Alberta Value-Added Program (SCAP)

Insider Tip

Apply within 90 days of your project start date — this is a hard rule with no exceptions. Non-capital expenses (market development, new product development, food safety consulting) are funded at the more generous 50% rate up to $50,000, making them especially attractive for processors not ready for large capital investments. For Stream B, prepare a compelling business case showing projected revenue increase, job creation, or market expansion — the merit scoring rewards outcomes.

Rejection Pitfalls 7

• Application submitted more than 90 days after project start date
• Applicant is not a registered bio-industrial or food processor converting Alberta agricultural products
• Annual sales below $25,000 (Stream A) or below $1,000,000 (Stream B)

Success Profile

Alberta food processor or bio-industrial company (any size from small artisan to mid-market, $25K-$10M in sales for Stream A; $1M+ for Stream B) investing in food safety, processing capacity expansion, new product development, or market development. Companies converting Alberta-grown agricultural inputs into value-added products with a concrete plan for revenue growth.

Evaluation Criteria

Merit-based scoring for both streams, assessing: (1) alignment with program objectives (increasing sales, new product development, market expansion, food safety improvements, job creation); (2) project feasibility and quality of the business case; (3) anticipated economic benefit to Alberta's agricultural processing sector. Stream B applications face higher scrutiny given larger grant amounts.

Application Steps

Required Documents 6

Eligible Expenses 6

• Processing capacity expansion (equipment, facility upgrades)
• Food safety systems and certification costs
• New product or process development activities
• Market development and market access activities (domestic and export)
• Professional fees directly tied to eligible project activities
• Travel (up to $5,000 maximum within non-capital stream)

Ineligible Expenses 6

• Storage and warehousing
• Leased equipment
• Costs not on the official Program Funding List
• Retroactive costs incurred more than 90 days before application submission
• More than $5,000 in travel expenses
• General administration and overhead not directly tied to the project

Intake Periods

Continuous intake throughout the fiscal year (April 1 - March 31) until funding is fully allocated. Budget can be exhausted before fiscal year end — apply early in the fiscal year for best availability.

Deadline Notes

Applications accepted continuously until annual program budget is fully allocated. Applications must be submitted within 90 calendar days of the project start date — retroactive applications are not accepted beyond this window. Applicants are limited to one application per fiscal year (April 1 - March 31).

Ineligible Organizations

• Primary agricultural producers (farmers) not engaged in processing
• Retailers, distributors, and wholesalers not involved in food processing
• Processors not registered in Alberta
• Processors with annual global sales below $25,000

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Low clawback risk for properly documented expenses. Risk exists if claimed costs are later found to be ineligible (not on the Funding List), if the application contained misrepresentations, or if financial records are unavailable for audit within the 5-year retention period.