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.

Economic Development Initiative in southern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- All industries

Celebration and Commemoration Program - Celebrate Canada
Department of Canadian Heritage, Celebrate Canada- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Children and Youth Grants
City of North Vancouver- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP)
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Pay It Forward (PIF) Muskoka Program
District Municipality of Muskoka- Maximum amount : 2,500 $
- All industries

Quebec Fisheries Fund — Science partnerships
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

First Peoples Economic Growth Fund – Skills Development Program
First Peoples Economic Growth Fund Inc. (FPEGF)- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Management of companies and enterprises
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

AgriStability — British Columbia
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Community Investment Program - Small Capital Fund
Region of Peel- No Condition
- All industries

Fondation Ellipse
PMT ROY Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

ID Gatineau - Business Support Fund
City of Gatineau- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Upside Down Tree
The Upside Down Tree Inc.- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

Kosher and Halal Investment Program
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Commemorative Partnership Program - Community Engagement
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)- Maximum amount : 50 $
- All industries

Veterinary Incentive Program (VIP)
Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Community Climate Action Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Community Investment Program - Food Security Fund
Region of Peel- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

CED Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative — Indigenous stream
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- No Condition
- Manufacturing

Community Investment Program - B3 Fund
Region of Peel- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- All industries

Reaching Each and Every One
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association- From $2,500 to $25,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative : Stream 1 – Agri-Tech Innovation
Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC)- Maximum amount : 49,999 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

AFA — Music Individual Project Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Manitoba — Incoming Buyer Program
Government of Manitoba- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Wholesale trade

Unsmoke Canada Cleanups
The Great Outdoors Fund- From $5,000 to $10,000
- All industries
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Childcare Program Development Grants
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

CMF-Quebecor — Fund Intellectual Properties Intended for International Markets Production Support Program
Canada Media Fund (CMF)- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 6% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Greening Canada's School Grounds
Tree Canada- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Educational services

Treemendous Communities Program
Tree Canada- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Public administration

Community Social Investment Program - Sustainable Food Security Fund
Regional Municipality of Durham- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Community Engagement Grants
Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program- Maximum amount : 1,000 $
- All industries

Marketing Support Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 16,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

My Great Neighbourhood Grant
City of Victoria- From $1,500 to $7,500
- All industries

Non-profit SMART Grants
Columbia Basin Trust- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries

Disaster Financial Assistance Program — Small Business
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- All industries

Coast Funds Economic Development Fund
Coast Funds- No Condition
- All industries

- From $200 to $1,000
- All industries

Call for Ideas
JustChange- Maximum amount : 1,000 $
- All industries

OAC — Music Creation Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada - Conference and Event Awards
Prostate Cancer Foundation BC (PROCURE)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

NBIF Innovation Voucher
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)- From $10,000 to $80,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Water Program — On-farm water supply
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Innovation and Business Development Fund
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities

MRC Thérèse de Blainville — Business start-up fund
MRC Thérèse de Blainville- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

Homelessness Services Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) in the Prairie provinces
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada - Grant-in-Aid / Research Awards Program
Prostate Cancer Foundation BC (PROCURE)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

MRC Collines-de-l'Outaouais — FRR Stream 1
MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

CHOICES Workplace Safety Incentive Program
Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Fund
Columbia Basin Trust- No Condition
- All industries
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MAPAQ — Ministerial Initiative for Plant Productivity
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Up to 45% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Enbridge Gas Quebec — Cash incentives – Smart Thermostat
Enbridge Gas Quebec- Maximum amount : 100 $
- Utilities

- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Early Childhood Educator Training Wage Program
Columbia Basin Trust- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- All industries

Strategic Operating Grant Program
Arthritis Society Canada- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Ignite Innovation Grants Program
Arthritis Society Canada- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance

Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North — Not-For-Profit
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)- No Condition
- All industries

Organization Grants
Alexandra Foundation for Neighbourhood Houses- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Indigenous Innovation Initiative
Grand Challenges Canada- From $100,000 to $250,000
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

PEI —Workplace Skills Training
Government of Prince Edward Island- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program – Stream 3
Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF)- From $20,000 to $200,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Discovery Award
The Banting Research Foundation- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Environmental Trust Fund
New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government- No Condition
- All industries

Biofood Innovation Program Component 1 – Financial support for research, transfer and dissemination organizations
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- Maximum amount : 3,500,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Zero Emission Transit Fund
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada- Up to 80% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Together CK - Core Grant Program
Municipality of Chatham-Kent- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Enbridge Gas Quebec — Cash incentives – Fryer Energy Star
Enbridge Gas Quebec- Maximum amount : 950 $
- Accommodation and food services

Kakivak Association — Sivummut Grants to Small Businesses
Kakivak Association- Up to 81% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

Arts et lettres de Montréal - Territorial partnership - Ecoresponsibility and sharing
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Werklund Foundation
Werklund Family Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Affordable Housing Initiative
Columbia Basin Trust- No Condition
- All industries

Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations
City of Edmonton- From $2,500 to $50,000
- All industries

Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant (AMPG)
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

ventureLAB — Accelerate AI
ventureLAB- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries
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MRC Brome-Missisquoi — Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) program
MRC Brome-Missisquoi- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls+ Community Response Fund
Saskatchewan First Nations, Métis and Northern Initiatives- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- All industries

Theatre Rental Grant Program
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Enabling Accessibility Fund - Enabling Accessibility Fund for small projects component
HRSDC; Employment and Social Development Canada- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- All industries

First Peoples' Cultural Council - Cultural Practices Grant
First Peoples' Cultural Foundation- From $10,000 to $25,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Contaminated Sites On-Reserve program
Government of Canada- No Condition
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Educational services
- Public administration

OAC — Multi and Inter-Arts Organizations: Operating
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Tim Hortons — Smile Cookie
Tim Hortons- Up to 100% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

EPRTNT — Digital development of a company
Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est- From $10,000 to $30,000
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Québec Research Fund - Health Sector (FRQS)
Québec Research Fund- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Community Emergency Preparedness Grant
Ontario Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response- No Condition
- All industries

First Peoples' Cultural Council - Arts Vitality Grant
First Peoples' Cultural Foundation- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Canada–UK 2023-24 critical minerals sustainability and circularity
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing

Toronto Circular Food Innovators Fund
City of Toronto- From $5,000 to $35,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Joan Feynman Climate Change Fund
Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

EPRTNT — Festivals and events
Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est- From $50,000 to $35,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP)
Government of Alberta- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Program
Government of Alberta- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

OAC — Literature – French-language projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Good Foundation Inc.
The Milton R. Good Family Foundation- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Northern Isolated Community Initiatives (NICI) Fund
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

AgriScience Program — Projects — for-profit organizations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program (FNECP)
Indigenous Services Canada- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Children's Hospital Aid Society
MRC de Bellechasse- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Capital Project Grants - Social Policy - Childcare Small Capital Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Health care and social assistance