Discover funding programs designed for small-town entrepreneurs, farmers, and rural businesses. From regional development grants to agricultural financing, find the support to grow your rural enterprise.
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
A comprehensive economic development program providing grants and loans to support business expansion, innovation, and community development in Northern Ontario. Whether you're a startup, growing business, or established enterprise, FedNor helps rural and northern businesses thrive.
Explore programs designed to support entrepreneurs and businesses in rural communities, small towns, and agricultural regions across Canada.
Farm Credit Canada
Provides financing and services to agriculture and agri-food businesses across Canada. Specialized lending for farms, food processors, and rural enterprises.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
A five-year federal-provincial framework supporting innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in the agriculture sector through various grant programs.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Supports the development and commercialization of innovative agri-food products, technologies, processes, or services with repayable contributions.
Regional Development Corporation of New Brunswick
Supports local and regional priorities that grow local economies in New Brunswick, focusing on community-driven economic development projects.
Government of Yukon
Supports projects providing long-term, sustainable economic benefits to Yukoners and Yukon communities, including business innovation and diversification.
ACOA
Supports business development and economic growth in Atlantic Canada through various programs for businesses in NB, NS, PEI, and NL.
Prairies Economic Development Canada
Supports business growth and economic diversification in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with various funding programs.
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Supports economic development in Canada's three territories through funding for businesses and communities in NWT, Yukon, and Nunavut.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Supports the development of export markets for Canadian agricultural products through funding for marketing activities and trade shows.
Regional Development Agencies
Provides support to Canadian businesses affected by tariffs, helping them diversify markets and adapt to trade challenges.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Supports under-represented groups in agriculture including women, Indigenous peoples, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Government-backed loans helping small businesses access financing for equipment, improvements, and real property. Available to all rural businesses.
Canada's six regional development agencies provide tailored support for rural and remote businesses in every part of the country.
Economic development for Northern Ontario, including the Invest North Program with funding up to $5 million.
Supports businesses in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Economic development in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with focus on diversification and innovation.
Supports business development and economic growth throughout British Columbia.
Regional economic growth in Quebec through grants and contribution programs.
Economic development in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Specialized funding streams for Canadian farmers, food processors, and agricultural businesses.
Farm Credit Canada financing and provincial crop insurance programs.
AgriInnovate funding for new technologies and processes.
Value-added processing grants and equipment financing.
AgriMarketing program for international market development.
Environmental programs and sustainable agriculture funding.
FCC Young Farmer Loan and new entrant programs.
Get answers to common questions about rural and agricultural business funding in Canada.
Rural Canadian businesses can access multiple funding sources: Regional Development Agency programs (FedNor, ACOA, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan, CED, CanNor), provincial rural economy funds, agricultural programs like SCAP and AgriInnovate, Farm Credit Canada financing, and community development grants. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $5 million+ depending on the program and project scope.
Most programs define 'rural' as communities outside major urban centres, typically with populations under 100,000 or based on Statistics Canada's rural area classifications. Some programs focus on specific regions like Northern Ontario, the Prairies, or Atlantic Canada. Agricultural businesses automatically qualify for many rural programs regardless of exact location.
Yes, new farmers can access Farm Credit Canada's Young Farmer Loan program, provincial agricultural support programs, the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) programs, and regional development grants. Many programs offer favourable terms for first-generation farmers, including lower interest rates and longer repayment periods.
Northern Ontario businesses can access FedNor's Invest North Program (up to $5 million), Northern Ontario Heritage Fund programs, Indigenous economic development funds, and federal regional development initiatives. FedNor specifically focuses on economic development, innovation, and community growth in Northern Ontario.
Yes, rural tourism businesses can access multiple programs including provincial tourism development grants, regional development agency funding, rural economy funds, and specific tourism programs like Manitoba's Tourism Development Fund. Agri-tourism operations can also tap into agricultural funding streams.
Rural businesses can access the Universal Broadband Fund for connectivity improvements, provincial digital transformation grants, regional development agency technology programs, and IRAP funding for innovation projects. Many programs now prioritize digital adoption for rural and remote businesses.