Updated August 2026 · Verified against Prairies Economic Development Canada guidelines
Reimbursement Est. 2021
Grant Federal Active

PrairiesCan Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD)

Prairies Economic Development Canada
Maximum Funding
$75,000 to $1,500,000
Ongoing — 2-stage EOI process
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
PrairiesCan Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) provides up to $75,000 to $1,500,000. Non-repayable contributions for non-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, and economic development organizations across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

98 organizations received this funding in 2025 — 2,214 awards since 2007. Typical award: $242.5K. Half of all awards fall between $100K and $944.4K. The advertised maximum is $1.5M — most awards land closer to $242.5K. 10% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Municipal government, Other amusement and recreation, Building construction. Top provinces: Alberta 42% · Saskatchewan 28% · Manitoba 19%. Covers: PrairiesCan Community Economic Development and Diversification contributions, delivered under the Western Diversification Program and mostly to community organizations rather than individual businesses. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical award here is $242.5K — the median of 2,214 awards since 2007, even though the program advertises up to $1.5M. In 2025, 98 organizations were funded.

98funded in 2025
$242.5Ktypical award
2,214awards since 2007
10%for-profit

Most awards fall between $100K and $944.4K, with a typical (median) award of $242.5K. The program funds up to $1.5M for the largest projects — about 6.2 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $242.5K $100K $944.4K
up to $1.5M

Most awards land between $100K and $944.4K, with a typical award of $242.5K — and this program funds up to $1.5M for the largest projects.

Top sectors Municipal governmentOther amusement and recreationBuilding construction(of classified recipients)
Top provinces AB 42%SK 28%MB 19%

Named recipients

Recent recipients include Equal Opportunities West Inc. (Winnipeg, MB, 2026), Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Inc. (Winnipeg, MB, 2026) and Community Futures Partners of Saskatchewan Inc. (Winnipeg, MB, 2026).

  1. 2026Equal Opportunities West Inc.Winnipeg, MB · Administrative management consulting
  2. 2026Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Inc.Winnipeg, MB · Civic and social organizations
  3. 2026Community Futures Partners of Saskatchewan Inc.Winnipeg, MB · Administrative management consulting
  4. 2026Business Link AlbertaCalgary, AB · Other membership organizations
  5. 2026Etthen Energy Limited PartnershipEdmonton, AB · Oil and gas extraction
  6. 2026Momentum Community Economic Development SocietyCalgary, AB · Administrative management consulting
  7. 2026Community Futures AlbertaSylvan Lake, AB · Administrative management consulting
  8. 2026South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre Inc.Regina, SK · Administrative management consulting
  9. 2026Prospect Human Services SocietyEdmonton, AB · Administrative management consulting
  10. 2026Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc.Winnipeg, MB · Transportation and warehousing
Show 25 more recipients
  1. 2026Prairie Agricultural Machinery InstituteHumboldt, SK · Professional, scientific, technical
  2. 2026Saskatchewan Jazz FestivalSaskatoon, SK · Performing arts
  3. 2026Coalition of Black Small & Medium EnterprisesRegina, SK · Other business support services
  4. 2026Alberta Velodrome AssociationEdmonton, AB · Amusement and recreation
  5. 2026Northern Manitoba Sector CouncilThompson, MB · Educational services
  6. 2026Cowessess VenturesRegina, SK · Chemical manufacturing
  7. 2026Banff Centre for Arts and CreativityBanff, AB · Fine arts schools
  8. 2025Economic Developers AlbertaCalgary, AB · Civic and social organizations
  9. 2025Western Canada Economic Forum IncorporatedSaskatoon, SK · Provincial government
  10. 2025St. John AmbulanceWinnipeg, MB · Educational services
  11. 2025City of BrandonBrandon, MB · Municipal government
  12. 2025TIAMWinnipeg, MB · Business associations
  13. 2025Saskatchewan Mining Association Inc.Regina, SK · Support for oil and gas
  14. 2025GLOBEOttawa, ON · Administrative and support
  15. 2025Corporation of the City of OrilliaOrillia, ON · Municipal government
  16. 2024UNCEDED: Voices of the LandOttawa, ON · Information and cultural industries
  17. 2024Economic Developers Association of CanadaGrassie, ON · Educational services
  18. 2024Canada SnowboardVancouver, BC · Performing arts
  19. 2024Festival Management CommitteeNorth York, ON · Performing arts
  20. 2024Manitoba Indigenous Tourism AssociationVancouver, BC · Advertising agencies
  21. 2024Kivalliq Chamber of CommerceRankin Inlet, NU · Municipal government
  22. 2024London Economic Development CorporationLondon, ON · Administrative management consulting
  23. 2023Canadian Urban InstituteToronto, ON · Municipal government
  24. 2022Great Canadian Railtour Company Ltd.Vancouver, BC · Transportation and warehousing
  25. 2021Donald's Fine FoodsRichmond, BC · Food manufacturing
See how much each recipient received, and how each award compares to the typical one. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Non-repayable contributions for non-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, and economic development organizations across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Funds community economic diversification, adaptation to economic shocks, and programs supporting underrepresented groups. Distinct from the PrairiesCan Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program, which serves for-profit high-growth businesses. Where a funded project is commercial in nature, PrairiesCan typically provides the assistance as a REPAYABLE contribution.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Incorporated not-for-profit organizations supporting community economic development (industry associations, economic development organizations, cultural organizations, societies)
  • Post-secondary educational institutions
  • Co-operatives
  • Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) organizations, including Indigenous-led not-for-profits and Indigenous-owned businesses
  • Municipalities and all other municipal-type organizations
  • Provincial or crown corporations and organizations, provided the assistance is not used to fund the corporation's capital or ongoing operational requirements
  • All applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements, and the individual submitting must be authorized to bind the organization
  • Hospitals and regional health care centres
Provinces
Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
$75,000 to $1,500,000
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing — 2-stage EOI process

