Grants available for businesses in Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Local investment fund policy for business support and financing

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $300,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade

Types of eligible projects

COMMERCIALIZATIONCONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION BUSINESS BUYOUTDIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — Emergence Fund

Fonds Émergence supports economic diversification with non-repayable aid

Eligible Funding

Max. $25,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

INNOVATION

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Investment Fund Loan

Business project support and flexible financial aid program

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $150,000

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing

Types of eligible projects

BUSINESS BUYOUT

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Business Succession Loan

Flexible financial aid for business start-up and development

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $150,000
Up to 20% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing

Types of eligible projects

BUSINESS BUYOUT

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

Rouyn-Noranda — FLI-FLS – Entrepreneurial Succession

City of Rouyn-Noranda

FLI-FLS funds projects and entrepreneurial succession in Rouyn-Noranda

Eligible Funding

Max. $250,000
Up to 5% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Types of eligible projects

COMMERCIALIZATIONCONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION BUSINESS BUYOUTDIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Discover how much grant funding is available for your business

Subsidize your projects with government financial aid

Use our free grant estimator to quickly identify the available grant amounts for which your company may be eligible.

Unlock Your Business’s Full Potential with Government Grants and Financial Aid

Are you looking for ways to secure funding for your business and reduce costs? Government grants, subsidies, and financial aid programs offer valuable opportunities for companies across various industries. Whether you’re a startup, an established small business, or a growing enterprise, you may be eligible for non-repayable grants, tax credits, and financial assistance to support your projects.

Discover How Much Grant Funding Your Business Can Access

Many businesses miss out on free funding opportunities simply because they don’t know they exist. That’s why we’ve created a free grant estimator—a powerful tool designed to help you identify available grant amounts based on your company’s profile, sector, and project type. In just a few clicks, you can gain insights into the financial aid programs that match your business needs.Our estimator scans a wide range of government grants, including:

Innovation and R&D grants for companies developing new products, services, or technologies.
Export and international expansion subsidies to help businesses enter new markets.
Workforce development funding for training, hiring, and upskilling employees.
Green energy and sustainability grants for eco-friendly initiatives and energy-efficient projects.
Startup and entrepreneur support programs for new businesses seeking capital and resources.

Maximize Your Business Growth with Non-Repayable Financial Assistance

Unlike traditional loans, many government grants and subsidies do not require repayment, making them a valuable way to boost your company’s financial health. By securing business funding, you can invest in key areas such as technology, infrastructure, hiring, and research without straining your cash flow.Here’s how our free grant estimator can help you: ✅ Quickly assess your eligibility for various funding programs. ✅ Save time by filtering out programs that don’t apply to your business. ✅ Unlock hidden financial opportunities that you might not be aware of. ✅ Reduce financial risks by accessing non-repayable funding sources. ✅ Increase your chances of approval with up-to-date funding information.

Take Advantage of Government Funding Opportunities Today

Don’t let your business miss out on grant funding that could propel your success. Whether you need support for a new project, expansion, hiring, or innovation, government financial aid programs are available to help. Start using our free grant estimator now and discover how much grant money your company can access today!

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Créavenir - Desjardins

Support for startups with credit and tailored financing

Eligible Funding

Max. $15,000

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

COMMERCIALIZATION

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or — Support Program for Structuring Projects (PSPS)

Support for impactful rural and regional development projects

Eligible Funding

Max. $25,000
Up to 60% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Other services (except public administration)

Types of eligible projects

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE

Loans and Capital investmentsClosed

MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or — Local Investment Fund FLI – Succession Stream

FLI program supports business ownership transition and acquisition

Eligible Funding

Max. $250,000
Up to 15% of project cost

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION BUSINESS BUYOUT

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — CRÉAVENIR Program

Créavenir supports young entrepreneurs in Abitibi-Ouest with financing

Eligible Funding

Max. $5,000
Up to 25% of project cost

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Regions and Rurality Fund – Component 4 – Vitalization

Support rural revitalization in Vallée-de-l'Or region

Eligible Funding

Max. $100,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Types of eligible projects

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATECONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Tired of scrolling through all these programs?

Filter funding opportunities relevant for your company on the helloDarwin platform

Sort over 3,000 business funds by your industry, projects and location with helloDarwin's free app.

