Best Grants for Small Businesses in Alberta
In Alberta, small business grants serve as a critical financial backbone for entrepreneurs looking to ignite their start-ups or propel their existing businesses to new heights. These grants, provided by both the Alberta government and various federal initiatives, are designed to support businesses across a spectrum of industries including technology, agriculture, and renewable energy. They offer a lifeline for businesses at various stages, from initial concept to expansion, by facilitating access to necessary capital without the burden of repayment. This financial support is crucial for fostering innovation, stimulating economic development, and encouraging the sustainability of small businesses within the province's diverse economic landscape.

Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provinces
- From $200,000 to $10,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

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

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

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

SSRIA – Business Growth Program
- No Condition
- Construction

AFA — Public Art Galleries Operating Funding
- Up to 22% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Alberta Innovates — Alberta Digital Traction Program
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Indigenous Employment Training Partnerships Program
- No Condition
- All industries

Aboriginal Business Investment Fund
- From $150,000 to $750,000
- All industries

Alberta Innovates — Voucher Program
- From $10,001 to $100,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Big Future Innovation Grant
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

PrairiesCan — Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI)
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

AFA — Theatre Individual Project Funding
- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Alberta Innovates — Tech2Farm
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Alberta Innovates — Industry R&D Associates Program
- Maximum amount : 105,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Alberta Innovates — Digital Innovation in Clean Energy (DICE)
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Alberta Innovates — Agri-Food and Bioindustrial Innovation Program
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Digital Health Sandbox
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Alberta — Value-Added Program
- From $50,000 to $250,000
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Renewable and Alternative Energy Program
- No Condition
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Community Futures Alberta — Financial Supports
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- All industries

Alberta Media Fund — Project Script Development Grant
- Maximum amount : 55,000 $
- Information and cultural industries

Alberta Innovates — Industry Commercialization Associates
- Maximum amount : 120,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Emerging Innovators Challenge
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

AFA — Community Support Organizations Operating Funding
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
International Small Business Grants Opportunities
Grant Support in the USA for Canadian Businesses
Canadian businesses looking to expand beyond national borders can access a range of grant support in the USA, designed to facilitate international trade and collaboration. These programs, often focused on innovation, technology transfer, and market development, provide Canadian entrepreneurs with the resources needed to navigate the competitive landscape of the US market. This support underscores the importance of cross-border partnerships in driving economic growth and innovation, offering Alberta's businesses a gateway to one of the world's largest economies.

Alberta Innovates — R&D Associates Program
- Maximum amount : 105,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

AFA — Artist Manager Program Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Alberta Innovates — Technology Development Advisors (TDA)
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing

- Maximum amount : 4,000,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- All industries

STIP — Community Airport Program
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Carbon Capture Kickstart
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Public administration

Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Alberta Innovates — Strategic Networking and Development Program
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Alberta Innovates — Commercialization Associates Program
- Maximum amount : 120,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Business Link — Market Research Services
- No Condition
- All industries

Lab Services Incentive Program (LSIP)
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Alberta Innovates — Micro Voucher Program
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Business Link — Digital Economy Program
- No Condition
- All industries

Settlement Investment Corporation
- No Condition
- All industries

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Market Access
- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Concepts
- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Alberta Innovates — Product Demonstration Program
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SSRIA – Innovation Fund
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Construction

Active Communities Initiative
- From $50,000 to $1,500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

TECHNATION — Calgary Wage Subsidy Program
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Alberta Innovates — International Technology Partnership (ITP) Program
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SSRIA – Smart sustainable tech showcase
- No Condition
- Construction

AFA — Indigenous Arts Individual Project Funding
- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

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

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

- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing

Energy Savings for Business Program
- From $500 to $250,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade

Alberta Media Fund — Alberta Made Production Grant
- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Alberta Innovates — Enabling Better Health through Artificial Intelligence
- Maximum amount : 800,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Alberta Innovates — Land and Biodiversity Program
- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services