CanExport Community Investments
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Who actually receives this funding
115 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 430 awards since 2019. Typical award: $31.9K. Half of all awards fall between $22.2K and $71.5K. The advertised maximum is $500K — most awards land closer to $31.9K. 8% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top provinces: Ontario 33% · Alberta 15% · Quebec 14%. Covers: CanExport Community Investments (ICCI) — disclosed recipients are municipalities, regional economic development orgs, and other G-type (government) or N-type bodies; NOT individual SMEs. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.
The typical CanExport Community Investments award is $31.9K — the median of 430 awards since 2019, even though the program advertises up to $500K. In 2025, 115 organizations were funded.
Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
CanExport Community Investments provides non-repayable grants of $3,000–$500,000 to Canadian community-level non-profit organizations to help Canadian communities attract, retain, and expand foreign direct investment (FDI). Funding covers up to 60% of eligible activity costs and supports activities such as investor prospecting, hosting international delegations, investment promotion materials, and building FDI capacity. The program is distinct from CanExport SMEs and does not fund trade or export activities.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a Canadian community-level non-profit organization
- Must be focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to a specific Canadian community or region
- Activities must relate to FDI attraction, retention, or expansion — not trade or export activities
- Must not fund initiatives related to mergers and acquisitions or investments from other parts of Canada
- Must be a legal entity capable of entering a binding contribution agreement with the Crown
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $500,000 (covers up to 60% of eligible expenses; FDI attraction — does not fund trade or export activities)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 60% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Annual intake — 2026-27 intake closed January 30, 2026; next intake expected January 2027
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win CanExport Community Investments
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis program is specifically for FDI attraction — not for helping local companies export.
Success Profile
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 9
Ineligible Expenses 7
Deadline Notes
Applying for CanExport Community Investments? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow CanExport Community Investments Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport Community Investments | Up to $500,000 | Moderate | Advance Payment | Annual intake — 2026-27... |
| FedDev Ontario Funding | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Commercial Façade Improvement Grant P... | Up to $12,500 (50% of costs) | Easy | Reimbursement | Annual Intake |
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| Storefront Refresh Grant | Up to $1,000 (50% of costs) | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CanExport Community Investments