In today’s fast-paced economic environment, where innovation, digital transformation, and competitiveness require ongoing investment, grants and public funding are crucial tools for business success. However, despite the abundance of available programs, many businesses underuse them—often due to their complexity, lack of awareness, or the administrative burden required to apply.

That’s where helloDarwin’s grant platform comes in: a centralized, intelligent, and guided solution designed to help companies gain faster, easier access to the financial support they’re entitled to.

A Platform Designed for Modern Business Needs

helloDarwin’s grant platform was designed to match the realities of today’s businesses. It caters to all types of organizations—from startups and SMEs to nonprofits and scaling enterprises—with a clear mission: to offer a centralized, tech-driven, and human-supported entry point to the world of grants and government funding.

Thanks to its user-friendly interface and smart search engine, businesses can instantly identify the most relevant grants for their needs. Whether the goal is to hire talent, develop new technologies, expand internationally, or embrace sustainable practices, the platform offers comprehensive support—from identifying relevant programs to finalizing the funding application.

A Vast and Continuously Updated Grant Database

One of the platform’s key strengths lies in its extensive database of over 3,000 grant and funding programs, covering local, provincial, and federal opportunities across Canada. This ensures that businesses can discover the full spectrum of available funding—whether it’s for digitalization, workforce development, marketing, sustainability, or infrastructure.

The database is constantly updated to reflect new funding programs, changes in eligibility criteria, and submission deadlines. Businesses using the platform benefit from up-to-date, relevant information that allows them to act at the right time, with the right tools.

Personalized and Smart Grant Matching

helloDarwin offers more than just a directory. With just a few details—such as your business sector, location, size, and project type—the platform provides a personalized eligibility analysis. The built-in estimator also allows users to forecast the amounts they might receive, helping them make better-informed strategic decisions.

This initial simulation is completely free and offers businesses a quick understanding of their grant potential. Instead of postponing important projects due to budget constraints, companies can explore viable financial support options that make those projects feasible sooner than expected.

Full-Service Expert Support

Applying for grants can be overwhelming: deciphering eligibility, preparing required documents, writing persuasive proposals, and tracking deadlines. helloDarwin solves this by providing end-to-end support through its network of experts and funding consultants.

These professionals assist with every stage of the process—from eligibility assessment and document preparation to submission and follow-up. Businesses benefit from a turnkey service that maximizes success rates while minimizing internal workload.

This also helps avoid common mistakes—missing a submission date, providing incomplete information, or misunderstanding program rules—that could jeopardize a funding application. With helloDarwin’s experts at their side, companies can approach the grant process with confidence and focus on their core operations.

Diverse Project Categories and Funding Options

helloDarwin’s platform accommodates a wide variety of business projects, making it a valuable tool regardless of the company’s size or industry. Whether you’re a manufacturer looking to automate your production line, a service provider rolling out a new CRM, or a food producer aiming to expand internationally, there’s likely a grant program that fits your goals.

Popular funding categories include:

Digital Transformation: software, cybersecurity, automation, AI
Human Resources: hiring graduates, professional training, retention
Export & Market Development: trade missions, translation, digital campaigns
Sustainability: energy efficiency, waste management, eco-certification
R&D & Innovation: product development, process improvement, prototyping
Infrastructure & Capital Assets: renovations, equipment purchases, workspace upgrades

Many programs offer reimbursement rates ranging from 25% to over 90% of eligible costs, and some can be combined for even greater impact.

Direct Impact on Business Performance

By simplifying access to funding, helloDarwin empowers businesses to lower their investment risk, accelerate project timelines, and enhance their competitiveness. The effect is tangible: a delayed project can be launched; a strategic hire can be made; an international expansion can be undertaken under more favorable conditions.

Long-term, businesses that take advantage of grants become more productive, attract better talent, increase market visibility, and strengthen their credibility with stakeholders. In this way, grants become more than just financial support—they are a strategic management tool that fosters long-term resilience and innovation.

A Perfect Balance of Technology and Human Support

helloDarwin’s hybrid approach—combining smart digital tools with real human expertise—is what sets it apart. Users benefit from a sleek, efficient platform that helps them search, filter, and evaluate funding opportunities, as well as direct access to professionals who help them turn those opportunities into concrete results.

