Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP)

The Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP) offers financial assistance to support Alberta-based organizations in participating in international trade events. The funding is provided primarily through per diems and event registration reimbursements, ensuring that eligibility is maintained to optimize the use of allocated resources.

• Per diem: CAD$400 per day for the first traveler.
• Per diem: CAD$200 per day for the second traveler.
• Per diems cover the duration of the formal event attendance, plus 2 days to accommodate air travel, contingent upon proof of travel.
• Event registration: 50% reimbursement of formal event base entry fees, up to CAD$1,000 per organization, per trade event.
• Funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility for the Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP) is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant organization's structure, location, and operational goals.

• The organization must be an incorporated legal entity in Alberta.
• It must be in good standing with the province and meet all obligations under other grant agreements.
• The organization is required to have a permanent physical presence in Alberta for at least one year.
• It must have at least one full-time equivalent employee working in Alberta.
• Alberta-based travelers must be sent from Canada to an international formal trade or export-related event in another country after April 1, 2024, with proof of registration.
• It should expect to cover less than 75% of total trip expenses with government funding.
• The application must be submitted no later than 2 months after the first day of participation in a formal event.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant:

• Companies that are not incorporated legal entities in Alberta
• Companies with annual gross sales below CAD $250,000 or above CAD $25 million
• Companies with more than 500 full-time equivalent staff in the last fiscal year

Eligible expenses

The Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP) supports Alberta-based organizations in their efforts to expand into international markets by attending formal outbound trade events. The grant provides financial assistance primarily for per diem expenses and event registration costs associated with these trade events.

• Participation in formal international trade or export-related events held outside Canada, which includes covering per diem costs for Alberta-based travelers.
• Reimbursement of up to 50% of formal event base entry registration fees for each organization, up to a maximum of CAD$1,000 per trade event.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies that are based and operate within Alberta. Eligibility is specifically focused on ensuring that beneficiaries have a strong connection to the province's economic landscape.

• Organizations incorporated and operating within Alberta.
• Applicants with a permanent physical presence in Alberta for at least one year.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The evaluation and selection criteria are as follows:

• Legal entity status and compliance with province
• Operational presence in Alberta
• Minimum number of full-time employees in Alberta
• Past participation in international trade events
• Cost sharing with government funding
• Timely application submission
• Additional criteria for for-profit and non-profit organizations

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Per diem funding is only calculated for the duration of formal international trade events, in addition to two days to accommodate air travel, with proof of travel required.
• The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and the application intake closes when the budget is fully requested.
• Applicants can complete a pre-screening questionnaire to self-assess eligibility before travel, but it is not required to be submitted and does not guarantee eligibility.
• It is important to check if any requested funding remains available as the tracker is for guidance only and does not ensure funds are available when applying.
• Applications for funding must be submitted no later than two months after the first day of participation in a formal trade event.