Starting out or scaling up

Between them these cover everything below, and more. Ten minutes with the first one is the best use of time on this page.

• Finder Canada Business Benefits Finder

  Answer a handful of questions about your business and it returns the federal and provincial programs you are eligible for.

• Finder AGPAL

  The same idea for agriculture: a finder for programs and services across the sector.

• Index Saskatchewan business incentives and tax credits

  The province’s full index, two dozen programs in one list.

The largest pool of money available in this district, by a distance.

• Framework Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

  The five-year, $485-million federal–provincial agreement that funds most of what follows. Start here if you farm or process.

• Rebate Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program

  Rebates on new farm water sources — wells, dugouts, pipelines — and on closing old wells, for producers with at least $50,000 of gross farm income. Pre-approval applications close 30 April 2027.

• Grant Product Development Program

  For food, beverage and other value-added agri-processing companies developing a new product.

• Grant Saskatchewan Lean Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM)

  Infrastructure projects that make an agri-business more productive.

• Research Agriculture Development Fund

  Research funding for Saskatchewan agriculture.

• Incentive Saskatchewan Value-added Agriculture Incentive

  For newly built or expanded facilities with capital spending of $10 million or more — the one for a plant, not a yard.

• Tax credit Farm and Small Business Capital Gains Tax Credit

  Relevant when a farm or small business changes hands. Worth knowing before you sell, not after.

• Support Farm Stress Line

  Not funding. Confidential, free, 24 hours a day. It belongs on this page as much as anything else does.

Mostly tax credits rather than cheques: they reward money you, or an investor, spend here.

• Tax credit Manufacturing and Processing Tax Incentives

  Provincial credits that offset the cost of qualifying equipment.

• Tax credit Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Tax Credit

  A 45 per cent credit for people who invest in a Saskatchewan business of 5 to 49 employees in food and beverage manufacturing, or machinery and transportation equipment. A pilot, running to 30 June 2028.

• Tax credit Saskatchewan Technology Start-Up Incentive

  A tax credit for people who invest in Saskatchewan technology start-ups. If you are raising, it is why an investor says yes.

• Tax rate Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive

  A reduced provincial corporate tax rate for commercialising eligible intellectual property here.

• Tax credit Research and Development Tax Credit

  Provincial credit on qualifying R&D.

• Grant and advice NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program

  Federal advisory services and funding for technology innovation in small and medium-sized firms.

Help with the cost of the people, rather than the equipment.

• Wage subsidy Canada Summer Jobs

  Wage subsidies for employers who give young people aged 15 to 30 a summer job. One intake a year, usually over the winter, so watch for it early.

• Wage subsidy Student Work Placement Program

  Wage subsidies, paid through industry partners, for employers who take on a post-secondary student for a work placement.

• Free training Skills Bridge

  Free online courses for your employees from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, open to businesses across Canada. More in the training section below.

• Gone

  One that is gone, so you stop looking for it. The Canada–Saskatchewan Job Grant, which covered two-thirds of employee training costs, was discontinued following a federal cut to labour market transfer funding. Business pages across the web still list it. If you were counting on it, speak to the EDO about what replaced it in your case.

Prairies Economic Development Canada is the federal agency for this region. It can be reached on 1-888-338-9378.

• Grant Business Scale-up and Productivity

  For businesses growing capacity or improving productivity.

• Support Regional Tariff Response Initiative

  For Prairie businesses affected by tariffs, including cash-flow strain. Open until the end of 2028, but annual revenue of about $1 million or more is needed, which rules out most of the main street.

• Grant Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative

  For businesses adopting or building AI capability.

• Watch Build Communities Strong Fund — Local Impact Stream

  Community projects rather than single businesses, so as relevant to the Chamber and the town as to a member. The first intake has closed; PrairiesCan says another will be announced during 2026–27.

• Export Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP)

  If you are selling outside the province, this is the door. Several Chamber members already are.

Rather than what you make.

• Bursary Young Entrepreneur Bursary

  Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, $5,000 for owners aged 18 to 35. The Chamber has nominated members for this one and written the support letter. Ask before the deadline, not after.

• Loan and mentoring Futurpreneur Canada

  Financing plus two years of mentorship for entrepreneurs aged 18–39.

• Financing and advice Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan

  Financing, one-to-one advising and peer mentorship groups for women, non-binary and two-spirit entrepreneurs.

• Financing Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation

  Financing and support for First Nations entrepreneurs.

• Funding Clarence Campeau Development Fund

  Funding and business support for Métis entrepreneurs.

• Financing Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program

  Community Futures financing and support.

• Programs Youth and Indigenous business programs

  Community Futures’ Youth Entrepreneurship and Indigenous Business Development Services.

• Loan Community Futures Meridian

  The office for this region, in Kindersley. Loans up to $150,000 to start or expand, and the nearest business adviser to Luseland. Loan information · calculator.

• Loan guarantee Canada Small Business Financing Program

  A government-backed loan through your own bank or credit union, for equipment, premises and improvements. Ask your branch for it by name.

• Loan Business Development Bank of Canada

  The federal bank for small business: lending, and advice that does not require you to borrow.

• Loan Farm Credit Canada

  Lending built around agriculture and food.