Funding and Development Opportunities
Mountain View County Grants and Funding
Province of Alberta Small Business Resources/ Funding Opportunities
Government of Canada Business Grants and Financing
The following are up-to-date opportunities available for local businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and other interested parties. If you need further information on any of the below, please contact Economic Development for assistance by email at: ecdev@mvcounty.com.
Federal Rural Development Action Plan: Have your say until Feb 6
Share your ideas to move from strategy to action. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is developing a Rural Development Action Plan. Your participation in this consultation will support the Government of Canada's efforts to reflect the needs and priorities of rural communities across Canada.
Business Feasibility Study Program – Build with Validation: 8-Week Virtual Program Feb 3 – Mar 26
Designed to help entrepreneurs test, validate and strengthen their business ideas. This program guides entrepreneurs through assessing customer demand, running simple experiments, and building a clear business plan to determine if an idea is desirable, feasible, and viable.
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- Drilling Technology Challenge: Deadline Jan 29
ERA is investing up to $35M for the development & commercialization of innovative drilling technologies. This investment will help advance emerging opportunities in geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, critical minerals extraction, oil and gas, & more, while reducing costs and emissions associated with resource access and extraction.
Federal Critical Minerals Infrastructure Funding (CMIF): Deadline for shovel ready projects is Mar 4
This fund provides up to $1.5B over 7 years for clean energy & transportation infrastructure projects needed to enable sustainable development and expansion of critical minerals in Canada. There will be calls for proposals launched over the course of the program.
Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII): Open Until Dec 31, 2027 or Funds Allocated (see attached files)
Delivered by Canada’s Regional Development Agencies, this federal government initiative aims to build sovereign defence capacity while reinforcing industrial strength across the country. The RDII will help accelerate the integration of businesses, focusing on SMEs and regional ecosystems, into defence supply chains and strengthen their industrial and innovation capacity in support of Canada’s defence and security needs.
Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Study: Deadline Feb 13
The Government of Canada is undertaking a TFW Program study, including its impacts on the labour market and how well it meets needs, particularly in rural areas. The public is invited submit written briefs no longer than 10 pages (approx. 4,000 words) for consideration in the study.
Alberta Tourism Business Outlook Survey: Deadline Feb 13
This annual, province-wide survey, captures how tourism businesses are performing today and how operators are making decisions heading into 2026. Input shapes the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta’s advocacy on issues affecting tourism businesses across the province.
The Rural Health Professionals Action Plan (RhPAP) 2026 healthcare heroes award: Deadline Feb 27
Nominate a deserving physician, nurse or other health care professional that is practicing in rural Alberta.
Learning Opportunities:
- Community Futures Launchpad Courses for Entrepreneurs
- Alberta Community Development Winter 2026 Courses
- Co-ops 101: Online Series, Jan 27 & Feb 3 & 10
- Economic Development Alberta’s Community Investment Readiness Tool: Webinar at Noon on Jan 28
- Supports for Manufacturers from the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium: Webinar at 1:30 PM on Jan 28
- Export Development Canada – Financing Global Growth: Online Webinar at 11 AM on Jan 29
- Rural Development Network’s Welcome, Attract, Retain & Motivate Newcomers: Online Info Session at Noon on Feb 4
- Money Talks – Funding Options for Small Businesses: Feb 10, Olds College
- RhPAP Attraction, Integration & Retention Toolkit: Webinar, Feb 12 at Noon
- Building your Future Workforce – Winning with Next Generation Talent: Webinar at 11 AM on Feb 18
- Fundraising for Startups: Online Series, Mar 2-5
- Angel Investing: Online Series, Mar 9-12
- AI 101 for Business: Webinar at 11 AM on Mar 11
Upcoming Events:
- Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Connect Event: Jan 22, Red Deer
- Tourism Advocacy Summit: Feb 8-10, Edmonton
- International Indigenous Tourism Conference: Feb 17-19, Edmonton
- Western Innovation Forum 2026 - Feb 24-26, Virtual
- Trade Without Borders Summit: Feb 25, Calgary
- Energy Innovation Fair: Red Deer Polytechnic, Feb 25
- Western Edge Manufacturing Summit: Red Deer Polytechnic, Mar 11
- Central Alberta Business Summit: Mar 19, Red Deer
- Defence, Security & Aerospace West: Mar 24-26, Calgary
- EDA Xperience 2026 Leaders' Summit and Conference: Apr 15-17, Kananaskis
- Canadian Hydrogen Convention: Apr 21-23, Edmonton
- Nisku Energy Show: May 27-28, Nisku
- Alberta Aviation, Aerospace & Defence Summit: May 3-5, Edmonton
- Global Economic Diversification Summit: May 14-15, Edmonton
- Global Energy Show Canada: June 9-11, Calgary
- Taste of Place Summit: June 15-16, Edmonton