Small Business Service Providers
Looking for some advice for your start-up or business? These organizations are ready to help!
Note that the services provided by these organizations may be free or have a fee. Please contact the organization directly for any questions you may have.
Alberta Innovates provides support to technology-based small businesses through
- Start up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
- Training and events
ATB Entrepreneur Centre's powers possibilities for small businesses in Alberta by providing
- Start-up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
- Market expansion
- Training and events
AWE is a non-profit organization that is led by a team of diverse women with an abundance of knowledge. AWE provides women entrepreneurs with
- Start up supports
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
- Training and events
- Market expansion
The BDC supports small and medium-sized Canadian businesses with access to
- Advice and coaching
- Financing/access to capital
- Marketing
- Training and events
Business Link provides customized business advice and support for entrepreneurs navigating building, running and growing their own businesses. Services include
- Start up support
- Advice and coaching
- Training
- Market Expansion
Community Futures Peace Country is a non-profit organization dedicated to building an economically diverse future for the communities of our beautiful Peace region. CF services are designed for small businesses to help Peace Country region residents start, grow, expand, franchise, or sell their businesses. Services include
- Start-up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
- Training and events
EDC is a Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses of all sizes by equipping them with tools they need. Services include
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
- Market expansion
Futurpreneur program offers start-up small business owners ages 18-39 the opportunity to receive funding and mentorship. Please note mentorship is only available through financing.
GPRIN is led by local community organizations with a vast network of partnerships and is the Innovation Network serving northwestern Alberta. GPRIN helps innovators, entrepreneurs, and companies move their ideas forward by offering access to various services and professionals throughout the Alberta innovation ecosystem. In addition, GPRIN has access to resources and expertise in multiple areas in Alberta and across Canada.
The Mashup Lab VBI (Virtual Business Incubator) is a virtual cohort program aimed at helping rural entrepreneurs develop their business ideas over a period of 6 weeks; from laying your foundation to developing your action plan.
Each cohort has up to 15 participants and brings a weekly 1.5-hour session with a dedicated facilitator. Participants will gain knowledge, resources, personalized coaching, mentorship, and a celebratory finale.
There is currently no fee to join a VBI cohort.
PREDA is one of 9 regional economic development alliances in the province. A PREDA membership offers
Access to PREDA studies and research project summaries
Networking opportunities for a unified voice to raise funds and utilize human resources for regional economic development
Access to economic trends and intelligence
Free space in PREDA’s newsletter
Free link to your website on peacecountrycanada.com
Access to economic development educational opportunities, including events and conferences
Access to value-added, fee-based services when desired
Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem that points you in the right direction, eliminates barriers, and champions your needs to private and public sector partners. Startup Canada will connect you with support organizations and peers across the country with industry expertise, regional knowledge, and funding to help you start and build successful businesses.
Small Business Funding Programs
Curious about what funding programs are available for small businesses? Check them out below!
The Alberta Export Expansion Program provides funding to Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), municipalities, industry associations, Indigenous communities and economic development organizations promoting Alberta exports through outbound international business travel or bringing international buyers to Alberta.
The FTTC program offers a refundable Alberta tax credit certificate on eligible Alberta production and labour costs to corporations that produce films, television series and other eligible screen-based productions in the province.
The APC is a convenient online tool for the tendering of public sector opportunities for goods, services and construction. Alberta public sector purchasers use the APC to advertise procurement opportunities, while vendors use it to seek opportunities to sell their products or services.
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is an employer-driven training program where employers and government share costs to train new and existing employees, increasing their knowledge and skills and meeting the needs of Alberta’s changing economy.
The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders.
The enhanced program provides lenders and small businesses with additional financing products, new class of loans, increased loan amounts and terms, improved loan conditions and decreased administrative burden.
The Government of Alberta Self-employment program offers eligible Albertans who are looking to develop and start a new business with formal training, business plan development, one-to-one business counselling, coaching and guidance.
The Government of Canada Business Benefits Finder searches for the right programs and services, whether you are starting out or scaling up, to support your business. The Benefits Finder is a tool that can help you find the federal and provincial program supports that you may be eligible to receive.
Indigenous Business Supports
Are you an Indigenous entrepreneur looking for support or services for your small business? Here are some organizations that may interest you!
Note that the services provided by these organizations may be free or have a fee. Please contact the organization directly for any questions you may have.
Apeetogosan Metis Corporation provides a range of supports including
- Start up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
Note that clients must be Métis, Inuit or Non-Status Indian.
AIIC provides support to First Nation entrepreneurs through
- Start-up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
Indigenous entrepreneurs face unique opportunities and challenges in starting and running a business, and Business Link Indigenous Services is here to help! They provides support through
- Start-up support
- Advice and coaching
- Training and events
The IBC believes that access to capital for First Nations peoples provides opportunities for success and development. IBC provides support through
- Start-up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
Settlement Investment Corporation (Métis) serves the business community of the eight Métis Settlements in Alberta by providing
- Start-up support
- Advice and coaching
- Financing
Note the clients must be a resident of a Metis Settlement or corporation that a Métis settler owns at least 51% of the business
Indigenous Grants
These programs provide equity (forgivable loans) assistance for the start-up or the expansion of small businesses for Métis and Status Indian individuals.
MEAP is administered by Apeetogosan (Métis) Development Corporation and provides equity assistance for the start-up or the expansion of small businesses.
The Status Entrepreneur Assistance Program is administered through the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation. The program provides equity assistance for the start-up or the expansion of small businesses for Status individuals.
Employee and Workforce Development and Placement
Looking to develop your workforce or attract more employees? These resources just might be the connection you need!
The Agriculture Job Connector matches workers and employers to fill agriculture and agri-food jobs.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. Nominees must have skills to fill job shortages or be planning to buy or start a business in Alberta.
Empowering Futures for Apprentices Program is Canada’s Student Work Placement Program for the electricity industry. Aimed at preparing students for the future of work, the program will create new work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities in electricity by providing subsidies of up to $7,000 per student position to the organizations that create these new opportunities.
Government of Canada Job Bank free tools and resources can help you find, hire, and retain the right workers, learn about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, explore the job market and stay informed about employment standards.
CAREERS the Next Generation is a non-profit organization that brings together industry, schools, government and communities to guide youth toward successful careers. CAREERS with Alberta schools to connect students to employers for paid internships. Employers may be eligible to receive up to $3,00 per intern through the Youth Internship Incentive Program.
Indigenous Employment Training Partnerships provides grant funding to Indigenous communities and organizations to deliver group-training projects designed in partnership with employers and other partners.
Driving Back to Work Grant supports unemployed and under-employed Albertans in obtaining a Class 1 driver’s license by covering more than 90% of training and testing costs.
Chamber of Commerce
Membership with your local Chambers of Commerce provides you, the business owner and professional, value-added benefits, networking opportunities, training programs and workshops, and more. Reach out to your local Chamber to see what benefits await your membership!
Contact the Grimshaw Chamber at info@grimshawchamber.com, or visit their website or Facebook page!
Contact the High Level Chamber at info@highlevelchamber.com, or visit their website and Facebook page!
Contact the Manning Chamber at manningchamber@gmail.com, or visit their website and Facebook page!
Contact the Peace River Chamber at assistant@peaceriverchamber.com, or visit their website and Facebook page!