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Accessibility
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
3/5

Moderate competition — prepare a strong application

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Approval Rate
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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How Prairies Economic Development Canada judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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Written answers23≈5.3k words from the funder’s limits
Judged on13 criteria
Can reject you7 rules
To attach8 documents

Distilled from 6+ source documents on canada.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-04.

6 of the sources

What Prairies Economic Development Canada favours

Alignment, demand, measurable results, governance, leveraged confirmed funding◦

“A clear alignment to one or more of PrairiesCan's investment priorities; strong market/industry demand (e.g., the project addresses a significant gap in the market or there is a demonstrated industry demand for the project); clear, measurable economic results for the Prairies; effective governance measures and management team in place to carry out the project; a strong rationale for the project; financial statements that demonstrate the organization is financially self-sustaining; leveraged funding from provincial governments, the private sector, and other non-government sources (typically 50 percent or more); and non-PrairiesCan funding is confirmed; funding will only be considered confirmed if written proof is provided”

1 more, in their words

The form2 prompts shown

Expression of interest19 sections · ≈1200 words
  1. 1Organization information (EOI)short answerno limit
  2. 2Brief summary of your organization and mandate (EOI)written answer · 500 characters

    Provide a brief summary of your organization and mandate (Maximum of 500 characters)

  3. 3Project primary and secondary contact (EOI)short answerno limit
  4. 4Project title (EOI)short answer · 90 characters
  5. 5Project address / location (EOI)selection + writtenno limit

    Project address is the same as Mailing address on the account?; If the project address is different from the mailing address, enter the location at which the project will take place.

