Backgrounder: Funding for southern Alberta business support services

November 12, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), announced over $2 million for business support services across southern Alberta. This WD funding comes from the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) and supports the Government of Canada’s campaign to create one million jobs.

The Government of Canada continues to provide funding directly to businesses and individuals to protect jobs and help them weather the economic impacts of COVID-19. But government can’t do it alone. The funding in this announcement goes to not-for-profit organizations on the ground that help local businesses survive and thrive. Among the services they provide:

• Mentoring
• Networking
• Skills training
• Market intelligence
• Transitioning to a digital marketplace

These services are often as important as revenue and liquidity for the success of a small business.

$2 million to help support southern Alberta’s Main Street businesses and SMEs

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund was established to reduce the financial pressure on businesses and allow them to keep operating. The projects announced today include funding for 13 projects to support local businesses across the province.

Complete list of 13 projects in this announcement

• Alberta Clean Technology Industry Alliance (ACTia)
• Alberta IoT
• Calgary Chamber of Commerce
• Calgary Economic Development
• Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation-West (CETAC-WEST)
• Creative Destruction Lab Rockies (CDL-R)
• Economic Developers Alberta (EDA)
• Economic Development Lethbridge
• Mount Royal University - Business Scale Up Program
• National Angel Capital Organization
• The A100
• The Alberta Food Processors Association
• University of Calgary - Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) lab

Related products

• Government of Canada provides targeted support for business ecosystems in southern Alberta

Associated links

• Western Economic Diversification Canada
• Regional Relief and Recovery Fund
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan