Government Funding to Grow Your Business Without Paying Full Price
Grants, tax credits, and financing can cover a big chunk of staff training, automation, and technology. See which ones your BC or Canadian business may qualify for.
Grant Eligibility Checker
Answer 3 quick questions to see which funding programs might fit your business.
Step 1 of 3
Where is your business located?
Available Funding Programs
The active grants, tax credits, and financing most relevant to local service businesses working with Brydge.
B.C. Employer Training Grant
Covers 80% of training costs — up to $10,000 per employee (max $300,000 per employer/year)
Provincial funding that reimburses most of the cost of skills training for your team — including training new hires before they start. Open to small, medium, and large BC employers that have been operating for at least one year.
How Brydge helps: Brydge Institute delivers eligible AI, automation, and digital-marketing training your team can put through the ETG — so upskilling your staff can cost you a fraction of the list price.
Canada Job Grant (provincial streams)
Typically up to $10,000–$15,000 per trainee, depending on the province
The federal Canada Job Grant is delivered through each province or territory under its own name (in BC it is the Employer Training Grant). If you operate outside BC, your province likely runs an equivalent training grant.
How Brydge helps: Brydge can structure your team training so it fits your province’s job-grant rules and help you assemble the application.
SR&ED Tax Incentive
Refundable/non-refundable investment tax credits on qualifying R&D (an enhanced refundable rate is available to Canadian-controlled private corporations)
Canada’s largest R&D support program. If you experiment to develop or meaningfully improve products, processes, or software, a portion of those costs can come back as tax credits. Exact rates and limits are set by the CRA — verify your situation with a SR&ED specialist or accountant.
How Brydge helps: When Brydge builds custom automations or AI systems for you, the qualifying development work may support a SR&ED claim. We document the work so your accountant can assess eligibility.
NRC IRAP
Advisory services plus cost-shared funding for innovative R&D projects
The National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program pairs eligible SMEs with an advisor and can cost-share salaries and contractor costs on technology-development projects.
How Brydge helps: For clients building genuinely new tech with us, Brydge can scope the development work in a way that supports an IRAP conversation with an advisor.
PacifiCan Business Scale-up & Productivity
Interest-free repayable contributions, typically $500K–$10M, for productivity & technology investments
A regional program for BC businesses making larger investments to scale and boost productivity, including adopting technology and automation. Aimed at growth-stage companies rather than very small startups.
How Brydge helps: For larger automation and systems projects, Brydge can be your implementation partner on a productivity investment.
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Government-backed loans up to $1M (terms vary) for equipment, technology, and improvements
A federal program that helps small businesses get loans from their bank by sharing the lender’s risk. Commonly used to finance equipment and technology — including the tools behind an automation rollout.
How Brydge helps: If you’d rather finance an automation build than pay upfront, Brydge can scope the project so it fits a CSBFP-backed loan conversation with your bank.
No Longer Available
These programs have ended — but many sites still advertise them. Here's the current status so you don't waste time.
Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)
CDAP’s grants are no longer available. Many websites still advertise it — they are out of date. If you were sent here looking for CDAP, see the active alternatives instead.
Program details are summarized for general guidance and were last verified in June 2026. Grants change often — amounts, deadlines, and eligibility are set by each program. This page is not financial, legal, or tax advice; always confirm with the official source before applying.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your business and we'll map the funding you could tap — and handle the automation or training it pays for.