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.

MRC Bécancour — Business Support Fund (BSF)
MRC Bécancour- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

MRC L'Islet — Sectoral agreement for the development of culture in Chaudière-Appalaches
MRC de L'Islet- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Information and cultural industries

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Support for Structuring Projects
MRC Charlevoix-Est- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

SODEXPORT — Component 2.1: Support for business opportunities and promotion abroad
Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Accès jardins
City of Montreal (MTL)- No Condition
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Ontario Agri-food Research Initiative (OAFRIP)
Government of Ontario- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Rural Vitality Fund – Automation and Digital Practices
NexDev | Haut-Richelieu Economic Development- From $1,000 to $5,000
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grant for the renovation of facades facing a commercial artery
Quebec City- From $20,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

MRC L'Islet — FEEL
MRC de L'Islet- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Fjord-du-Saguenay — Entrepreneurship assistance and support fund (FASE)
MRC Fjord-du-Saguenay- From $15,000 to $75,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade

Laval économique — Tech shift – Manufacturing
Laval Economique- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) — Access to Capital
National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association (NACCA)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

National Acadian Day funding
Canadian Heritage- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grow the Herd Pilot Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 5% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Nunavut Filmmakers Funding — Market Endowment Program
Nunavut Film Development Corporation- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC La Jacques-Cartier — Young Promoters Fund (JP)
MRC La Jacques-Cartier- Maximum amount : 9,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- All industries

DEPS — Young Promoters Fund
Economic Development Pierre-De Saurel (DEPS)- Maximum amount : 6,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Women in STEM Scholarship
Government of Alberta- From $2,500 to $2,500
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Novoclimat – Small multi-unit building
Environnement Québec (MELCC)- Maximum amount : 3,400 $
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Health care and social assistance

MTRIC — SI2TEC – Feasibility Studies
Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC)- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Cultural Development
MRC Charlevoix-Est- Minimum amount : 500 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Les Etchemins — Business support policy
MRC des Etchemins- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent — Regional Support Fund for Social Programs (FRSPS)
MRC du Golfe du Saint Laurent- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

MRC Portneuf — Sustainable Forest Management Program
MRC Portneuf- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

APCHQ — Get financing through the Canada Greener Affordable Housing program: Pre-Retrofit Funding for multi-unit residential buildings
Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec (APCHQ)- Maximum amount : 130,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance
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Financial support for aspiring farmers
La Financière agricole (FADQ)- From $10,000 to $50,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Call for innovation projects in agritechnologies
Investissement Québec (IQ)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC L'Islet — Support fund for cultural cafés
MRC de L'Islet- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Drawback Program
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)- No Condition
- All industries

Quebec Fisheries Fund — Infrastructure
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Maximum amount : 2,500,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC La Matanie — Business Support Program (PAE)
MRC La Matanie- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Business Scale-Up and Productivity
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)- From $200,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Studies and consulting services
Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean- From $3,000 to $25,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Training fund for employees in the construction industry
Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ)- No Condition
- Construction

MRC Les Moulins — Futurpreneur Canada
MRC Les Moulins- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

MRC Beauce-Centre — Propulsion Fund
MRC Beauce-Centre- From $1,000 to $10,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

ID Gatineau — FDEES
ID Gatineau- From $5,000 to $30,000
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Vitalization Fund
MRC Charlevoix-Est- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

MRC Charlevoix — Special Projects Fund
MRC Charlevoix- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade

Support for the apple-growing sector to improve profitability and agri-environmental practices
La Financière agricole (FADQ)- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Up to 6% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Canada Music Fund - Individual Initiatives
Canadian Heritage- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Portneuf — Financial Assistance Program for Heritage Restoration
MRC Portneuf- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent — Business support policy
MRC du Golfe du Saint Laurent- Up to 90% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Public administration

SODEXPORT — Component 5: Strategic initiatives
Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Mitis MRC — Regional and Rural Fund (RRF) - Component 1
La Mitis RCM (MRC)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

ARBJ — Economic Development Infrastructure Program (PIDE)
Administration régionale Baie-James (ARBJ)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- All industries

RCM de la Mitis — Component 3 : “Signature Innovation” Projects
La Mitis RCM (MRC)- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Public administration