  6. 6Project activities in plain language (EOI)written answer · 1,000 characters
  7. 7Economic benefits associated with this project (EOI)written answer · 1,000 characters
  8. 8Which regional development agency (RDA) Priority does this project best support? (EOI)selectionno limit
  9. 9Explain how this project supports the indicated priority (EOI)written answer · 2,000 characters
  10. 10Proposed project start and end date (EOI)short answerno limit
  11. 11Project costs (EOI)tableno limit
  12. 12Cash flows by fiscal year (EOI)spreadsheetno limit
  13. 13Funding partners (EOI)tableno limit
  14. 14Partnerships for this project (EOI)written answer · 1,200 characters
  15. 15Signing authority (EOI)short answerno limit
  16. 16Diversity and inclusion - ownership or leadership (EOI)choice-multino limit
  17. 17Diversity and inclusion - who the project supports (EOI)yes/no + written · 1,500 characters
  18. 18Documents to upload with the EOIuploadno limit
  19. 19EOI attestationcheckboxno limit
Full application31 sections · ≈4050 words
  1. 20Organization information (full application)short answerno limit
  2. 21Brief summary of your organization (full application)written answer · 500 characters
  3. 22Project primary and secondary contact (full application)short answerno limit
  4. 23Project title (full application)short answer · 90 characters
  5. 24Project address / location (full application)selection + writtenno limit
  6. 25Project activities in plain language (full application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  7. 26Economic benefits associated with this project (full application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  8. 27Which RDA priority does this project best support? (full application)selectionno limit
  9. 28Explain how this project supports the indicated priority (full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  10. 29Proposed start and end date (full application)short answerno limit
  11. 30Project costs (full application)tableno limit
  12. 31Cash flows (full application)spreadsheetno limit
  13. 32Funding partners (full application)tableno limit
  14. 33Partnerships, including any costs covered (full application)written answer · 1,200 characters
  15. 34Primary activity (full application)selectionno limit
  16. 35Economic result indicators (full application)tableno limit
  17. 36Other significant economic benefits (full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  18. 37Benefits to Francophone communities (full application)yes/no + written · 1,500 characters
  19. 38Alignment with other government and industry priorities (full application)written answer · 1,500 characters
  20. 39Full project description (full application)written answer · 3,000 characters
  21. 40Project timeline milestones (full application)table · 1,000 characters
  22. 41Similar activities, services or products (full application)yes/no + written · 1,000 characters
  23. 42Project rationale and the case for RDA involvement (full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  24. 43Which Prairie province(s) will directly benefit (full application)checkboxesno limit
  25. 44Will the project result in the generation of revenues? (full application)yes/no + written · 1,000 characters
  26. 45Governance and oversight (full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  27. 46Qualifications of the project team (full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  28. 47Documents to upload with the full applicationuploadno limit
  29. 48Diversity and inclusion (full application)yes/no + written · 1,500 characters
  30. 49Signing authority (full application)short answerno limit
  31. 50Attestation and authorized-official acknowledgements (full application)checkboxno limit

bar = length the funder allows, from its stated limits

48 more prompts, in the funder’s words

Judged against4 questions · 13 criteria

  1. 1

    Will the Prairies see measurable economic results?

    Show them Give a numeric target and target date for every indicator, and state the assumption behind each number.◦

    In the funder’s words · 2
    • Economic impact
    • Measurable economic results for the Canadian Prairies (e.g., jobs created or maintained)
  2. 2

    Is the project viable and the team capable?

    What to show, and the funder’s 5 criteria behind it in Premium

  3. 3

    Can the organization and its partners pay for it?

    What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium

  4. 4

    Does it match government priorities and rules?

    What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium

Where applicants failin Prairies Economic Development Canada’s words

“PrairiesCan will not assess incomplete EOIs or saved EOIs that have not been submitted.”
“If you have not been contacted, your project will not be considered further.”
“Only applications demonstrating the highest merit and fit with CEDD objectives will be considered for funding. Many good projects will not receive support under CEDD.”

5 more, in the funder’s words

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See all 7 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.

4 more rules that can reject you · 11 more criteria · 48 more prompts

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Do you pass?7 checks

Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.

Your organisation

  • Eligible applicant organization type

    Eligible applicants are organizations that support community economic development and/or diversification projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan and/or Manitoba. They may include: Incorporated not-for-profits (e.g., industry associations, economic development organizations, cultural organizations, and societies); post-secondary educational institutions; co-operatives; Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Metis) organizations, including Indigenous-led not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous-owned businesses; a municipality and all other municipal-type organizations; a provincial or crown corporation or organization, provided that the financial assistance will not be used to fund the corporation's capital or ongoing operational requirements

  • Same list, plus hospitals

    Under CEDD funding, eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations that support community economic development and/or diversification, including: industry associations, economic development organizations, cultural organizations, and societies; post-secondary educational institutions; co-operatives; hospitals and regional health care centres; Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Metis) organizations, including Indigenous-led not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous-owned businesses; a municipality and all other municipal-type organizations; and a provincial or crown corporation or organization, provided that the financial assistance will not be used to fund the corporation's capital or ongoing operational requirements.

  • Legal entity able to contract

    All eligible applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.

4 more checks

1 thing this funder says you do NOT need, in Premium.

Documents to attach8

Ticks are kept on this device.

The money

Non-PrairiesCan shareat least 50% of costs

non-PrairiesCan funding typically should represent at least 50% of total project costs

Repayment terms0% interest over 5 years

Repayable contributions are normally repaid at 0% interest over 5 years in monthly installments beginning 1 year after the project end date.

Grace period1 year grace, 5-year repayment

After project completion, there is normally a 1-year grace period, followed by equal monthly repayments over 5 years.

