Grants, loans, help paying wages and free advice, from the groups right here to the federal government. Tell the page what the money is for, and it shows you what fits.
Every program checked on its own website, 23 SEP 2026.
Press what matches you. Press it again to undo. The closest deadline comes first, and every card links to the funder's own page for the fine print.
88 programs you can apply to or use now, closest deadline first.
Groups based in this region. Start here.
Columbia Basin Trust · Columbia Basin
A two-day event where Basin food producers and processors meet the buyers who might stock them.
You produce, process or buy food in the Columbia Basin.
Register through the ticket link on basinfood.ca.
Community Futures East Kootenay · East Kootenay
A loan to a 4-H member to buy livestock and cover feed and vet bills: up to $3,500 for beef, $500 for swine, $300 for sheep. No payments and no interest until the end of August each year.
You must be a member in good standing of a 4-H Club in the East Kootenay. A parent or guardian co-signs and your club leader confirms the project.
Contact the Loans Manager at loans@cfek.ca or 250.489.4356 extension 104 for the 4-H loan application.
Columbia Basin Trust · Columbia Basin
One-on-one advice from a business advisor, plus learning sessions and referrals to other business help.
Your business is in the Columbia Basin. The advisors work with business owners across the region.
Fill in the registration form at bbaprogram.ca, then book a call, or phone 1.855.510.2227.
Community Futures Boundary · Boundary region
Free one-on-one coaching with an advisor on staffing, strategy, marketing, cash flow planning or finding government programs.
For owners of small and medium businesses in the Boundary region.
Phone the Grand Forks office at 250-442-2722 or 1-877-267-9399, or email info@boundarycf.com.
Community Futures Central Kootenay · Central Kootenay region
A free 45-minute appointment with a business counsellor, whether you already run a business or are only planning one.
Open to anyone in the Central Kootenay region, at any stage, including people who have not started yet.
Book an appointment through the online booking system, or phone the Nelson office at 250-352-1933 extension 100.
Community Futures Boundary · Boundary region
A business loan up to $150,000 through the Grand Forks office, and more through partner offices, for start-up, expansion, working capital, equipment or property.
For businesses in the Boundary region. Eligible non-profits and social enterprises can also borrow. Your credit is checked and a loans committee reviews the file.
Phone or email the Grand Forks office, or apply on their loans portal, then supply a business proposal and cash flow projections.
Programs from the Province and groups that serve all of BC.
Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC · BC
Cost-shared money to fix the environmental and extreme weather risks your Environmental Farm Plan turned up, from plans and designs through to fencing, water and equipment.
When: Only the Extreme Weather plans and assessments category is open now. Its intake was extended to November 2, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific (program page, read 2026-10-13). The other categories ran their intake in early 2026 and the page posts no next date.
You must be a primary production agriculture business registered in B.C. with GST and CRA business numbers, farming from a main farmstead in B.C. and filing farm income tax. A valid Environmental Farm Plan is required except for the Extreme Weather Preparedness category.
You put in: 30 to 100 percent depending on the project type
Apply through the IAF client portal. Most categories need a valid Environmental Farm Plan first.
Governments of Canada and B.C. · BC
A payment when your farm's net income falls more than 30 percent below your usual margin.
When: New participants normally sign up by April 30. Because of the 2026 drought, farms not yet enrolled have until November 30, 2026 to join for the 2026 program year.
For B.C. farm businesses. The page does not spell out the full eligibility test, and points new applicants to its "New to AgriStability" section.
Enrol through the B.C. program page, or call the AgriStability line at 1-877-343-2767 for free help.
Creative BC · BC
Between $1,000 and $2,500 toward travel, hotel and registration for a screen industry market abroad. It pays no more than half of what you spend.
When: Each market has its own window. On September 23, 2026 the open ones are Content London, which closes September 28, 2026, and Asia TV Forum, which closes September 30, 2026. European Film Market opens November 19, 2026.
B.C.-based film, TV, digital media and media producers, and sales agents.
You put in: No more than 50 percent of what you actually spend on registration, travel and accommodation.
Fill out the Passport to Markets 2026/27 application form during the window for the market you want to attend.
Province of British Columbia (WorkBC) · BC
Pays back 80 percent of what you spend training a staff member, up to $10,000 per person.
When: Employers can apply as often as they need. Apply early, well before training starts. You hear back within 60 days.
An employer operating in B.C. with a Business BCeID. You must apply on your own behalf, since third parties cannot apply for you. The people you train must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, and when you apply they must be either unemployed or working for you.
You put in: The Province pays 80 percent of eligible training costs. You pay the rest.
Create a Business BCeID account, then apply online through the Skills Training Grants System.
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food · BC
A free guide who helps you find the right food and farming programs and coaches you through planning a project.
For Indigenous farmers, food producers, businesses, entrepreneurs, economic development corporations and governments in B.C.
Email IndigenousFoodSystems@gov.bc.ca or call 236-426-5024.
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, delivered by Young Agrarians · BC, with a land matcher for the Columbia Basin
A free land matcher who finds you land to farm, or finds a farmer for your land, and helps write the agreement.
Farmers need some farming experience and a business plan, or a commitment to write one. Landholders just need land they want farmed. There is no age limit.
Email or call the Land Matcher for your region, and they will set up a phone call to learn what you need.
Read it on the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, delivered by Young Agrarians page
Programs from the federal government and national groups.
Transport Canada · Canada
Money off the price of a new electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, applied at the dealership. A business can claim it up to ten times.
Canadian businesses and organizations can claim it, up to ten vehicles over the five year program. Individuals get one.
The dealership submits the eligibility check and takes the incentive off your bill at purchase or lease.
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) · British Columbia
Help for a BC business hurt by tariffs: short-term money to keep paying staff, or money toward a project that moves the business away from the US market.
When: The page says it is accepting applications. No closing date is posted. Liquidity support runs up to 12 months and must end by March 31, 2028. Pivot projects must finish by March 31, 2029.
You must be an incorporated for-profit business in British Columbia with at least $1 million in annual revenue in one of your last two fiscal years, you must have been viable before the tariffs, and you must show tariffs or trade disruption hurt you. The $1 million revenue floor rules out most very small businesses.
You put in: Up to 50% of eligible costs for non-repayable support; up to 75% for repayable projects over $1 million
Read the eligibility page and the applicant guide, then apply through PacifiCan's online portal and pick BC (PacifiCan) - RTRI-Business.
Read it on the Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) page
Indigenous Services Canada, delivered by NACCA and Indigenous Financial Institutions · Canada
A non-repayable contribution of up to $99,999 for an Indigenous entrepreneur to start, expand or buy a business, plus business help.
Open to Indigenous individuals and to businesses owned and controlled by Indigenous Peoples. Organizations with charitable or religious purposes are not eligible.
Contact your local Indigenous Financial Institution or Metis Capital Corporation directly and apply through them.
Business Development Bank of Canada · Canada
Paid consulting from the federal business bank on strategy, technology, operations, marketing and sales, selling abroad, risk, sustainability or finance, ending in an action plan with objectives, timelines and deliverables.
Open to small and medium businesses that need outside expertise. BDC lists no restriction on business type or stage.
Fill in the form on bdc.ca, phone 1-877-232-2269, or visit a business centre, then talk with an advisor about scope and price.
Business Development Bank of Canada · Canada
A loan of up to $350,000 with no application or annual fees for a business mostly owned and led by women, Indigenous or Black entrepreneurs.
The business must be based in Canada, have revenue under $3 million, and be at least 51% owned and led by people from an underserved community, which BDC defines as women, Indigenous and Black entrepreneurs.
Check eligibility on bdc.ca with your business and shareholder details, then fill in the online loan application with a BDC specialist.
Business Development Bank of Canada · Canada
A loan of up to $350,000 from the federal business bank, applied for online, for things like inventory, equipment, marketing or hiring.
For a loan up to $100,000 you need at least $100,000 in annual revenue, 24 months in business, a personal credit score of 600 or higher, and to be making a profit now. For $100,000 to $350,000 you need at least $250,000 in annual revenue, a credit score of 600 or higher, to be making a profit, and financial statements for the last 24 months. The business must be in Canada.
Apply online at bdc.ca or phone 1-877-232-2269.
Most open again on a schedule, so they are worth knowing about.
For most small businesses out here, Community Futures is the first place to go. They lend to small businesses that banks often turn down, and they help you plan before you borrow. There are four offices in this region, and your town decides which one is yours. Castlegar and Trail are about half an hour apart, but they belong to different offices.
Nelson
Community Futures Central Kootenay
Covers Nelson, Castlegar, Creston, Kaslo, Salmo, the Slocan Valley and the Arrow Lakes. Business loans, free one-on-one counselling, workshops, help going self-employed, and advice on selling outside Canada.
Trail
Community Futures South Kootenay
Covers Trail, Rossland, Fruitvale, Montrose, Warfield and the rural areas around them. Business loans and micro loans, a start-up advisor, training, and help going self-employed. Local staff decide on the loans.
Cranbrook
Community Futures East Kootenay
Covers Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, Invermere, Radium, Golden and the Columbia Valley. Loans to start, grow or buy a business, plus business advice and training.
Grand Forks
Covers Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Rock Creek and Christina Lake. Loans and micro loans, free coaching, workshops, and help going self-employed. Serving the Boundary since 1992.
The programs with a deadline in the next four months, soonest first. Everything else on this page takes applications any time or opens again later.
Before you borrow a dollar, talk to someone. It's free.
Basin Business Advisors, paid for by Columbia Basin Trust, will sit down with you at no cost. So will the Community Futures offices in Nelson, Trail and Grand Forks. They know which programs fit you and which ones would waste your week. See all 22 advice and coaching programs.
Phone the program and ask if your idea fits. They will tell you, and it costs nothing. It can save you a week of writing for money you were never going to get.
Can your kind of business apply? Which costs will they pay for? Can you spend anything before they say yes? Many programs will not pay for something you bought before you were approved.
Quotes for what you plan to buy, a simple budget, and last year's numbers if you have them. Many forms ask for all three.
Use their words. Say what the money will do, who it helps, and how you will know it worked.
Many grants pay you back after you spend, or hold the last payment until your report is in. File the receipts as you go.
These ended, but other websites still send people to them. Save yourself the search.
Small Business BC
It went bankrupt and closed on December 5, 2024, but lots of websites still list it. Export Navigator, its free export advice service, is now run by other groups. Source.
Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)
Its funding ended on March 31, 2025, and its web pages are gone. Source.
iZEV (money off a new electric vehicle)
It closed on March 31, 2025. Transport Canada now points to the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program, which is in the finder above. Source.
iMHZEV (money off an electric work truck or van)
Transport Canada says it has ended. Source.
I read every program on this page on the funder's own website, then read each one again to check it, on September 23, 2026. Amounts and deadlines are written the way the funder writes them. They change, so the card always links to the funder's page, and that page has the final word. When a deadline passes, the card says so on its own.
I read every program again every three months. If something here is wrong or missing, email hello@kootenaylist.ca and I'll fix it.
Columbia Basin Trust also keeps its own directory, which includes its community programs as well as business ones.
Want the longer version? I also write guides to Kootenay, BC and federal funding at Kootenay Made Digital.
What the Kootenays needs · Business licences, town by town · Add or claim your own listing