This makes the platform suitable for all types of users. Independent business owners can self-navigate and explore grants at their own pace, while those looking for complete support can rely on dedicated experts for a hands-free experience. The result is a flexible, scalable, and personalized solution that adapts to every business profile.

Strengthening the Canadian Business Ecosystem

Beyond individual companies, helloDarwin’s grant platform plays a key role in strengthening Canada’s broader business ecosystem. By making grants more accessible, it helps stimulate innovation, encourage sustainable growth, support post-pandemic recovery, and accelerate digital and green transitions across sectors.

It also fosters collaboration among businesses, consultants, and service providers. helloDarwin’s marketplace allows grant recipients to easily connect with vetted professionals—marketing agencies, IT consultants, sustainability experts—who can help execute their funded projects.

This dynamic ecosystem not only improves outcomes for funded initiatives but also contributes to a more connected and supportive business community.

A Simple and Accessible Process

Signing up is easy and quick. Users create a business profile, answer a short questionnaire, and within minutes receive a tailored overview of their funding options. The estimator tool is free to use, and the initial consultation with a funding advisor is offered at no charge.

This makes the platform accessible even to small companies without in-house financial or grant expertise. It effectively democratizes access to public funding, ensuring that all businesses—not just large corporations—can take full advantage of government programs.

From Idea to Execution: Enabling Growth

helloDarwin’s platform guides businesses from the first spark of an idea to successful grant application and project execution. It encourages strategic thinking: What goals can we reach if we access the right support? How can we grow faster, smarter, and more sustainably with public funds?

Rather than viewing grants as optional or secondary, companies that use helloDarwin’s platform begin to see them as a key component of their business strategy. Whether investing in digital tools, hiring for the future, reducing environmental impact, or entering new markets, grants can be the enabler that turns vision into reality.

Grant and FundingClosed

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Support Program for Events and Festivals

Support program for festivals and events in La Vallée-de-l’Or

Eligible Funding

From $500 to $5,000
Up to 70% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Types of eligible projects

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Youth Strategy Loan

Flexible financial aid for business development and succession

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $150,000
Up to 20% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing

Types of eligible projects

BUSINESS BUYOUT

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Abitibi — The Local Solidarity Fund (FLS)

MRC Abitibi

Local entrepreneurial loans for economic resilience and growth

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $35,000

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Fund YOUR SME

Financial support for digital transformation and sustainable practices

Eligible Funding

Max. $3,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Retail trade

Types of eligible projects

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATEDIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Expert AdviceLoans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Local Investment Fund Loan

Personalized business support and flexible financial assistance

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $150,000

Eligible Industries

Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Types of eligible projects

BUSINESS BUYOUT

Download the official 2025 grants guide

Access key insights to maximize your funding opportunities

Understand the different funding programs and find the best options for your business.

Unlock Your Business’s Full Potential with Government Grants and Financial Aid

Discover How Much Grant Funding Your Business Can Access

Innovation and R&D grants for companies developing new products, services, or technologies.
Export and international expansion subsidies to help businesses enter new markets.
Workforce development funding for training, hiring, and upskilling employees.
Green energy and sustainability grants for eco-friendly initiatives and energy-efficient projects.
Startup and entrepreneur support programs for new businesses seeking capital and resources.

Maximize Your Business Growth with Non-Repayable Financial Assistance

Take Advantage of Government Funding Opportunities Today

Loans and Capital investmentsClosed

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — Local Investment Funds

Investment fund for economic impact businesses in Abitibi-Ouest

Eligible Funding

Max. $250,000
Up to 20% of project cost

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

COMMERCIALIZATION

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Regions and Rurality Fund – Component 3 – Market Gardening Program

Innovation fund for regional economic development and agriculture

Eligible Funding

Max. $150,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Types of eligible projects

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION INNOVATION

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Témiscamingue — Youth Assistance Loan

Personalized support for business projects and funding assistance

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $150,000

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing

Types of eligible projects

BUSINESS BUYOUTDIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Grant and FundingOpen

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

Reimburses booth rental fees for local agricultural businesses

Eligible Funding

Up to 100% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Types of eligible projects

COMMERCIALIZATION

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

Rouyn-Noranda — Local Investment (FLI) and Solidarity (FLS) Funds

City of Rouyn-Noranda

Offers business loans up to $250,000 from FLI-FLS

Eligible Funding

Max. $250,000
Up to 20% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)

Types of eligible projects

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATECONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION BUSINESS BUYOUT

Find tailored funding for your business

Discover more funding opportunities on the helloDarwin platform

Look through over 3000 grants, tax credits, loans and more financial aid on the helloDarwin application.

Imagine this: a fast-growing technology startup in Montreal is ready to expand internationally. They’ve built a solid team, developed an innovative SaaS product, and attracted their first round of investors. But as they prepare to hire new talent and scale operations abroad, they face a familiar roadblock—budget constraints. What they don’t realize is that there are government grants that could cover up to 75% of their next hire's salary and fund a good portion of their export marketing campaign. The only problem? They don’t know these programs exist, and even if they did, they wouldn’t know where to start.

This is exactly the problem helloDarwin set out to solve.

In Canada, there are thousands of grant programs available to support business development, innovation, sustainability, digitalization, and more. Yet navigating this ecosystem is like walking through a maze: confusing, technical, time-consuming, and—more often than not—discouraging. The result? Countless companies leave money on the table every year.

helloDarwin’s grant platform is flipping the script by turning complexity into clarity and making funding a strategic advantage for Canadian businesses of all sizes.

The Vision: A Smarter Way to Fund Business Growth

At its core, helloDarwin’s grant platform is built on a simple but powerful idea: funding should empower businesses, not overwhelm them.

Rather than forcing companies to research, interpret, and apply for grants on their own, helloDarwin offers an integrated digital solution that streamlines the entire process—from discovery to application, and even post-approval support.

This vision is rooted in the company’s broader mission: helping Canadian businesses thrive through smart connections. While helloDarwin originally made its name as a B2B matchmaking platform between businesses and service providers, its grant platform marks a bold and logical evolution: solving a systemic challenge with scalable impact.

Step 1: Discovery Made Easy

The first hurdle most companies face with grants is simply knowing what’s out there. With over 3,000 active programs available from federal, provincial, and municipal governments—not to mention sector-specific or innovation-focused initiatives—most businesses don’t have the time or resources to sort through the noise.

That’s where helloDarwin’s discovery engine comes in.

By inputting basic information—such as location, industry, company size, and project goals—users are instantly matched with relevant programs tailored to their needs. The platform’s smart algorithms cross-reference eligibility criteria with real-time data, surfacing only the most promising opportunities.

This eliminates guesswork and opens doors to programs that many companies never knew they were eligible for. A food processor in rural Ontario might find a grant for green packaging innovation. A Vancouver-based marketing agency may qualify for wage subsidies for creative hires. A manufacturing company in Halifax could discover federal funds for equipment modernization.

Step 2: Clear Guidance and Next Steps

Finding a grant is just the beginning. The real challenge begins when companies try to translate program guidelines into action. What are the actual funding limits? How are expenses defined? What paperwork is required? How long does approval take? What’s reimbursed, and what’s not?

helloDarwin’s platform demystifies these questions by offering clear, step-by-step breakdowns of each program: key dates, financial caps, co-funding ratios, admissible costs, and how to prepare a strong application. This reduces friction and helps companies build a confident, executable plan.

Step 3: Human Expertise When It Matters Most

Even the best-designed digital tools have their limits. That’s why helloDarwin complements its technology with real human expertise—grant advisors, funding strategists, and technical writers who know the process inside out.

For businesses that want to maximize their chances of approval, these experts step in to:

Review and validate eligibility
Write or revise grant applications
Build strong business cases aligned with funding priorities
Ensure deadlines are met
Coordinate post-funding reporting

This hybrid model—automation plus consultation—ensures that users get the best of both worlds. It’s fast and accessible for simple cases, and strategic and personalized for more complex projects.

And because helloDarwin is deeply embedded in the business services ecosystem, its advisors also help connect users with certified service providers—consultants, developers, training firms—who can execute the funded work.

Built for Real Business Use Cases

One of the most compelling aspects of the helloDarwin platform is its adaptability to real-life business scenarios. Here are just a few examples of how companies use the platform:

1. The AI Startup Expanding to Europe

A Montreal-based AI startup wants to open a sales office in Germany. With helloDarwin, they discover a combination of export development grants, translation subsidies, and hiring incentives that reduce their international expansion costs by 60%. With grant experts supporting their application, they secure the funds within two months and focus on entering the new market with confidence.

2. The Manufacturing Company Going Green

A mid-sized manufacturer in Ontario needs to modernize its equipment to reduce its carbon footprint. Using helloDarwin’s platform, they match with four green innovation programs that together cover 70% of the investment. The platform connects them with a sustainability consultant and a grant writer—both familiar with the funders' expectations.

3. The Agency Hiring Young Talent

A Toronto-based creative agency wants to hire two recent graduates but fears they can’t afford the full salaries. With helloDarwin’s help, they discover wage subsidy programs for youth employment. The grants cover 80% of the salary for the first six months, allowing them to hire sooner and accelerate delivery.

A Platform That Grows With You

helloDarwin’s platform isn’t just for one-time projects—it’s designed to become a strategic companion as businesses evolve. As companies grow, pivot, or explore new markets, the platform adapts, updating its recommendations and surfacing new opportunities.

Users can track application statuses, upload documents, and collaborate with consultants directly through the platform. They can also explore industry trends, funding cycles, and newly launched programs relevant to their sector.

It’s more than a transactional tool—it’s a business intelligence asset that supports growth over the long term.

Why It Works: Trust, Transparency, and Efficiency

Three values underpin the success of helloDarwin’s grant platform:

Trust Businesses know they are getting objective, vetted information—not biased promotions or limited program listings. The platform operates independently of government agencies and focuses on delivering value to its users first.
Transparency All fees (where applicable) and engagement terms are clear. Grant estimates are realistic, based on program rules, and users are guided toward opportunities that genuinely match their profiles.
Efficiency In a world where time is money, the platform reduces the time spent searching, guessing, and redoing failed submissions. From onboarding to approval, every step is optimized for speed and simplicity.

Making Grants a Growth Habit

Perhaps the greatest long-term value of helloDarwin’s platform is cultural. It helps businesses shift from viewing grants as a bonus—or a last resort—to seeing them as a routine part of their funding strategy.

This change in mindset has ripple effects. Companies that consistently use grants can:

Experiment with innovative ideas without bearing all the risk
Hire sooner, train better, and retain more talent
Invest in technology and sustainability with confidence
Build resilience against market shocks or supply chain disruptions
Gain recognition and trust from investors, clients, and government partners

Grants become not just about reducing costs, but about unlocking potential.

Who Is It For?

The helloDarwin grant platform is purpose-built for:

Startups exploring early-stage growth and hiring
SMEs seeking to modernize or expand internationally
Manufacturers aiming to automate or go green
Professional service firms investing in tools, marketing, or skills
Nonprofits and social enterprises scaling their impact

It’s ideal for companies with lean teams, limited admin bandwidth, and high-impact ideas that need a push to launch.

A New Standard for Funding Access

helloDarwin’s platform doesn’t just make it easier to access grants—it raises the bar for what businesses should expect from the process. No more fragmented research, unreadable PDF guides, or rushed last-minute applications. Instead, it offers a guided, intelligent, and empowering experience that brings grants into the heart of business planning.

In doing so, it supports a more dynamic, resilient, and forward-looking Canadian economy—one company at a time.

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — Digital Transition Fund

International market expansion and support for businesses

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade

Types of eligible projects

COMMERCIALIZATIONDIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Grant and FundingOpen

MRC Abitibi-Ouest — Social Economy Fund

Social Economy Fund supports collective entrepreneurship in Abitibi-Ouest

Eligible Funding

Max. $5,000
Up to 80% of project cost

Eligible Industries

Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Other services (except public administration)

Types of eligible projects

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATEHUMAN RESOURCES

Loans and Capital investmentsOpen

MRC Abitibi — Local Investment Fund (FLI)

MRC Abitibi

Financial support for businesses in Abitibi for growth

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $35,000

Eligible Industries

All industries

Types of eligible projects

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION BUSINESS BUYOUT

Grant and FundingClosed

MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or — Quebec Fund for Social Initiatives (FQIS)