Saskatchewan Business Grants: What’s Available and How to Apply

The WintercityYXE Micro-Grant Program supports outdoor initiatives that make Saskatoon a great place to live in the wintertime.

The Tour Support Grant – Live Performing Arts supports commercially viable touring opportunities for eligible Saskatchewan live performances touring in Canada and abroad.

Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership’s Sustainability Promotion Program (SPP) is a temporary program designed to promote the innovative products, technologies and services of Saskatchewan exporters in domestic and international markets. SPP funding will provide travel assistance to lower the costs and risks of attendance and promotion at sustainability-focused trade shows. Activities or events must have a clearly stated focus or requirement for sustainability as part of the program and a commercial program.

The Sound Recording Grant supports the production of commercially viable sound recordings for commercial release.

The Showcase or Sell Travel Grant provides support to individuals and businesses to attend markets and industry events. This grant helps cover the costs of travel expenses to specific market opportunities.

Solar and wind-powered pumps are a great option for remote areas. Grants are for the installation and costs of a solar or wind-powered water pump system. The grant covers 50% of costs up to $500. Payments are subject to proof of sale and installation from a Saskatchewan supplier.

The Demand Response Program helps lower the demand on our system. It allows us to pay our larger industrial customers to reduce or shift their power use. It’s also a more cost-effective option than building more power stations.

The Commercial Energy Optimization Program (CEOP) is designed to help you take on energy efficiency activities with FREE consulting services. This helps you:

• identify energy-saving opportunities
• guide project development
• identify financial options

The Energy Coach Services are available to large commercial businesses, providing a financial incentive to hire or retain a dedicated energy champion.

The Saskatchewan Technology Fund (STF) is a funding program designed to support industry-driven technology, innovation, and improvement projects that lead to the mitigation, sequestration or capture of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
The STF, through a competitive process, supports industry-driven technology, innovation and improvement projects that reduce the GHG emissions intensity of emitters regulated under Saskatchewan’s Output-Based Performance Standards Program.

The Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund (SAIF), is a research and development (R&D) funding program designed to accelerate commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in the province’s core sectors.

Through SAIF, Innovation Saskatchewan (IS) provides non-repayable grants to projects that address a specific industry challenge

The City provides financial support for property and business owners to make exterior improvements to their property, building code compliance improvements and other improvements contributing to revitalization and beautification within established areas of the city.

The Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program (RALP) provides funding to producers to increase the environmental resiliency of agricultural land. The program helps producers achieve outcomes related to water quality, soil health and biodiversity through the adoption of beneficial management practices.

A beneficial management practice, or BMP, is defined as any agricultural management practice that:

• Ensures the long-term health and sustainability of agricultural land;
• Positively impacts the long-term economic and environmental viability of agricultural production; and
• Minimizes negative impacts and risk to the environment.

The Research Grant provides support to projects that focus on market research and market intelligence activities identifying commercial opportunities and/or emerging technologies.

The Product Development Program provides funding for prototype and product development services to food, beverage and other agri-processing value-added companies. The client will work with the Food Centre to determine which service provider is most appropriate to provide the prototype and product development services. In some situations, the Food Centre may be suited to provide this service. When product or technology development activities fall outside of the Food Centre’s capabilities or capacities, pathfinding services will be provided to identify a more appropriate third-party organization to meet client needs.

The program is designed to:

– Increase value-added revenues;
– Increase value-added processing of Saskatchewan agriculture products;
– Develop new value-added products, prototypes and processes; and
– Expand and grow value-added business.

As a Premium Membership benefit, STEP members who are able to demonstrate new business opportunities by inviting a buyer to Saskatchewan, will be eligible to apply under the Premium Member Incoming Buyer Program.
The program provides a non-repayable annual contribution of up to $1,500 (per STEP Premium Membership) to offset the costs of inviting a qualified buyer/partner.

Pre Market Funding is available to members in the Pre Market membership category to offset the costs of initial market exploration or market development. Applicants must demonstrate how this activity is related to relevant market research and qualified opportunities that have been identified as part of their business strategy or expansion plans.

The Opportunity Response (OR) program is designed to fund projects that help create unique spaces or benefits for the public realm.