No interest or securityNo interest, no security, no penalties

PrairiesCan funding has: no interest; no security/collateral requirement; no penalty for early repayment

Your shareAt least 50% secured before applying

You are expected to have secured all non-PrairiesCan requested project financing (typically, at least 50%) before applying

StackingAll other funding sources considered

PrairiesCan considers all other sources of funding available to the applicant.

Costs before approvalCosts before start or EOI ineligible

Costs incurred prior to the project's proposed start date are ineligible. Costs incurred prior to submitting an expression of interest also cannot be covered.

What it pays for · 10
  • operations, maintenance
  • personnel: salary and benefits
  • equipment purchase and lease
  • information management and information technology acquisitions
  • legal, administrative, accounting, licensing, permits and consulting fees
  • rents, leases and leasehold improvements
  • acquisitions of proprietary processes
  • interest charges, insurance, fees and taxes
  • supplies and transportation
  • capital improvements related to projects
What it does not pay for · 14
  • allowance for interest on invested capital, bonds, debentures, and other debt
  • losses on investments, bad debts and associated expenses, other projects and contracts
  • refinancing of existing debts
  • amortization or depreciation of assets
  • federal and provincial income taxes, the recoverable portion of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), taxes or surtaxes on excess profit
  • provisions for contingencies or commissions paid to consultants to secure funding
  • lobbying activities
  • donations, dues and membership fees
  • entertainment expenses
  • land and buildings
  • marketing plans and business plans
  • hospitality and other related costs
  • sole sourced consultant fees
  • fees related to advocacy work

From application to money

  1. Talk to an officerTalk to officer before applying
  2. Submit your EOIWithin 30 days of submissionDecision within 30 days
  3. Funding decision90 business daysDecision within 90 business days
  4. Sign the agreement30 daysSign within 30 days
  5. Report progressReport twice yearly to final date
In the funder’s words · 5
Talk to an officer
Contacting a PrairiesCan regional office before you submit is encouraged; a project officer can answer questions and, if you are invited, help with the full application.
Submit your EOI
One online expression of interest with its attachments; you are either invited to a full application or not contacted again.
Funding decision
Funding decisions are usually made within 90 business days of receiving a complete application, including satisfactory supporting documentation.
Sign the agreement
Sign within 30 days of being notified, and only once every funding source is confirmed.
Report progress
Report progress against the economic results at least twice a year, and report on deliverables up to the final reporting date.

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win CEDD

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Contact PrairiesCan regional office (1-888-338-9378) to discuss project concept and eligibility

Required Documents 5

✓ EOI form via PrairiesCan portal
✓ Project description and budget

Eligible Expenses 10

Ineligible Expenses 20

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Alberta Community Economic Development Programs Saskatchewan Economic Development Programs Manitoba Jobs and Economy Programs Canadian Heritage WAGE (Women and Gender Equality Canada) ESDC Community Workforce Development
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How CEDD Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
PrairiesCan Community Economic Develo... $75,000 to $1,500,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing — 2-stage EOI...
Canadian Heritage Funding Programs Varies Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing (varies by...
NL JobsNL Wage Subsidy up to $12 Easy Reimbursement Ongoing
Alberta Innovation Employment Grant up to $4M Hard Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Storefront Improvement Grant Up to $25,000 Moderate Reimbursement Three intake windows:...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CEDD

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Can sole proprietors apply?
No — CEDD funds organizations: incorporated not-for-profits, post-secondary institutions, co-operatives, Indigenous organizations (including Indigenous-owned businesses), municipalities and municipal-type organizations, and provincial or crown corporations under conditions. General for-profit businesses are not on the eligible-applicant list; PrairiesCan's Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program is the route for them.
What's the typical project size?
Small projects: $75K–$300K; mid-size: $300K–$1M. Most funded projects fall in the $75K–$300K range for community-focused initiatives.
Is co-funding required?
PrairiesCan gives preference to projects where non-PrairiesCan funding is at least 50% of total project cost, and it must be confirmed in an accepted form — bank statements, unused lines of credit, letters of intent, funding agreements or signed term sheets. Forecast revenues, accounts receivable, and commitments to raise equity or obtain future financing are not accepted.
Can I combine with provincial programs?
Yes — Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba economic development programs can stack with CEDD for complementary costs. Confirm compatibility with your regional office first.
Why do applications fail?
Common rejections: applicant is not an eligible organization type, other funding is not confirmed in an accepted form, or the project benefits only the applicant rather than the community.

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