Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Who is eligible for the Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment program?

To be eligible for the Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment program, you must: • Communities seeking to improve their capacity to attract, retain and expand foreign direct investment (FDI). • Non-profit partnerships at the local community level.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment?

You can contact Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Q: Where is the Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment available?

The Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment program is available across Canada.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Funding to attract foreign direct investment

At a glance

Eligible Funding

From $3,000 to $500,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : September 25, 2023
Closing date : September 29, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

All industries

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

Get a contribution between $3,000 and $500,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses. The program is intended to support communities and non-profit organizations to attract, retain and expand their foreign direct investment (FDI) activities that will he

Financing terms and conditions

This program offers financial support through non-repayable grants designed to aid communities in enhancing their foreign direct investment activities. The funding terms ensure shared responsibility between the provider and the recipient.

Non-repayable grants are available ranging from $3,000 to $500,000.
Funding covers up to 50% of eligible expenses, promoting joint investment in projects.
Agreements are structured for a one-year duration, spanning from April 1 to March 31.

Activities funded

The CanExport Community Investments program funds projects designed to enhance a community's ability to attract and manage foreign direct investment. The eligible activities are focused on improving community infrastructure and organizational capability to support foreign investments.

Development of investment attraction strategies and marketing tools.
Organization of investment promotion and community partnership events.
Enhancement of infrastructure to support new business developments.
Conducting research to identify potential markets and investors.
Building capacity within organizations to manage and sustain foreign investments.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 30,000

Conduct market research to attract foreign tech companies to establish offices

$ 35,000

Create promotional activities to attract European biotech startups to Ottawa

$ 75,000

Implement a legal framework to attract Asian financial firms to Calgary

$ 50,000

Establish a program to support foreign investors's ocean tech industry

$ 40,000

Develop marketing materials for attracting European investors to Vancouver's green tech sector

$ 60,000

Participate in international trade shows to promote Montreal as a hub for aerospace investment

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's community or organizational status.

The applicant must be a community seeking to improve their capacity to attract, retain and expand foreign direct investment (FDI).
The applicant can be a non-profit partnership at the local community level.
The activities proposed must align with the purpose of creating jobs for Canadians, supporting innovation, and increasing exports.

Who is eligible?

Communities and non-profit partnerships that aim to improve their capacity to attract, retain, and expand foreign direct investment (FDI) are eligible to apply for the CanExport Community Investments grant. This includes local community-level non-profit organizations seeking funding support for FDI-related activities.

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies are not eligible for this grant. These include:

For-profit organizations
Investment firms
Businesses not directly affiliated with community improvements

Eligible expenses

The CanExport Community Investments program provides financial support to communities and non-profit organizations for eligible expenses to help them attract, retain, and expand foreign direct investment activities. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to:

Market research and analysis
Program delivery and project management costs
Trade show participation fees
Marketing materials and promotional activities
Consulting fees related to FDI attraction
Travel costs for investment missions and delegations
Legal and professional fees

Eligible geographic areas

The CanExport Community Investments program does not specify particular eligible geographical areas for grant applicants within the provided information. Applications seem to be open to communities and non-profits throughout Canada without regional restrictions mentioned.

Selection criteria

The CanExport Community Investments program has evaluation and selection criteria to assess project proposals:

Alignment with program objectives
Demonstrated capacity to attract, retain, and expand foreign direct investment
Clear project plan and timeline
Expected impact on job creation, innovation, and exports

How to apply

Preliminary Registration

Watch the registration video to understand the registration process for the CanExport Community Investments program.
Register your organization on the funding provider's portal to create an account and gain access to the application system.

Prepare Application

Draft a comprehensive proposal detailing how you plan to attract, retain, or expand Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in your community.
Prepare supporting documentation, including a detailed budget, project timelines, and any necessary letters of support from partners or stakeholders.
Ensure that the proposal aligns with the funding criteria and objectives of the CanExport Community Investments program.

Submit Application

Log into the funding body’s portal with your registered account to access the submission area.
Upload all required documents, ensuring that each file is accurately named and formatted according to guidelines.
Complete the online application form, providing all requested information and double-checking for accuracy and completeness.
Submit the application before the deadline of September 29th, 2023.

Confirmation of Submission

Receive an automated confirmation email with your application number upon successful submission.
Retain the confirmation email and application number for your records and future reference.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

Non-repayable grants are offered, meaning recipients do not need to return the funds.
The funding period is aligned with the fiscal year, running from April 1 to March 31.
Proposals for the upcoming year are only accepted during a specified application window.

Documents and links

Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Trade Commissioner Service — CanExport Community Investment. 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.