Small Business Grants
As a small business, we know how challenging it can be to (1) get your business off the ground, and (2) get it in the black. Governments and organizations understand this as well, which is part of the reason why there are so many grants and funds to support small businesses. Why not take advantage of these opportunities?! Below, we’ve created a list of grants to consider. We hope you find this list helpful as you take the next step with your venture. Happy reading!
Indigenous-Owned
Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation (TACC) Business Equity Program
About: The Business Equity Program (BEP) will consider non-repayable contributions to Indigenous clients for eligible capital and business support to start, expand, or acquire a viable business. Non-repayable contributions for business plans, marketing, and other related business support services will also be considered.
Amount: The BEP may contribute up to a maximum of $99,999 for individuals and incorporated businesses and up to $250,000 for community owned businesses.
Eligibility: Clients must be individuals of Canadian Aboriginal heritage — Status or Non-status Indian (on or off-reserve), Métis or Inuit — or a majority-owned Aboriginal business, financial organization, or development corporation. To be eligible for support, you should also be involved full-time with the proposed business in a management capacity and must be able to provide 15% cash equity to support the project.
Government of Canada Indigenous Businesses Initiative
About: The Government of Canada is providing up to $306.8 million in interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions for First Nations, Inuit and Métis businesses.
Amount: As of December 4, 2020, up to $60,000 is available to small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses in the form of an interest-free loan up to $40,000 or a non-repayable contribution up to $20,000.
Eligibility: To be eligible, you must be a small or medium-sized Indigenous business in need, which includes current or former clients of an Aboriginal Financial Institution or a Métis Capital Corporation.
Marketing
CanExport for Businesses (SMEs)
About: CanExport for Businesses (SMEs) covers up to 75% of costs for export marketing of your products and services in international markets where you have little or no sales.
Amount: Small and medium sized companies may access up to $75,000 in funding to assist with international market development activities.
Eligibility:
Be for-profit.
Be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP), or cooperative.
Have a Canada Revenue Agency business number.
Employ fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees.
Have $100,000 to $100 million in declared revenue in Canada during its past fiscal year (or 12 months for quarterly filers).
Saskatchewan-Specific
Creative Saskatchewan Marketing & Export Grant
About: This grant helps cover the cost of marketing your product or business.
Amount: Approved projects will have up to 50% of the approved project budget funded. The maximum amount is $5,000 for the Market & Export – Micro Stream and $25,000 for the Market & Export – Major (or to a maximum of $50,000 per applicant per 24 months).
Eligibility:
The applicant must be an active practitioner in one of the creative industries identified under The Creative Saskatchewan Act (2013).
The applicant must demonstrate their intention to earn their living within their chosen creative industry, as well as their ambition to grow their business beyond their current status.
The applicant must be in good standing with Creative Saskatchewan in all respects.
An applicant may be a corporation or an individual.
SREDA Go Money Entrepreneurship Competition
About: Get your ideas off the ground and sharpen your business skills through strategy sessions before a final competition pitching to local experts.
Amount: $30,000 will be split among the winners.
Eligibility:
Be at least 18 years of age.
Have a for-profit business in the Saskatoon Region that is independently owned, operated, and created by the entrepreneur.
Be in operation for two years or less.
Meet or be in the process of meeting all regulatory requirements by law.
Note: Businesses must have a valid municipal business license in order to qualify for the pitch finale.
Agtech Growth Fund
About: Agtech Growth Fund (AGF) is a research and development funding program designed to accelerate the commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector. Through AGF, Innovation Saskatchewan provides non-repayable grants to projects that address a specific industry challenge.
Amount: Depends on the needs of the project. (There’s a lifetime cap of $900,000.)
Eligibility:
Proposed by a group of active private sector partners that represent the project’s value chain (researchers, those involved in the production/supply process, and customer/end users).
Demonstrate how the technological innovation will solve a specific industry-wide challenge and benefit the agriculture sector as a whole, not just individual companies.
Technological solutions must be novel and innovative.
Demonstrate a feasible path to commercialization and how the benefits of the project will be sustained over the long-term.
Industry partners must provide 50% or more of the project’s budget. The amount requested from Innovation Saskatchewan must be no more than 30% of the proposed budget.
Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund
About: The Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund (SAIF) is a research and development funding program designed to accelerate commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in the province’s core sectors. Through SAIF, Innovation Saskatchewan provides non-repayable grants to projects that address a specific industry challenge.
Amount: Depends on the needs of the project. Lead proponents can receive a maximum of $450,000 in SAIF grants over their lifetime.
Eligibility:
Proposed by a group of active private sector partners that represent the project’s value chain (researchers, those involved in the production/supply process, and customer/end users).
Demonstrate how the technological innovation will solve a specific industry challenge and benefit the sector as a whole, not just individual companies.
Technological solutions must be novel and innovative.
Demonstrate a feasible path to commercialization and how the benefits of the project will be sustained over the long-term.
Industry partners must provide 50% or more of the project’s budget. The amount requested from Innovation Saskatchewan must be no more than 30% of the proposed budget.
Hiring Youth
Canada Summer Jobs Program
About: Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop skills and gain paid work experience in order to successfully transition into the labour market.
The program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students—all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants.
Amount: Employers are eligible to receive up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum wage.
Eligibility: View all the eligibility requirements here.
Career Launcher
About: Career Launcher’s internship programs encourage employers to hire students and grads by providing wage subsidies. These jobs ensure tomorrow’s workforce have the skills needed in Canada’s ever-evolving economy.
Amount: Receive up to $32,000 to hire and train an intern.
Eligibility: Employers must be in clean tech, digital tech, natural resources, or support Canada’s Sustainable Development Goal efforts. Employers must also have an established payroll system, be set up to receive payments by direct deposit, and have a process for supervising and mentoring interns. Other eligibility requirements vary by program.
Women and Gender Equality
Learn more about Women and Gender Equality Canada’s open, closed and ongoing funding opportunities here.