The STEP Materials Translation Program supports translation activities for STEP Members to better promote themselves in foreign markets. The program supports the translation of materials that can be used to adapt or enhance marketing tools and provide foreign language availability.

The Market Travel Grant provides support to individuals and businesses to attend markets and events.
This grant helps cover the costs of travel expenses to specific market opportunities.
For example:
1. Musicians who are invited to showcase at a festival or conference.
2. Craftspeople who have been invited to exhibit and sell at a curated gift fair.
3. Artists who have been invited to show a solo exhibition at a commercial gallery.
4. Film & TV Producers pitching projects at markets (not directors or writers).

Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership’s Market Access Program (MAP) is a program designed to support the domestic and international marketing efforts of STEP members.
Funds are provided to assist STEP member companies in entering a new markets or making a return visit (within 24 months of the initial visit) to a new market, outside of Saskatchewan.
New market sectors within established geographical markets will be considered.

The Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST) connects the Provincial Government to Saskatchewan technology-based companies whose products may improve Government service delivery. Companies successful in the program are awarded a contract of up to $30,000 to have their technology piloted by the Government Ministries, Agencies and Crown Corporations.

The Livestock Facility Emissions Program supports intensive livestock facilities to adopt practices and technologies that will improve environmental performance.The Livestock Facility Emissions Program supports intensive hog or sheep facilities to adopt practices and technologies or complete facility modifications that will improve their environmental performance, including adaption to climate change and reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

The Live Performing Arts Production Grant assists eligible Saskatchewan individuals and companies in the production of a series of performances intended for paying audiences.

The Irrigation Development Program supports infrastructure development to increase irrigation capacity by creating a secure water supply to irrigable land parcels.

The Irrigation Development funding is available for the creation of a secure water supply to irrigable land parcels and to increase irrigation capacity by a minimum of 10 acres. Funding supports developing infrastructure at the water source and distribution pipeline to the pivot point but does not include on-farm infrastructure such as pivots.

The City provides financial incentives to assist developers with financing Intensification projects, encouraging residential, commercial and mixed-use intensification in established areas of the city.

The Heritage Conservation Incentive Grant is intended to support the conservation of heritage façades.

The Film and Television Development Grant assists qualified Saskatchewan production companies with undertaking the development of eligible projects and bringing productions to fruition.

There are four streams available to eligible applications:

1. Predevelopment Stream:
• This stream assists with the financing of third-party costs incurred to develop the project sufficiently to present to broadcasters and other financiers.
2. First Draft Stream:
• This stream supports the continuing development of projects that have secured development monies from a market relevant source (broadcaster, distributor, pay television, or other funding agencies) to a minimum of 10% of the development cash budget. Related-party financing will not be considered as a relevant market source. A long form or similar agreement outlining terms of the agreement is required at the time of application.
3. Final Draft Stream:
• This stream supports the continuing development of projects that have secured development monies from a market relevant source (broadcaster, distributor, pay television, or other funding agencies) to a minimum of 10% of the development cash budget. A long form or similar agreement outlining terms of the agreement is required at the time of application.
4. Slate Development Stream:
• In order to be considered eligible for Slate, applicants must have at minimum one-hour of commercially distributed content (for animation, applicants must have at minimum one half-hour of commercially distributed content) created and made available to audiences in the past two years (applicant companies must demonstrate ownership of the property).
• This stream supports the development of a minimum of two and a maximum of five eligible film or television projects in order to leverage development financing from other funding agencies and private sector investment.

The Feature Film & Television Production Grant provides financial support to eligible applicants for feature film and television productions that have secured a relevant market trigger or distribution agreement of fair market value.

There are two streams within this grant: Saskatchewan Stream and Service Production Stream.
This grant invests in television and feature film projects with commercial intent that shoot in Saskatchewan and/or employ Saskatchewan- based crew during production and post-production.

The City of Saskatoon encourages the conservation and enhancement of commercial building facades by providing grant funding to property owners and businesses located in established commercial areas to cover a portion of the eligible costs of facade improvement and/or conservation work.

Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership’s ESG Strategy Support Program is a temporary funding program available to assist STEP members in developing ESG initiatives to support their export market development. This program may support the costs of engaging services of an ESG consultant to carry out initiatives such as:

The Digital Game Development Grant supports eligible Saskatchewan applicants in the production of innovative and original digital games and eLearning properties.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant is an employer-driven program that:

• Helps businesses and non-profit organizations train new or existing employees for available jobs; and
• Provides more opportunities for unemployed and underemployed workers to receive training.

