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.

The Indigenous Partnerships for Species at Risk (IPSAR)
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Sports Support Program - National Multisport Services Organization
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Social and Community Initiatives Support Program (SCISP) – Social Initiatives Component
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Canada Book Fund - Support for Organizations
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries

Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (IFIT) — Business projects
- From $3,000,000 to $3,000,000
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

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

REGI — Targeted Manufacturing Initiative for Northern Ontario
- Up to 33% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Tourism Sprint Program
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Public administration

Hosting Program - International Major Multisport Games (IMMG)
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream
- From $10,000 to $250,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Environmental Damages Fund
- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Educational services
- Public administration

Innovation Scouting Fund
- From $12,000 to $75,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

Call for projects – Technology showcase
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance

Digital Citizen Research Program - Digital Citizen Contribution Program
- Maximum amount : 380,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Northern Canada
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing

RNA Entrepreneurship initiative
- Maximum amount : 80,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Petits établissements accessibles
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Innovation Program — Stream 1 – Support for mobilising projects
- From $4,000,000 to $10
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Local Journalism Initiative - Changing Narratives Fund
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries

Exchanges Canada - Youth Exchanges Canada
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Green Shipping Corridor Program
- No Condition
- Transportation and warehousing

Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) - Component 1 - Support for regional outreach
- From $100,000 to $3,000,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Innovation continuum
- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Aero Montreal — Eco-Responsibility
- No Condition
- Manufacturing

Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
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Exchanges Canada - Youth Forums Canada
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PrairiesCan — Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund in the Prairie provinces
- From $250,000 to $3,000,000
- All industries

Strategic Response Fund (SRF)
- No Condition
- Manufacturing

ÉcoPerformance — Energy management stream
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Utilities

Ontario Creates Book Fund
- From $5,000 to $150,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG)
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Indigenous Languages Program - Indigenous Languages Component - First Nations Languages Funding Model
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Research Training and Talent Development
- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

CRIBIQ — PARTENAR-IA — Industry
- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)

QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC)
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

CRTC — Broadband Fund
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Food self-sufficiency – major investment projects in bio-food companies
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Indigenous Languages Program - Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting
- Maximum amount : 2,500,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Eco-design incentive bonus
- From $5,000 to $60,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Consultation component
- Maximum amount : 21,000 $
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Call for projects Genium360
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Support for commercial arteries — Component 2 – Support for economic development projects
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 65% of project cost
- All industries

Renovation subsidy for retail businesses on Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Retail trade

Rénoclimat
- From $50 to $3,750
- All industries

Project Grant Program
- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) in the Prairie provinces
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

AcceleratiON Program
- From $2,500 to $20,000
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

CED Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative
- No Condition
- Manufacturing

Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREP) – Utility Support Stream
- No Condition
- Utilities

PRIMA — Call for Projects
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Health care and social assistance
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- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries

LogisVert Program — Financial assistance for builders
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Construction

Support for commercial arteries — Component 3 – Support for the operations and projects of a business association and commercial streets
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 65% of project cost
- All industries

Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP)
- Up to 12% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing

VRQ call for projects
- From $20,000 to $50,000
- Up to 27% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

MAPAQ — Prime-Vert — Component 3.1
- Maximum amount : 107,950 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) - Component 4 – Soutien à la vitalisation et à la coopération intermunicipale : Axe Vitalisation
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Celebration and Commemoration Program
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MTL + ECOMMERCE — Digital Accelerator
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure (ZEVIP) — owners and operators
- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Public administration

Research Support Fund
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure (ZEVIP) — Indigenous organizations
- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Utilities
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Other services (except public administration)

Community Action Support Program for Families – Component 1 – Support for the overall mission of community family organizations (CFOs)
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Construction Sector Digitalization and Productivity Challenge program – Call for proposals
- Maximum amount : 850,000 $
- Construction

Youth Initiative to Combat Climate Change - Entrepreneurship and Green Economy
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Healthy Eating Program Stream 1 – Support for the implementation of diagnostic studies
- From $10,000 to $100,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Alberta Innovates — Agriculture & Environment (AE) Program
- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration

EcoAction - Community-led freshwater action across Canada Stream
- From $25,000 to $100,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grains Innovation Fund
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Community Action Support Program for Families – Component 3 – Support for Family Partners
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grant for a circular economy assessment
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Other services (except public administration)

Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)

New Horizons for Seniors Program – Pan-Canadian Stream
- From $1,000,000 to $5,000,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) - Community-Based Projects
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MAPAQ — Prime-Vert — Component 3.2
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
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Social and Community Initiatives Support Program (SCISP) – Community Action and Volunteerism Component
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREP) - Critical Regional Priorities (CRP) Stream
- No Condition
- Public administration

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement in tourism
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Prairie Provinces
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Southern Ontario
- From $125,000 to $1,000,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing

PME MTL — Innovation, productivity, and sustainable development fund
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

APCHQ — Programme de formation Fiers et compétents
- No Condition
- Construction

FAQDD — Reducing air and noise pollution – Component 1
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MAPAQ — Ministerial initiative for the development of greenhouses and large tunnels
- From $10,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Trois-Rivières — Real Estate Heritage Restoration Program
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Real estate and rental and leasing

CALQ — Exploration and Research
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Trois-Rivières — Affordable Housing Development Support Program
- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Health care and social assistance

Trois-Rivières — Redevelopment of the first neighborhoods – Stream 2: Renovation of heritage buildings
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing

Trois-Rivières — Redevelopment of the first neighborhoods – Stream 3: Management and disposal of contaminated soil and dry materials
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Public administration

Community Action Support Program for Families – Component 2 – Support for National and Regional Groups
- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

METHANE REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities

Trois-Rivières — Revitalization of commercial arteries in the city's oldest neighborhoods – Stream 3: Revitalization and development of local businesses
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Justice Partnership and Innovation Program
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

International Technology Pilot and Demonstration Program — Cleantech (Global Markets)
- From $75,000 to $700,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Contributions in support of Indigenous Economic Development
- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown
- Maximum amount : 37,500 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

FAQDD — Reducing air and noise pollution – Component 2
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Study: Community Energy Systems
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration

Community Action Support Program for Families – Component 4 – One-time Support for Innovative Projects
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration