Business and Industry Links
Business Support Services & Funding Opportunities
Investment Information
www.albertacanada.com - This is an excellent site for Site Selector content. It includes a variety of provincial statistics, major projects which show investment activity, industry profiles, and investor and export information.
Workforce Development
Labour Market Info: For Alberta Economy see http://www.finance.alberta.ca/aboutalberta/index.html
Aboriginal Business Investment Fund: Increasing Aboriginal participation in Alberta’s economy is a key strategic priority of the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Government of Alberta. The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) grant program is a new Government of Alberta (GoA) approach to improving social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal communities by building partnerships to invest in economic opportunities. Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at www.aboriginal.alberta.ca/ABIF
CAJG (Canada Alberta Job Grant): over 4,000 applications have been received as of end of October 2015. It is advised to allow approx. 1 month for the approval to take place, however the turnaround has been less. This is all dependent upon how many applications are coming in at a time. For more information on the program, and for the application forms use this website: http://www.albertacanada.com/opportunity/employers/jobgrant.aspx
Summer Temporary Employment Program: there is $10 million allocated for STEP starting in 2016-17. The program will subsidize wages paid by employers to encourage summer employment opportunities for students. For the first time, STEP will be available to small businesses. STEP will also be open to participation from municipalities, not-for-profit groups, school boards and publicly-funded post-secondary institutions. For the latest information on STEP: http://work.alberta.ca/labour/summer-temporary-employment-program.html
Considering Layoffs? Work-Sharing (WS) is an adjustment program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. The measure provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers. For more information/eligibility/applications, see the Service Canada Work Share program info at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/work_sharing/
Small Business Funding Programs & Resources
Product Development Funding Opportunity: Alberta Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) funding opportunity for product development and commercialization - The GCCIR (German Canadian Centre for Innovation & Research) is now accepting applications for the Alberta-Germany Collaboration Fund for Product Development and Commercialization. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2016. The program will help participants become more globally competitive through developing technology and research-based alliances with the potential to increase economic growth and diversification. http://www.gccir.ca/alberta-germany-collaboration-fund/
Carbon Tax Survey: The CME (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters) is working to determine specific impacts of Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan on provincial manufacturers and is conducting a short survey for the sector to quantify the impacts – to access more information and/or complete the survey see http://ab.cme-mec.ca/?action=show&lid=XGPC6-U4VQU-D39SE
Other key resources:
Agriculture Growing Forward
Community Futures Capital Region
Futurpreneur Canada
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
Innovation & Technology
The Business Link
Tourism Entrepreneurship Program
Pros and cons of incorporation
Small business funding sources:
100 Essential Business skills
Marketing Design and Resources
Financing and Grant Information
Crowdfunding
Equity Investment
Venture Capital
Provincial Funding Programs & Resources
Investor tax credit information, business support services, funding supports and more offered throughout the Province of Alberta - PDF
Community and Regional Economic Development
Funding Opportunities from the Economic Development and Trade Entrepreneurship & Regional Development Branch - PDF
Alberta Innovates is a new system for innovation where businesses, government, and universities collaborate to share resources, experts, and ideas across sectors.
Alberta Government Small Business Resources One stop shopping for small business. Alberta Small Business Resources is a directory of business resources for new and established entrepreneurs.
Other key provincial resources:
Alberta Learning Information Services (ALIS)
Alberta Business Financial Resources – Industry, Science, Technology & Research
Federal Funding Programs & Resources
Export Development Canada Export Development Canada provides Canadian exporters with financing, insurance and bonding services, as well as foreign market expertise.
Other key federal resources
Government Programs for Canadian Manufacturers, Environment, Technology & Innovation
Investment Canada Community Initiatives
Western Diversification Canada