Through the program, the employer contributes one-third of the training cost, while the federal and provincial governments contribute the remaining two-thirds.

The Canada Digital Adoption Program – Grow Your Business Online is a national program supporting the growth of small businesses by making the adoption of digital tools and technologies easy and accessible.

The Business Improvement Grant supports projects that focus on professional development, increasing workforce capacity, and improving business efficiencies through technology infrastructure updates which result in growth, market expansion and improved profitability.

The Business Building Improvement Grant provides funding to business and property owners to improve retail and building frontages, or to implement security enhancements on the premises.

The goal of the program is to provide an incentive to business owners to improve the look and feel of their business frontages. Vibrant commercial districts have the potential to attract new customers, clients, visitors, and investors.

The Built Heritage Grant Program provides support to municipalities, Indigenous communities, incorporated not-for-profit organizations, private individuals, and corporations for projects that conserve the heritage value of a building or structure in order to ensure its retention over time. It is recognized that heritage properties are often constructed with durable, long life-cycle materials such as brick and stone and that it may be more costly to repair them when the time comes. To ensure that funds are directed toward conservation, the grant applications are evaluated based on the conservation principles articulated in the Standards & Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. These include, but are not limited to, concepts of “minimal intervention” and “repair before replace” and when replacement is necessary, to replace with “in-kind” materials or ones that are compatible with the historic place.

The Building Refresh incentive is intended to support small maintenance and improvement projects.

Beaver River assists small town and rural businesses in the Northwest of Saskatchewan start, expand and grow

The Beaver River Community Futures Corporation was established in 1988, and the Beaver River Business Development Corporation in 1989. In 1994, these two corporations merged into what is now the Beaver River Community Futures Development Corporation (BRCFDC). Today, we serve 46 communities in northwest Saskatchewan, in an area covering 120,000 square kilometres.

Our core funding, investment capital and special funds are provided by the Federal Government through Western Economic Diversification Canada. This support is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to Community Futures Development Corporations in Saskatchewan.

Artist in Communities – Residencies supports community organizations in hosting an artist in residence by contracting a professional Saskatchewan artist, in arts activities that involve significant community engagement components.

Participating artists take up residence in a community to contribute to its cultural life and the
community’s continual engagement in the arts.

Artists in Communities – Projects provides support for artists and communities to co-create projects through their combined knowledge, skills, and experience, and to:

• produce innovative, creative projects that are responsive to the community needs and have
the potential for lasting impact while allowing the artist to build knowledge, cultural
competencies, and deeper relationships with Saskatchewan residents.
• build awareness about social issues and facilitates change through the arts.
• encourage the participation of artists from a wide variety of aesthetic viewpoints, racial and
ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and disability perspectives, who will honour, uplift, and be
inclusive of the host community.
• ensure that the people of Saskatchewan have opportunities for deeper, active engagements
with art while reducing the barriers for this type of experience in underserved and
marginalized communities.
• align with the mandate and strategic priorities of SK Arts and our program partners.

Artists in Communities – Development provides small amounts of funding to organizations and/or professional artists or arts professionals to build relationships with potential partners, develop projects or residencies, and/or research community needs.

The Agtech Growth Fund (AGF) is a research and development (R&D) funding program designed to accelerate the commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in the province’s agricultural sector.

Through AGF, Innovation Saskatchewan (IS) provides non-repayable grants to projects that address a specific industry challenge

The Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) supports the growth of the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan. ADF develops solutions to emerging problems that constrain production and value-added processing.

The Agriculture Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) program provides funding to help producer groups and First Nations communities demonstrate and evaluate new agricultural practices and technologies at the local level. The results of successful trials can then be adopted by agricultural operations in the region.

The Agriculture Awareness Initiative Program (AAIP) provides support to build awareness and trust in modern agriculture. The program is designed to help individuals and organizations tell Saskatchewan agriculture’s sustainability story.

AAIP is a proposal-based, pre-approval program to fund strategic industry projects that target priority audiences and address key threats to agriculture’s social licence.