MRC La Côte-de-Beaupré — Support Measure for Self-Employment
MRC La Côte-de-Beaupré- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or — Support Program for Structuring Projects (PSPS)
MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Enabling Accessibility Fund – Youth Innovation Component
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
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Recyc-Québec — Beverage Container Recycling — Stream 1
Recyc-Québec- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Tourism Innovation Program — Stream 1 - Call for proposals to support the development of innovative solutions
MT Lab- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Innovative Communities Fund (ICF)
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- No Condition
- All industries

MRC Joliette — Technology and Digital Transition Fund (FTTN) – Stream 2
MRC de Joliette (CDÉJ)- Maximum amount : 1,500 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- All industries

Enbridge Gas Quebec — Cash incentives – Innovation
Enbridge Gas Quebec- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

MRC des Chenaux — Economic Diversification Fund (FDÉ)
MRC des Chenaux- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Pontiac — FRR Stream 3
MRC Pontiac- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

- Maximum amount : 40,950 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Festivals and events
Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean- From $60,000 to $15,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Montmagny — Sustainable Forest Management Program (PADF)
MRC de Montmagny- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

OAC — Visual Artists Creation Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- From $5,000 to $15,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

RCM de la Mitis — Fonds « Développement La Mitis »
La Mitis RCM (MRC)- No Condition
- Public administration

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Structuring the tourism offer
Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean- From $30,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women (AIG-W)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- No Condition
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative — Light-Duty Vehicle — Not-for-profit
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)

Estrie — FRR – Component 1
Table of MRCs in the Estrie region- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Applied Research and Development Grants — Industrial Partner
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- All industries

MRC De D'Autray — Business Development Program
MRC de D'Autray- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

MRC La Jacques-Cartier — Social economy enterprise development fund
MRC La Jacques-Cartier- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Biofood market development program — Component 2
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $50,000 to $750,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Genomic Innovations: Energy and Environmental Solutions
Genome Alberta- From $300,000 to $750,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC Arthabaska — Young Promoters Fund (FJP)
MRC Arthabaska- Maximum amount : 8,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC Beauce-Centre — Créavenir
MRC Beauce-Centre- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Community Economic Development (CED)
City of Ottawa- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

OAC — Deaf and Disability Arts Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
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Îles-de-la-madeleine — Business support policy (PSE)
Municipalité des Îles-de-la-Madeleine- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

Artists in Communities program
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Financial assistance program for businesses in physical activities (PAFEMAP)
Ministry of Education of Quebec- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC L'Islet — Vitalization fund
MRC de L'Islet- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- All industries

RCM de la Mitis — RenoRegion Fund
La Mitis RCM (MRC)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

MRC Maskinongé — Social Economy Fund (ES)
MRC de Maskinongé- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or — Quebec Fund for Social Initiatives (FQIS)
MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or- Up to 90% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

PME MTL — Call for projects: very open to unusual businesses
PME MTL- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Retail trade

RCM de la Mitis — Component 4 : Support for revitalization and intermunicipal cooperation
La Mitis RCM (MRC)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Transportation and warehousing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Les Etchemins — Call for projects: Signature innovation
MRC des Etchemins- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

PME MTL — Digital Circuit Program
PME MTL- Maximum amount : 9,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Other services (except public administration)

CQRDA — PSO-v2A
Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)- From $100,000 to $350,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Musicaction — International Event
Musicaction- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support for the purchase of electric off-road vehicles (VHRE)
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 49,500 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 3
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Technology Leadership: Genomics stream
Protein Industries Canada- Up to 45% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

RCM de la Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Futurpreneur Canada
RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

CRIBIQ — INNOV-R
Consortium de recherche et d'innovations en bioprocédés industriels au Québec (CRIBIQ)- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Évolution-Compétences — Partnership for training and innovation
Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services

Game Changer Pitch Competition
Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC)- No Condition
- Utilities
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Programme Innovation (PI)
RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)

RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Fonds d'appui à l'entrepreneuriat collectif (FAEC)
RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Fonds de soutien à l'entrepreneuriat
RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries

Laval — Regional and Rural Fund (FRR) – Stream 2
City of Laval- Up to 85% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Elevate Women+
Elevate Talent- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services