Complete guide to free government funding for Alberta businesses. Updated February 2026.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Amount: Up to $15,000
Helps small and medium-sized businesses adopt digital technologies to grow their businesses, compete in the global marketplace, and create jobs.
Eligibility: Small and medium-sized businesses with 1-499 employees
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Amount: Up to $50 million
Supports large-scale, transformative and collaborative projects between industry, researchers and non-profit organizations that help grow Canada's economy.
Eligibility: For-profit corporations incorporated in Canada
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Amount: Up to $250,000
Provides financing and support to Black entrepreneurs and business owners to start and scale their businesses.
Eligibility: Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Canada
Organization: National Research Council Canada
Amount: Up to $1 million
Provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market.
Eligibility: Canadian SMEs with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
Organization: Canada Revenue Agency
Amount: Up to 68% tax credit
Federal tax incentive program that encourages Canadian businesses to conduct research and development in Canada.
Eligibility: Canadian businesses conducting eligible R&D activities
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Amount: Up to $1 million
Helps small businesses get loans by encouraging financial institutions to provide financing for small business loans.
Eligibility: Small businesses with gross annual revenues of $10 million or less
Organization: Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports the development and demonstration of clean technology solutions that address climate change, air quality, clean water and clean soil.
Eligibility: Canadian companies developing clean technologies
Organization: Global Affairs Canada
Amount: Up to $99,999
Helps small and medium-sized enterprises pursue new export opportunities and markets.
Eligibility: Canadian SMEs seeking to develop export markets
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Amount: Up to $25,000
Helps employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs.
Eligibility: Employers hiring youth aged 15-30
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Amount: Up to $1 million
Helps Canadian entrepreneurs bring their innovations to market by connecting them with federal departments and agencies that have a challenge to solve.
Eligibility: Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises
Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Amount: Up to $10 million
Supports the development and commercialization of innovative agri-food products, technologies, processes or services.
Eligibility: For-profit organizations in the agriculture and agri-food sector
Organization: Government of Alberta
Amount: 30% tax credit on investment
Provided a 30% tax credit to investors who invest in eligible small businesses in Alberta (program concluded in 2019).
Eligibility: Eligible small businesses in Alberta (No new credits after 2019)
Organization: Government of Alberta
Amount: Up to 20% tax credit (on eligible R&D)
Supports companies that create jobs in innovation-focused industries in Alberta through a tax credit on incremental R&D expenditures.
Eligibility: Companies creating innovation jobs in Alberta
Organization: City of Edmonton
Amount: Up to $50,000 (50% of project costs)
Matching reimbursement grant for large, significant exterior renovations in designated Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) of Edmonton.
Eligibility: Commercial buildings in Edmonton BIAs
Organization: City of Edmonton
Amount: Up to $1,000 (50% of costs)
Matching reimbursement grant for minor exterior improvements in Edmonton’s Business Improvement Areas.
Eligibility: Commercial businesses in Edmonton BIAs
Organization: Futurpreneur Canada
Amount: Up to $60,000
Provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39 to launch their businesses.
Eligibility: Canadian residents aged 18-39 starting a business
Organization: Futurpreneur Canada
Amount: Up to $60,000
Provides financing, mentoring and culturally relevant support to Black entrepreneurs aged 18-39.
Eligibility: Black Canadian residents aged 18-39 starting a business
Organization: Futurpreneur Canada
Amount: Up to $60,000
Provides financing, mentoring and culturally relevant support to Indigenous entrepreneurs aged 18-39.
Eligibility: Indigenous Canadian residents aged 18-39 starting a business
Organization: Futurpreneur Canada
Amount: Up to $20,000
Supports young entrepreneurs who want to start a business while maintaining other commitments, offering smaller-scale financing and mentorship.
Eligibility: Canadian residents aged 18-39 starting a side business
Organization: Export Development Canada
Amount: Varies
Provides a suite of financial solutions (insurance, guarantees, financing) to help Canadian companies grow their export business and manage risk.
Eligibility: Canadian companies engaged in international trade
Showing 20 of 84 available grants
Use Our Grant Finder Tool to See All MatchesAlberta offers 84 government grant programs for small businesses in 2026, with funding ranging from $1,000 to over $1 million. Key provincial programs include the Alberta Innovation Employment Grant (20% tax credit on R&D), Edmonton Storefront Improvement Grant (up to $50,000 for commercial facades), and funding through Alberta Innovates. Federal programs available to Alberta businesses include IRAP (up to $1 million for tech R&D), SR&ED tax credits (up to 68% refund on R&D expenses), and CanExport (up to $99,999 for export activities). Alberta's economy focuses on oil & gas, agriculture, clean technology, and a growing tech sector, with grants available for all sectors. Most grants require no repayment. Processing times range from 4-12 weeks depending on the program. Source: GrantCompass.ca, updated February 2026.
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