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.

innovÉÉ — PSO

Taxi Industry Modernization Support Program (PSMITT)

Northern Ontario Development Program — Community Economic Development

MRC de Mékinac — FRR Stream 2

MRC Deux-Montagnes — Regional and Rural Fund (FRR) – Stream 3
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

innovÉÉ — SI2TEC

MRC de Rivière-du-Loup — FRR – Stream 3: Signature innovation - renewable energies

Accès-Loisirs

MRC Charlevoix — Support Fund for Start-up and Expansion

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Festivals and events

MRC L’Île-d’Orléans — Support for Structuring Projects

Genomic Innovations: Energy and Environmental Solutions

Diagnostic Program and Improvement Projects for Northern SMEs

APCHQ — Federal Lands Initiative

MRC La Matanie — Community Development Program - Special Collaborations Stream

Xecs – electronic components and systems Call 5 call for proposals

MRC Beauce-Centre — Créavenir

Quebec Affordable Housing Program (QAHP)

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Structuring the regional tourism offering


MRC Les Moulins — Futurpreneur Canada

PADAAR — Measure 4075 – On-farm or indoor demonstrations

Parliamentary District Policing Program

Home Renovation Savings Program

Community Organization Assistance Program (PAOC) – Support for the Overall Mission
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Financial assistance: businesses in areas affected by major construction work

National Acadian Day funding

Peak Perks

MRC Marguerite-D'Youville — Business Support Fund – Stream 4

Digital Shift Support Fund

RCM de la Mitis — Component 4 : Support for revitalization and intermunicipal cooperation

Défi-Québec, Commercial City

CoolSaver Program

Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women (AIG-W)

Recreational access for people with functional limitations

Genome British Columbia — Genomics Innovation Fund – Intake 002

IP financing - Associate members of CAI

MRC La Jacques-Cartier — Social economy enterprise development fund

Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Accommodation

RCM de la Mitis — Fonds « Développement La Mitis »


Programme d’habitation abordable Québec - Volet 3 : Initiative de multilogements hautement préfabriqués

Saguenay Promotion — FRR – Business Support

The Quantum Technologies innovation funding program

FedNor — Economic Development Initiative (EDI)

CQRDA — PSO-v2A

MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent — Support Fund for Structuring Projects (FSPS)

Cultural Spaces Grant Program - Critical Capital Assistance Capital Grants

Business Growth — Growth support vouchers

Rail Transportation Infrastructure and Modal Integration Support Program – Part 2 – Modal Integration
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MRC Maskinongé — Young Entrepreneurs

Nordic Incubator-Accelerator — Stream 2 — Financial Assistance

Podium Manufacturier

MRC Collines-de-l'Outaouais — FRR Stream 3

Small Business Program

PADAAR — Measure 4078 – Support for membership of a cooperative for the use of agricultural equipment (CUMA) and a cooperative for the replacement of agricultural labor

MRC Marguerite-D'Youville — FRR – Stream 2

MRC Papineau — Digital Transformation and Development Fund (FADN)


First Nations Waste Management Initiative

MRC Papineau — New Entrepreneur Fund (FNE)

Laval — Regional and Rural Fund (FRR) – Stream 2

MRC de Rivière-du-Loup — FRR – Stream 2: Support for structuring projects to improve living environments

EPRTNT — Attractions, activities and facilities

Programme d’habitation abordable Québec - Volet 4 : Projets par les développeurs qualifiés pour ménages à revenu faible ou modeste

CleanBC — Custom Program

PME MTL — New Community Businesses


Ambition-Compétences — Green Economy and Digital Transformation

OAC — Visual Artists Creation Projects

Accès jardins

PME MTL — Funds for Retail businesses

Tourism Innovation Program — Stream 3 - Networking with regional innovation organisations

Energy Innovation Program – Advancing Canada’s clean energy future

Trade Commissioner Service — Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)
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MRC Portneuf — Heritage and Culture Fund

Retrofit Program

PADAAR — Measure 4074 – Targeted individual skills development plan

Summer Company

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — Emergence Fund

MRC Rivière-du-Loup — Business Succession

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Reimbursement – Public Market Booth Rental Fees

CQRDA — PSO-v2b

Artists in Communities program

Trois-Rivières — Universal accessibility to commercial and service establishments

Green Alleyway Support Program

Support fund for the development of tourism offers

MRC de Mékinac — Support fund for cultural initiatives

MRC L’Île-d’Orléans — Capitale-Nationale Region Fund (FRCN) – Île d’Orléans Stream

MRC Charlevoix - Local Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS)

MRC L’Île-d’Orléans — Regions and Rurality Fund

APCHQ — Affordable Housing Fund: New Construction - Community Housing Sub-Stream

Tourism Growth Program (TGP) — Quebec

Laval Économique — Business Launch Fund

MRC Haut-Richelieu — FRR – Stream 2

MRC Pontiac — FRR Stream 1

Îles-de-la-madeleine — Business support policy (PSE)

MRC Pontiac — FRR Stream 2

Saint-Joseph-du-Lac — Green Responsibility Fund
