Edmonton Edge Fund
grant_single|update May 14, 2025
Edmonton, AB
Supports Edmonton businesses to start, scale, and innovate
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Grant and Funding
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- City of Edmonton
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The Edmonton Edge Fund provides project-based grants of up to $1 million to support businesses starting, scaling, or growing in Edmonton. Funding is available for activities such as prototype development, commercialization, market expansion, production improvement, and supply chain localization.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- Start Stream: Grant funding ranges from $75,000 to $100,000 per project, with no matching funding requirement.
- Scale & Grow Stream: Grant funding ranges from $250,000 up to just under $1,000,000 per project, with a matching funding requirement covering 50% of eligible project costs.
- Milestone-based payments: Funds are disbursed in installments as key project deliverables are completed.
- Each applicant may receive a maximum of one grant from the program.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Advancement and commercialization of innovative products or services.
- Scaling business operations to support significant growth.
- Development and testing of prototypes to bring new ideas to market.
- Expansion into new markets, including domestic and international growth initiatives.
- Projects that strengthen or localize supply chains within Edmonton.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The applicant must be a registered business or nonprofit organization with an economic mandate, operating as an active legal entity.
- The applicant must currently operate in Edmonton or have plans to relocate to or expand within Edmonton.
- The organization must have or commit to obtaining a valid City of Edmonton Business Licence during the project.
- For the Start Stream, organizations must have been registered as an active legal entity for at least three months before submitting an Expression of Interest.
- The project must be a new initiative, physically located in Edmonton, and have a maximum term of two years.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Registered businesses in any industry or sector operating in Edmonton
- Registered nonprofit organizations with an Economic Mandate operating in Edmonton
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Religious organizations without an Economic Mandate.
- Applicants that are in arrears with the City of Edmonton.
- Applicants currently in dispute with the City of Edmonton.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Direct capital costs, such as equipment and materials essential to the project.
- Direct labour costs, including salaries or wages of new employees and contractor fees specifically for the project.
- Marketing costs directly related to the promotion of the product(s) or service(s) connected to the project.
- Professional, advisory, and technical service fees required for the project.
- Reasonable travel expenses directly related to the project, in line with the National Joint Council Travel Directive.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- City of Edmonton
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Demonstrated advancement of one or more of the program's Expected Outcomes: job creation, economic benefits, down/upstream benefits, or social/environmental benefits.
- Strength and clarity of the business case, including implementation plan, project need, risk identification and mitigation, and feasibility of objectives and timeline.
- Clear evidence of growth potential, including long-term benefits and competitiveness in the target market.
- Financial viability and justification of project costs, with sufficient budget detail and alignment of requested funding with project scope.
- Additional consideration for projects advancing diversity, equity, or led by newcomers or underrepresented groups.
grant_single_labels|apply
- Step 1: Review Program MaterialsVisit Edmonton.ca/EdgeFund and carefully read all program materials, including the program guide, to determine project eligibility and understand the requirements.
- Step 2: Expression of Interest (EOI) SubmissionOn or after the program launch (August 28, 2023), access the digital Expression of Interest form available on the program’s website.
- Complete the EOI by providing required organization and project details, including applicant information, project description, industry, years in business, ownership, budget, funding amount requested, and other funding sources.
- Submit the completed EOI form by the stated deadline (September 18, 2023, at midnight).
- Step 3: EOI Evaluation and ShortlistingThe Program Team evaluates submitted EOIs based on eligibility and alignment with assessment criteria.
- Shortlisted applicants are notified (expected by October 6, 2023) and invited to submit a Full Application.
- Step 4: Full Application SubmissionShortlisted applicants receive an information package and guidelines for the Full Application.
- Prepare and submit the Full Application between October 9, 2023 and November 6, 2023, including a pitch deck (or equivalent), detailed project budget, quotes for contractors (if applicable), cashflow projections, project milestone schedule, and business case.
- Include confirmation of matching funding if applying under the Scale & Grow Stream, or optional confirmation of other funding sources for the Start Stream.
- Select applicants may book a consultation with the Program Team during this period.
- Step 5: Evaluation of Full ApplicationsThe Program Team reviews Full Applications and forwards shortlisted projects to the selection committee for funding recommendations, based on assessment criteria and budget availability.
- Step 6: Notification of Funding DecisionsApplicants are notified in December 2023 whether their application is approved, approved with conditions, or not approved.
- Step 7: Funding Agreement DevelopmentSuccessful applicants collaborate with the Program Team to develop a milestone and payment schedule in a formal funding agreement.
- Step 8: Project Implementation and ReportingBegin the project within a reasonable timeframe after signing the funding agreement (maximum project term: two years).
- Report progress and provide final reporting upon project completion to the Program Team.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- Applicants may submit multiple applications; however, only the highest-scoring application per applicant will be considered for funding.
- Funding is disbursed in milestone payments, linked to the completion of key project deliverables.
- Applications are evaluated competitively due to limited program funding.
- Decisions on funding approval or rejection are final and may not be appealed.
grant_single_labels|contact
EdgeFund@edmonton.ca
Apply to this program
Grant and Fundinggrant_card_status|open
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