Canada- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)

Partnered Initiatives
Pacific Salmon Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Continental Defense and Security Technologies
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- Maximum amount : 2,300,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration

ARBJ — Business start-up, expansion and succession program (PDERE)
Administration régionale Baie-James (ARBJ)- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- All industries

The Joyce Family Foundation
The Joyce Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Calgary Flames Foundation - Inclusion Program
Flames Foundation for Life- No Condition
- All industries

Self-Employment Benefit — Workforce Expansion
Government of New Brunswick- No Condition
- All industries

Community Initiatives Program (CIP) - Operating Grant
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

AFA — Organization Activation Projects Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Innov'Action agroalimentaire Program
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Toronto — Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program
City of Toronto- From $2,500 to $12,500
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

CQRDA — SI2TEC
Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

OAC — Media Arts Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Manitoba — Research and Innovation
Government of Manitoba- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Slate Development
Creative BC- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Apprenticeship START
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Community Initiatives Program (CIP) - Project Based
Government of Alberta- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Manitoba Accessibility Fund
Government of Manitoba- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

Alberta Community Partnership (ACP)
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Public administration
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Business Assistance — Immigrant Investor Program
Investissement Québec (IQ)- Up to 10% of project cost
- All industries

Lab Services Incentive Program (LSIP)
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Grant for Nunavut Employers
Government of Nunavut- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Information and cultural industries
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

Community Culture Grants - Community Public Art Grant Program
City of Red Deer- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

ivari's Healthy Steps Program
Transamerica Life Canada- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Call for Proposals: Improving Access to Primary Care for Vulnerable Communities in Quebec
The Trottier Family Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Poultry Biosecurity Preparedness Initiative (PBPI)
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Cultural Heritage Initiatives Program
Government of Alberta- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PEI — Business Development Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- No Condition
- All industries

Crabtree Foundation
The Harold Crabtree Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Quebec Housing Industry Development Program (PADIQH)
Quebec Housing Society (SHQ)- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 66.67% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

PAC and DPAC Grants - for Parent Advisory Councils
British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch- No Condition
- All industries

True Patriot Love Foundation - Military Creative Arts Fund
True Patriot Love Foundation for Support of Military Families- No Condition
- All industries

Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Infrastructure
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

PEI Arts Grants Funding
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 8,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

The Heritage Community Improvement Plan Program
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

True Patriot Love Foundation - Bell True Patriot Love Fund
True Patriot Love Foundation for Support of Military Families- From $5,000 to $75,000
- All industries

Other Initiatives Program (OIP)
Government of Alberta- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

InnoFood — Food innovations for a sustainable future
Consortium de recherche et d'innovations en bioprocédés industriels au Québec (CRIBIQ)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Participant Funding Program
Government of Canada- No Condition
- All industries

Alberta Innovates — Micro Voucher Program
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Quebec Fisheries Fund — Innovation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF)
Government of British Columbia- From $100,000 to $10,000,000
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Local Supplier Food Safety Support Pilot Program
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade

Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG)
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries