PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative a grant, loan, or tax credit?

PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative?

PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative is funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), Government of Canada

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative?

You can contact Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) by email at fdefo@cecs-sk.ca.

Q: Where is the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative available?

The PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative program is available across Canada.

Q: Are youth (under 40) eligible for the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative program?

Yes, youth under 40 are eligible to apply for the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Funding to support francophone businesses and communities in the Prairie region

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Get a non-repayable contribution for projects and initiatives that foster economic diversification, business development, innovation, partnerships and increased support for francophone SMEs.

Financing terms and conditions

This grant offers financial support to projects that contribute to economic development in Francophone communities within the Prairie provinces. The financing modalities are structured to promote innovation, diversification, and partnership development.

Funding is provided for projects contributing to economic diversification, immigration, the green economy, youth development, and tourism.
Investments range across local, provincial, and interprovincial scopes, emphasizing measurable economic impacts.

Activities funded

The Economic Development Initiative supports diverse projects aimed at enhancing economic opportunities and sustainable growth within Francophone communities across the Prairie provinces. Projects that qualify focus on increasing business networks, boosting tourism, and facilitating educational progress among others.

Establishment of sewing cooperatives for Black Francophone women to develop professional opportunities.
Creation of a historic ecotourism site celebrating Francophone and Métis heritage.
Development of a continuing education platform for entrepreneurs and mentoring programs for youth in business administration.
Renovation and signage replacement for historical trails to improve local tourism.
Construction of a boat ramp to boost recreation and tourism along the Red River.
Creation of business incubators to support Francophone entrepreneurs across Western Canada.
Provision of French-language post-graduate courses in inclusive education.
Acquisition of equipment and resources for a French-language Nursing program.
Programs promoting sustainable growth and competitiveness in bilingual communities.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 60,000

Establishing a continuing education platform and mentoring for young entrepreneurs

$ 35,000

Repair and replace signage for the 'piste de la légende de Bellevue'

$ 70,000

Create a support network for francophone SMEs

$ 75,000

Develop an economic immigration program for skilled French-speaking workers

$ 60,000

Establish a tourism promotional campaign for Halifax's francophone heritage sites

$ 90,000

Launch a green economy initiative for small businesses

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific criteria related to the applicant's operations in the Prairie provinces and the project’s alignment with community and economic goals.

Applicant(s) must work in French and contribute to the development and vitality of the Prairie province's Francophonie.
Projects must serve a Francophone clientele from OLMCs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba.
Projects must demonstrate a real impact with clear and measurable benefits in at least one of the specified sectors: economic diversification and development, economic immigration, the green economy, youth, and tourism.

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants for the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) in the Prairie provinces must be organizations working in French that aim to contribute to the development and vitality of the Francophone communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba. Projects must specifically serve Francophone clients in official language minority communities within these provinces.

Who is not eligible

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

Companies that do not work in French and do not contribute to the development and vitality of the Prairie province's Francophonie.
Companies whose projects do not serve a Francophone clientele from OLMCs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba.

Eligible expenses

The Economic Development Initiative (EDI) aims to foster economic growth, innovation, and community support in the Prairie provinces. Eligible projects under this grant focus on diversifying the economy, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing tourism and infrastructure.

Supporting Black Francophone entrepreneurs through business networks and establishing cooperatives.
Developing historic ecotourism sites to leverage cultural heritage.
Establishing education and mentoring programs for young entrepreneurs.
Repairing and enhancing community infrastructure to boost local tourism.
Creating access points for recreational and tourism development along major waterways.
Establishing business incubators for Francophone entrepreneurs across the region.
Developing French-language educational programs to enhance skills and knowledge in key sectors.
Promoting sustainable growth and competitiveness in bilingual and rural communities.

Eligible geographic areas

The Economic Development Initiative (EDI) grant is available for projects aiding official language minority communities in the Prairie provinces. Eligible geographical areas are within Western Canada, specifically targeting Francophone communities.

Projects serving Francophone communities in Alberta.
Projects based in Saskatchewan's Francophone regions.
Initiatives within Francophone areas of Manitoba.

Selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant:

Applicant(s) must work in French and contribute to the development and vitality of the Prairie province's Francophonie.
Projects must serve a Francophone clientele from OLMCs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba.
Projects funded under the program may be local, provincial, or interprovincial in scope and must demonstrate a real impact in specific sectors such as economic diversification, economic immigration, the green economy, youth, or tourism.

How to apply

Initial Contact

Identify your local Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs) in Western Canada.
Reach out to the FEDOs to discuss your project idea.
Email your project idea to fdefo@cecs-sk.ca for further guidance.

Prepare Application

Develop a detailed project proposal outlining objectives, expected outcomes, and target Francophone clientele in OLMCs.
Provide supporting documents such as project budget, timeline, and letters of support if applicable.

Submit Application

Finalize all components of your application ensuring they meet EDI criteria.
Submit your completed application through the guidance provided by the local FEDOs.

Acknowledgment of Receipt

Receive confirmation from the FEDOs that your application has been received.
Keep this confirmation for your records and follow any additional instructions provided.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The EDI is delivered as a pilot program in Western Canada through the Fonds de développement économique francophone de l'Ouest canadien (FDEFO).
Four Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs) in Western Canada are responsible for managing this fund.

Contacts

fdefo@cecs-sk.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative?

Who is eligible for the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative program?

To be eligible for the PrairiesCan — Economic Development Initiative program, you must: Applicant(s) must work in French and contribute to the development and vitality of the Prairie province's Francophonie. Projects must serve a Francophone clientele from Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba. Projects must demonstrate real impact with clear and measurable benefits in sectors such as economic diversification, green economy, or tourism.