Resources
Explore our free resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Yellowhead East region.
Tools:
- First Steps In Business - Questions and Resources
- Essential Guide to Starting a New Business in Rural Alberta
- Buying a Business Checklist
- Small Business Start Up Guide
- Small Business Financial Fundamentals Guide
- Small Business Marketing Guide
- Business Plan Template
- Business Planning Canvas
- Cash Flow Projections
- Staff Affordability Calculator
- Annual Marketing Calendar
- Recordkeeping Best Practices
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.
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
- Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program
- Aboriginal Youth Business Council
- Alberta Indian Investment Corporation
- Apeetogosan (Metis) Development Inc.
- Indian Business Corporation
- Support for Indigenous Businesses
- Tips For Hiring Indigenous Employees
- Indigenous Intellectual Property Program Grant
- Indigenous Tourism Alberta
- Alexander Business Corporation
- Alberta Metis Works
- Investment Readiness Program
- Futurpreneur Canada Indigenous Program - (*loan)
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.
- 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.
- 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
- CFYE Classic Loan (*loan)
- CFYE Line of Credit (*loan)
- CFYE Quick Cash Loan (*loan)
- CFYE Youth Loan Program (*loan)
- CFYE Business Improvement Loan (*loan)
- CFYE Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (*loan)
- Work-Sharing Program
General Planning
- Business Number (BN) Registration
- SME Direct - Link to gain access to a wealth of small business information available through Industry Canada.
- Bplans.com Small Business Planning Centre - In-depth site of how to start a business.
- Workink
- Statistics Canada Market Research Handbook - Guide for Canadian Small Businesses
- Statistics Canada - Find the market Information you need
- General Infomation for GST/HST registrants
- Sample Business Plans
- Choosing a Legal Structure for Social Purpose Business
- Incorporate a Non-Profit Organization in Alberta

Let’s see what we can do for your business
Give us a call, send us an email, or drop in for a chat.