Resources

Explore our free resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Yellowhead East region.

Tools:

Useful Links

Grants, Business Loans & Support

CFYE receives many requests regarding grant listings. Though our office doesn't offer grants, we help direct people to resources.

An understanding about grants, to start:

Grants are often awarded to existing market niches or to encourage and support new market space.
Grants are non-repayable and intended for long-term sustainability, specific projects, job creation, and are rarely for operating capital.
Your organization's business structure is an important element that determines eligibility.

Items listed below are grants and loans for non-profit and for-profit organizations, and are great starting points on your search for financial resources:

Municipal

Provincial

Business and Economy - Energy, agriculture, forestry, culture and other key sectors, and supports for business, trade and economic development
Canada Alberta Job Grant - Eligible employers can get government funding to help employees and unemployed Albertans access training opportunities
Alberta Immigrant Mentorship Innovation Grant - Funding for projects that support the development of career mentorship opportunities for immigrants.
Workforce Strategies Grant - Funding for projects that address labour and skills shortages and support Alberta’s economic recovery
Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program - Apply for wage top-up, professional development and release time funding to support certified Early Childhood Educators
Child Care Space Creation Grant - grant for non-profit groups interested in creating new child care spaces or starting new child care programs
Driving Back To Work - supports unemployed Albertans pursuing careers in the trucking industry
Anti-Racism Community Engagement Grant - enables eligible organizations to host and carry out their own engagement sessions and ensure the needs and concerns of people in communities impacted by racism are heard

Federal

Business Benefits Finder - Find the right programs and services, whether you’re starting out or scaling up
MentorWorks Funding Guide to download the Canadian Business Funding Guide
Jobs And Growth Fund - Help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth
Canada's Economic Response Plan
CanExport SMEs - Up to $50,000 to cover 50% of eligible costs to develop and expand your exporting activities
Grand Challenges Canada - seeks bold ideas from the best and brightest innovators to save and improve lives in low- and middle-income countries and Canada
Support to Businesses - extending the Work-Sharing program, providing small businesses with wage subsidies, Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
Innovation Science and Economic Development
Department of Finance - list of all federal support updated daily
Business Scale-Up and Productivity - 1) investing in projects that create a stronger, inclusive economy 2) connecting you with other key players to create mutually beneficial business relationships, and 3) help pathfind your project to other sources of funding and expertise to help grow your business and get your products or services to market

To off-shoot from there, begin searches for a specific industry or pillar:

Alberta Innovates
Black Entrepreneur Loan Fund - (*loan) Access $25,000 - $250,000
Rise Helps - (*loan) Dedicated to empowering people with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater social and economic inclusion through entrepreneurship
Telus #StandWithOwners - Apply for a chance to receive $25,000 in funding, advertising, and technology
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities - Fund projects that support individuals, employers and others that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility in employment
Fast Track To Financing Program - (*loan) Supports projects that help to create strong business or commercialization plans to attract public financing or private investment to support the development, and eventual market entry, of natural product or technologies
Canada Digital Adoption Program - help get your business online, give your e-commerce presence a boost or help digitalize your business's operations. CDAP provides funding and support to businesses, as well as training and work opportunities for young Canadians
Film and Television Tax Credit - offers a refundable Alberta tax credit certificate on eligible Alberta production and labour costs to corporations that produce films, television series and other eligible screen-based productions
Sustainable Development Technology Fund - non-repayable fund for your pre-commercial technology that helps fight climate change, or deals with clean air, water and soil
Canadian Apprenticeship Services - providing employers with financial incentives and free training for first year apprentices

Indigenous

Tourism

Tourism Funding Sources Guide - Alberta funding and business advisory sources
Indigenous Tourism Alberta
Tourism Enhancement Grant - offers financial assistance to local community groups for projects or events that enhance tourism development in the Whitecourt area
PrairiesCan - support for western Canadian businesses
Business Development Bank of Canada
Product Development Fund - three investment streams designed to assist Alberta businesses and municipalities with launching new tourism infrastructure initiatives, acquiring experience assets, and assisting with visitor program development
Cooperative Investment Fund - empowers communities to grow tourism revenue through destination development, promotion, and cultural events and festivals.
Tourism Relief Fund - supports tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth.

Women

Alberta Womens Entrepreneurship - (*loan)
Women Entrepreneur Program - (*loan) FCC is committed to empowering women in agriculture, agribusiness and food

CFYE Youth & Student Business Loan Program (*loan)
Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment - aims to help supply-managed poultry and egg producers adapt to market changes
Loan Program for Students - Business Development Bank of Canada's entrepreneurship opportunities.
Youth Café - Government of Canada website for youth seeking employment opportunities.

Agriculture & Agri-Food

Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment - aims to help supply-managed poultry and egg producers adapt to market changes (age 35 and under)
Matching Investment Fund - provides non-repayable contributions for product development projects on a matching investment basis
AgriCommunication Program - non-repayable contribution to projects supporting activities which increase appreciation and pride in the contributions of farmers and food industry, and enhance public trust.
Emerging Opportunities - Agriculture and Food Sustainability Assurance Initiative, Efficient Grain Handling Program, Emerging Opportunities Program, Farm Technology Program, Market Assurance Program, Water Program, Youth Agriculture Education Program
Innovation Booster - provides flexible and rapid support on a cost-shared basis to enable small- or medium-sized enterprises to advance their food innovation and research outcomes
Canada Pavilion Program - aimed at making trade show participation easier at the world’s premier food and beverage events
AgriValue Processing Business Incubator - supports new food businesses and established food manufacturers
Thrive Academy - focused on supporting idea stage and pre-seed stage startups in the agri-food tech sector; 12 week program
Agri-Food Products & Services Export Catalogue - connecting international buyers with Alberta product and service suppliers
Alberta Food Directories - connecting Alberta-based food processors and producers with buyers to promote locally-produced food
Agri-Food and Bioindustrial Innovation Program - aims to 1) Sustain, grow and optimize productivity and reduce the cost of production 2) Add value to enhanced and new commodities in the agri-food and bioindustrial sectors 3) Increase environmental sustainability and social benefits for Albertans
Water Program - directly supports the enhancement of agricultural water management
Women Entrepreneur Program - (*loan) FCC is committed to empowering women in agriculture, agribusiness and food
FarmCash - (*loan) cash advance program from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is a valuable financing tool that supports the working capital needs of your farm when you need it