Top Small Business Grants for Canadian Businesses

 

Is your Canadian business struggling to fund your next strategic business move? The good news is that your business might be one grant away from unlocking new growth. 

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses struggled as dozens of sectors were hit with shutdowns and layoffs. The challenges have continued as both businesses and individuals face tariff concerns, high inflation, and interest rates resulting in many Canadians purchasing items based on low costs, forgoing regular memberships, and staying home to save money.  

But where does that leave countless small businesses in Canada as they continue down the road to recovery and resilience? 

“When small businesses succeed, our economy grows, and our communities become more vibrant.” 
– Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, Government of Canada 

As Canadian businesses look to build back stronger, government grants continue to be a vital source of nonrepayable funding to support stability, innovation, and workforce development. Below are the top small business grants available in Canada today, organized by objective to help you navigate the best fit for your company. 

 

Top 10 Small Business Government Grants 

Distributed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) via the Government of Canada, these government grant programs are currently available to various SME business types across the country. Discover how these nonrepayable grants can help your business with recovery, innovation, growth, and stability. 

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) 

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) is an effort to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resilience of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industries. The Canadian government, provincial government, and territorial government have signed a new 5-year agreement through 2028 known as the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. 

Please note that the SCAP has a variety of different programs, each with unique streams, funding rounds, eligibility criteria, and program deadlines. To learn more about each of these programs, please visit each corresponding program page by clicking the “View Program” button. 

Export Development and Diversification Grants 

CanExport SMEs 

The CanExport SMEs funding program provides Canadian grants to support Canadian businesses seeking to develop new export opportunities and markets, especially high-growth priority markets and sectors, by offsetting a portion of eligible sales and marketing activities. 

• Amount: Eligible applicants can receive up to 50% funding to a maximum of $50,000 grant per project. 
• Eligibility: Eligible applicants include incorporated Canadian for-profit businesses  with fewer than 500 full-time payroll employees and between $100K–$100M in Canadian annual revenue. 

CanExport Innovation 

The CanExport Innovation (CXI) program promotes and enhances Canada’s international innovation efforts by pursuing collaborative partnership opportunities in other countries. Activities supported include building targeted relationships to encourage formal discussions that initiate collaborations on future research and development (R&D) opportunities. 

• Amount: Eligible applicants can receive up to 75% of eligible project expenses up to a maximum $75,000 grant. 
• Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be dedicated to innovation, science, and technology, as well as generate less than $50 million in annual sales and have fewer than 500 employees. 

Creative Export Canada (CEC) – Export Development Stream (EDS) 

The Creative Export Canada (CEC) – Export Development Stream (EDS) supports Canadian creative businesses looking to enter or expand into international markets. This program helps early-stage exporters build export capacity and seasoned companies grow global business networks through trade events, marketing, and export strategy development. 

• Amount: Eligible applicants can receive up to 75% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $90,000 per fiscal year. 
• Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be for-profit or nonprofit organizations in the creative industries, have a minimum of one full-time employee, and generate less than $10 million in annual revenues. 

EDC Trade Ready Program 

The EDC Trade Ready Program provides funding to help Canadian SMEs strengthen their export readiness. The program supports expert-led advisory services, business planning, and strategic assessments to help companies successfully enter or grow in international markets. 

• Amount: Eligible applicants can receive up to $15,000 in nonrepayable grant funding toward the cost of export advisory services. 
• Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be Canadian SMEs that are export-ready or currently exporting, with demonstrated potential for international growth. 

Hiring and Training Grants 

Canada Job Grant (CJG) 

The Canada Job Grant (CJG) supports third-party training for new and existing employees, with provincial streams available across Canada. 

• Amount: It covers 50–100% of training costs, typically ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per trainee, depending on available provincial stream, such as the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG). 
• Eligibility: Canadian SMEs with $2 million liability insurance; trainees must be permanent residents or have refugee status. 

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) provides wage subsidies to employers hiring youth (aged 15–30) for summer jobs. 

• Amount: Up to 100% of minimum wage for nonprofit employers; up to 50% for private/public employers. 
• Eligibility: Nonprofit, public-sector, and small private-sector employers offering quality summer work experience. 

General Hiring Grants 

Numerous federal and provincial hiring grants support onboarding interns, co-op students, and recent graduates in roles aligned with business development. 

• Amount: Up to $5,000–$7,000 per intern; up to $12,000–$15,000 per recent graduate. 
• Eligibility: Canadian for-profits and nonprofits that offer relevant and valuable work experiences. 

Research and Development Grants 

Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) 

Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) is Canada’s largest tax credit program for businesses conducting experimental R&D projects in Canada. 

• Amount: Tax credits up to 69% of eligible R&D expenditures. 
• Eligibility: Canadian-controlled private corporations engaged in eligible R&D, including prototypes, product testing, or scientific advancement. 

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) 

The Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) supports R&D projects with funding to develop and commercialize new technologies. 

• Amount: Up to $10 million in nonrepayable contributions; covers 80% of labour and 50% of contractor costs. 
• Eligibility: Incorporated Canadian SMEs with 1–500 employees and internal R&D capabilities. 

Top Ontario Business Grants 

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) / Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) 

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) / Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) provide support for facility expansion, job creation, and productivity improvements in eligible regions. 

• Amount: Up to 15% of eligible expenses, ranging from $500,000 to $5 million in total funding. 
• Eligibility: Ontario businesses with 10+ employees (or 5+ in rural areas), operating for at least 3 years. 

Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) 

The Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP) helps Ontario-based automotive suppliers adopt new technologies and improve productivity. 

• Amount: Up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $150,000. 
• Eligibility: Ontario-based automotive manufacturers with 10–500 employees. 

Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) – Ontario and Western Canada 

The Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program accelerates business growth and productivity by funding large-scale expansion and modernization initiatives. 

• Amount: Up to 50% of eligible costs through repayable or nonrepayable contributions (from $125K–$10M). 
• Eligibility: High-growth Canadian SMEs with at least three years of profitable operations. 

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) 

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) funds collaborative manufacturing technology projects that drive competitiveness and innovation. 

• Amount: Up to 44.4% of project costs, with project values between $1 million and $20 million. 
• Eligibility: Projects must include at least three private-sector partners and be led by an NGen member. 

Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) 

Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) provides competitive grants and procurement contracts to help businesses solve innovation challenges for the federal government. 

• Amount: Phase 1: Up to $150,000; Phase 2: Up to $1 million; Phase 3: Procurement contracts with no cap. 
• Eligibility: Privately held Canadian for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 full-time employees. 

Learn More About Business Grants and How to Apply 

This list of Canadian government grants is intended for SMEs that have been incorporated for at least 3 years, create at least $500,000 in annual revenue, have 15 or more employees, and perform R&D or produce a product in Canada. If you do not meet these qualifications, please visit our source for Canadian Startup Business Resources. 

Discover the key trends shaping the future of Canadian businesses by reading our Top 5 Canadian Business Insights for 2025 to strengthen your strategic business planning and unlock new growth opportunities. 

Looking to get started on accessing small business government grants? Connect with a member of our team to learn which grant could be the best fit for your business, and make sure to subscribe to the Weekly Funding Newsletter to stay informed on the latest government funding news and updates.