The Canadian Digital Adoption Program is a micro-grant to assist businesses in the development of e-commerce sites, digital plans and leverage work placements to help with your digital transformation. Click below to sign up or learn more about the Canadian Digital Adoption Program!

The Digital Service Squad (DSS) helps licensed local businesses grow their operations through technology with easy-to-use tools and resources.

DSS is focused on providing 1-on-1 assistance for digital services to local small businesses in Alberta free of charge. The DSS will assist with many areas including website development, social media, search engine optimization and digital advertising.

Regional Economic Development Specialists (REDS) have local knowledge of the economic opportunities and challenges facing Alberta’s regions. This allows them to provide economic development practitioners and business service providers with targeted advice and support.

Through one-on-one consultation, regional and community meetings, webinars, and collaborative roundtable discussions, REDS offer the following core services:

• advisory services and outcome-based planning
• economic information and best practices
• pathfinding support
• tools and resources

Regional economic development specialists operate out of 8 offices across the province and provide services to all regions in Alberta.

Shop the County is Lac Ste. Anne County's online directory that showcases more than 700 businesses serving the Lac Ste. Anne region.

Got a licensed local business? Looking for an easy way to promote it? Shop the County lets you create a profile, add your location, upload photos, and talk up your company. Try it today!

The Alberta Export Expansion Program provides funding support 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
• bringing international buyers to Alberta

For-profit or municipal applicants may be reimbursed up to 50%, and non-profit applicants up to 75%, on eligible costs such as:

• accommodation
• airfare
• inter-city ground travel
• registration for tradeshows or events
• translation or interpretive services for marketing materials
• conference room space

Each applicant can apply to the program multiple times, but will only be eligible for up to a combined maximum of $25,000 in approved grant agreement(s) per program year (April 1 to March 31).

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employees for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.

This is a program element under the Training for Work program. It facilitates entry into self-employment by offering individuals formal instruction, business plan development, one-to-one business counseling, coaching, guidance and follow-up during business plan implementation. It is designed for unemployed and marginally employed Albertans who have a viable business idea, personal attributes necessary to be successful at self-employment, and who are in need of self-employment training.

The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders. Loans can be used to finance the following costs:

• purchase or improvement of land or buildings used for commercial purposes
• purchase or improvement of new or used equipment
• purchase of new or existing leasehold improvements, that is, renovations to a leased property by a tenant

Up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any one borrower, of which no more than $350,000 can be used for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment.

Get tools and information on what to consider before starting a business. Get information to help you identify opportunities to grow your business. Learn how to fuel your R&D and innovation projects through government grants, contributions and loans, as well as private sector financing.

Learn about programs and services available in your region to help your business succeed. Find out more about the municipal, provincial, territorial and federal permits, licences and regulations that apply to your business. Learn how to handle day-to-day operations, including budgeting, marketing and payroll deductions and more.