Closed
Source verified August 2, 2026
Alberta Self-Employment Program
Training and support to start a business
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Closed
Location
Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada
Overview
The Self-employment Program helps eligible Albertans who are unemployed or under-employed develop and start a new business through formal training, business plan development, and one-to-one business counselling. It also provides coaching, guidance, and business operation support.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Start a business
- Launch or market a product/service
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Lloydminster
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- 2SLGBTQI+
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Formal training to develop and start a new business.
- Business plan development.
- One-to-one business counselling, coaching and guidance.
- Business operation support.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Unemployed and under-employed adults in Alberta.
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or protected persons under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- People seeking to start a business for the purpose of self-employment.
Who is not eligible
- Participants who do not meet all of the eligibility requirements, or who terminated employment that they might reasonably have continued to hold and were not approved for Counsel to Leave Employment.
- Participants who have exceeded 20 months of training provided by Labour and Immigration, or who have taken prior training funded through Labour and Immigration within the last 48 months.
- Participants who have been incarcerated or convicted of an offence and are unable to work because of the conditions of their sentence or their release.
- Refugee Claimants under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act while waiting for the outcome of their status in Canada.
- People who have arrived in Canada as a visitor, on a work or study permit, or without status under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Eligible expenses
- Formal training and learning materials for starting and operating a business.
- Business plan development support, including market research, marketing plans, operational details, and financial planning.
- One-to-one business counselling, coaching, and guidance related to capital and business implementation needs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Business start-up costs.
- Investment in the participant’s business.
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
- the city of Lloydminster
Selection criteria
- Viability of the business concept, as determined through a business viability assessment.
- Participant's strategic analysis of the industry and alignment with current and future labour market trends.
- Strengths and weaknesses of the business and potential plans of action for mitigating weaknesses.
- Estimates of required capital for start-up, operation, and business growth.
- Clear, reasonable timelines to accomplish pre-set goals and to measure progress.
How to apply
- Review the Employment and Training Services Directory.
- Connect with an organization that delivers this training near you to determine your eligibility.
Processing and Agreement
- Providers are required to report participant information and outcomes.
- Participants are surveyed approximately 90 days after completing the program.
Additional information
- Self-employment Programs are developed by providers, and each program may offer different timeframes, course content and class sizes.
- Once participants have completed the program, they are expected to work full-time (a minimum of 30 hours per week) on starting and operating their business.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Alberta Self-Employment Program Program
What is the Alberta Self-Employment Program?
The Self-employment Program helps eligible Albertans who are unemployed or under-employed develop and start a new business through formal training, business plan development, and one-to-one business counselling. It also provides coaching, guidance, and business operation support.
Who is eligible for the Alberta Self-Employment Program program?
To be eligible for the Alberta Self-Employment Program program, you must:
Be unemployed, or working on average less than 20 hours per week over the last 12 weeks, and planning to remain employed while in training.
Be in Alberta with an Alberta address, or any address in the city of Lloydminster, for the duration of the training.
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a protected person under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
What expenses are eligible under Alberta Self-Employment Program?
Formal training to develop and start a new business.
Business plan development.
One-to-one business counselling, coaching and guidance.
Business operation support.
Where is the Alberta Self-Employment Program available?
The Alberta Self-Employment Program program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the Alberta Self-Employment Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Alberta Self-Employment Program is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Alberta Self-Employment Program?
Alberta Self-Employment Program is funded by Government of Alberta, Ministry of Labour and Immigration (AB)