Yukon Economic Development Fund (EDF)

Insider Tip

Contact a program advisor at edf@yukon. ca before writing your application — this pre-screening step is expected by the program and advisors will tell you directly whether your project qualifies and how to frame it. Applications that skip this step and submit cold are more likely to be returned or rejected for misalignment. Frame project outcomes in terms of employment impact and economic diversification, and explicitly address the climate change criterion ('Our Clean Future') even if it is a minor component of your project.

Rejection Pitfalls 8

• Project does not meet the 3-of-4 Yukon business eligibility conditions
• Project costs are primarily ineligible (e.g., operational/maintenance costs, taxes, real estate)
• Applicant cannot demonstrate 25% minimum co-contribution

Success Profile

An established or growing Yukon business or First Nation development entity with a clearly defined project that creates local employment, diversifies revenue sources (e.g., entering a new market, developing a new product line, building organizational capacity), and can contribute at least 25% of project costs from non-government sources. Applications with quantifiable employment outcomes and a clear alignment to Yukon's economic diversification goals are strongest.

Evaluation Criteria

Assessed by program staff and internal committee against: employment impact (number and permanence of jobs created or retained), economic diversification contribution, alignment with Yukon's climate strategy ('Our Clean Future'), organizational eligibility (3 of 4 conditions), co-contribution adequacy (25% minimum), and measurability of project outcomes. Tier 3 also assessed for strategic significance to Yukon's economic development priorities.

Application Steps

Required Documents 7

Eligible Expenses 8

• Labour costs for project-specific activities (specialized consultants, technicians)
• Materials and supplies directly required for the project
• Project-specific equipment purchases
• Marketing and promotional activities (trade show travel, market research, website development)
• Training directly related to project implementation
• Professional services (engineering, architecture, environmental consulting for project-specific needs)
• Leasehold improvements and capital construction with documentation
• Technology acquisition and licensing for project-specific applications

Ineligible Expenses 9

• Ongoing operational costs (salaries as general overhead, base rent, utilities)
• Taxes (GST/HST, PST, income tax)
• Real estate and land purchases
• Debt repayment or refinancing
• Equipment maintenance and repairs (non-project)
• Travel at rates above Yukon government rates
• Costs incurred before the funding agreement is signed
• Activities that are a normal responsibility of government
• Duplicate costs already covered by another government program

Intake Periods

Tier 1: Rolling (no fixed deadline) Tier 2: April 15 and September 15 annually Tier 3: January 15 annually

Deadline Notes

Three separate intake schedules by funding tier. Tier 1 has no fixed deadline. Tier 2 has two annual intakes. Tier 3 has at minimum one annual intake (January 15); a second June 15 intake was referenced in one source but could not be confirmed from official materials.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Organizations that do not meet at least 3 of the 4 Yukon business eligibility conditions
• Non-Yukon businesses with no Yukon operations
• For-profit entities with activities primarily outside Yukon
• Organizations engaged in activities that are a normal government responsibility

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk