BC Government Funding Programs

Find Funding for Every Stage of Your BC Business

British Columbia businesses have access to 131+ active funding programs — grants, tax credits, and loans — spanning R&D, hiring, export, clean technology, and more. We find your stack. We do the work.

131+ Active BC funding programs
$4.5B+ SR&ED distributed annually
$300K Max BC ETG per employer/yr
91% Our application success rate
Filter by activity:

Select Your Funding Activity

Every BC business activity connects to one or more government programs. Select an activity to filter programs available to you.

👥
Hiring & Training
Workforce Development Grants
BC ETG (80% of costs) Canada Job Grant Wage Subsidy Apprenticeship Grants Youth Hire Programs
Up to $300K
Per employer per year
$10K per employee
⚙️
Capital & Technology
Equipment & Tech Adoption
CSBFP Equipment ($1.15M) IDMTC (25%) BC SBVC Tax Credit Digital Adoption CETA
$15K–$1.15M
Grants, credits & loans
for capital investment
🌏
Export & Business Expansion
Market Growth & Export Grants
CanExport SMEs ($50K) PacifiCan BSP ($5M) WD Scale-Up Trade Commissioner
$50K–$5M
For export & scaling projects
non-repayable + loans
🌿
Clean Technology & Sustainability
CleanBC & Green Incentives
CleanBC Industry Fund PacifiCan RAII ($3M) Innovate BC ($300K) CEBA Clean Transition BC Hydro Incentives
$50K–$3M
For clean tech, AI adoption
and emission reduction
🏦
Business Loans & Financing
BDC, CSBFP & Community Loans
CSBFP ($1.15M) BDC Business Loans Community Futures BC WeBC Loans Credit Union Programs
$50K–$1.15M
Government-backed loans
at preferred rates
🪶
Indigenous Business Programs
Dedicated Indigenous Funding
BEP ($250K) NACCA Network First Citizens Fund NRT Equity Match Futurpreneur Indigenous
$5K–$250K
Grants + loans with
exclusive eligibility
💼
Women & Diverse Entrepreneurs
Women-Led Business Funding
WeBC Loans WES Ecosystem Fund Forum Mentor Program Women in Trades
$15K–$150K
Grants + loans for
women-owned businesses
🚀
Startups & Early Stage
Startup & Pre-Revenue Funding
Futurpreneur ($60K) Innovate BC Fast Pilot ($200K) NRC IRAP Advisory BC Venture Tax Credit
$15K–$300K
Non-dilutive capital
for early-stage BC companies
Research & Development

SR&ED Tax Credits — BC's Most Underutilized Program

The Scientific Research & Experimental Development program pays BC businesses back for R&D activity they're already doing. Federal rate is 35% refundable. Stack BC's 10% credit on top. Budget 2025 doubled the expenditure limit to $6M — meaning the maximum refundable credit is now $2.1M per year.

Construction firms, SaaS companies, manufacturers — if you solve technical problems, you very likely qualify. Most don't claim because nobody told them they could.

$4.5B+ SR&ED distributed by CRA annually across ~22,000 BC & Canadian claims
Budget 2025: expenditure limit doubled to $6M. Capital equipment restored. BC's 10% credit made permanent. Maximum refundable ITC now $2.1M/year — stackable with provincial credits.
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies (BC) Type Status
Federal SR&ED Tax CreditCanada Revenue Agency (CRA) 35% refundable
up to $2.1M/yr
BC-incorporated CCPCs. Any industry. Software, process R&D, product development, technical uncertainty resolution. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
BC SR&ED Tax CreditBC Ministry of Finance 10% refundable
on eligible BC R&D
BC-based CCPCs with eligible R&D expenditures. Stacks directly with federal SR&ED. Made permanent in Budget 2026. Tax Credit ● Ongoing
NRC IRAPNational Research Council Canada Up to $500K
per project
BC SMEs (under 500 employees) developing innovative products, services, or processes with commercial potential. Tech-focused. Grant ● Ongoing
Innovate BC — Ignite ProgramInnovate BC Up to $300K BC-based technology companies commercializing innovative products. R&D focused with BC IP development requirements. Grant ● Open
Mitacs AccelerateMitacs $15K–$100K
per project
BC companies partnering with university researchers. Covers a portion of research intern costs. Stacks with SR&ED. Grant ● Ongoing
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (IDMTC)BC Government 25% refundable
on BC labour
BC companies developing video games, educational software, or interactive training tools. Raised from 17.5% in Sept 2025 and made permanent. Tax Credit ● Ongoing

Think you might qualify for SR&ED?

Most BC businesses that qualify have never filed a claim. A 30-minute free assessment tells you exactly what you're entitled to — and how much you can recover retroactively.

Hiring & Training

BC Employer Training Grant — Most BC Businesses Never Apply

The BC Employer Training Grant (ETG) covers 80% of training costs — up to $10,000 per employee, $300,000 per employer per year. It covers trainer fees, tuition, textbooks, software, and exam fees. If you're investing in your people, most of that cost is recoverable.

80% Of training costs covered for small BC businesses — up to $10K per employee
Eligible: third-party trainer fees, tuition, exam fees, textbooks, course materials, training software. For prospective new hires and existing employees. Apply as often as needed.
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies (BC) Type Status
BC Employer Training Grant (ETG)BC Ministry of Post-Secondary 80% of costs
$300K/yr max
BC-based businesses of any size. Covers skills training for current and prospective employees. Apply as often as needed. No deadline. Grant ● Open
Canada Job GrantEmployment & Social Dev. Canada 2/3 of training
up to $10K/employee
BC employers training existing or new employees. Minimum 21 instructional hours. Must result in a credential. Grant ● Open
Apprenticeship Completion GrantGovernment of Canada Up to $2,000
per apprentice
BC employers hiring apprentices in Red Seal trades. Tax credits also available for apprentice wages under BC's apprentice tax credit. Grant ● Ongoing
Innovator Skills InitiativeInnovate BC 50% of wages
for 4–8 months
BC technology companies hiring underrepresented candidates (Indigenous, women in tech, newcomers). Covers a portion of wages for a fixed term. Wage Subsidy ● Open
Youth Employment & Skills StrategyEmployment & Social Dev. Canada Up to 100% of wages
for youth hires
BC businesses hiring youth (15–30). Non-profits: 100% of wages. For-profit: up to 50% of minimum wage. Summer and year-round streams. Wage Subsidy ● Seasonal

Are you claiming what you're owed for your workforce?

Most BC employers with training costs qualify for ETG and have never applied. A free assessment identifies which programs match your payroll, crew size, and upcoming hiring plans.

Business Loans & Financing

Government-Backed Loans at Terms Your Bank Can't Match

Government loan programs share the risk with lenders — meaning BC businesses that don't qualify for conventional financing often qualify here. The Canada Small Business Financing Program registered a record $1.9B in loans in 2024-25. The difference between approval and rejection is the quality of the application. We build it right.

$1.9B In CSBFP loans registered in 2024–25. Average loan: $294,067. Record year.
Government guarantees 85% of the loan to your lender. This dramatically improves approval odds for BC businesses that don't qualify conventionally — especially for equipment, leasehold improvements, and intangibles.
Program Max Amount Who Qualifies (BC) Type Status
Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)Innovation, Science & Economic Dev. Canada Up to $1.15M
per borrower
BC businesses with gross revenues under $10M. For equipment, leasehold improvements, intangible assets. Government guarantees 85% to lender. Loan ● Ongoing
BDC Business LoansBusiness Development Bank of Canada Flexible
$25K–$10M+
BC businesses operating 12+ months. BDC specializes in businesses banks turn down. Working capital, equipment, tech adoption, acquisition. Loan ● Ongoing
Community Futures BCCommunity Futures Network of BC Up to $150K
rural & semi-rural BC
BC businesses in rural or semi-rural communities. 34 offices across BC. Accessible to businesses that don't qualify for bank financing. Loan ● Ongoing
WeBC Business LoansWeBC (Women's Enterprise Centre) Up to $150K Women-owned or led BC businesses. Bundled with free business advice, training, and mentorship. No minimum time in business required. Loan ● Ongoing
PacifiCan Business Scale-Up Program (BSP)Pacific Economic Development Canada Up to $5M
no-interest loan
High-growth BC businesses profitable for 2+ years. Advanced manufacturing, digital tech, clean tech, life sciences. 50% of project costs. No-Interest Loan ● Open

Not sure which loan is right for your stage?

We assess your business, revenue, time in operation, and purpose — then recommend the right program and build a complete application. Most BC clients are surprised by what they qualify for.

Common Questions

Questions BC business owners ask us most

Can I stack multiple BC funding programs at the same time?
Yes — in most cases. The government's 75% stacking rule means total government assistance generally can't exceed 75% of total project costs. But within that ceiling, federal SR&ED, BC SR&ED, BC ETG, and a CSBFP loan can all apply to the same business simultaneously. This is where we add the most value — identifying the optimal stack.
My BC business is a general contractor. Do I really qualify for SR&ED?
More often than you'd think. If you've developed novel building methods, custom process documentation, new moisture mitigation approaches, or any construction technique that required technical problem-solving — that activity is SR&ED-eligible. We've recovered $183K for a Surrey contractor who had never filed a claim in 11 years of operating.
How long does a BC grant application take?
Varies by program. BC ETG can be approved in 2–4 weeks. SR&ED claims typically take 8–16 weeks for CRA processing. CSBFP loans depend on lender timelines — usually 4–8 weeks. IRAP takes 6–12 weeks. We tell you the realistic timeline for every program before you commit.
Do I pay you if my application is rejected?
For most programs we work on success-based pricing — meaning you only pay when funding is approved and disbursed. For some smaller programs we charge a flat preparation fee. We're always transparent about the fee structure before any work begins. No surprises.
What's the difference between a grant and a tax credit?
A grant is non-repayable money paid to your business account. A tax credit reduces your tax liability — if it's refundable (like SR&ED), you receive cash back even if you owe no taxes. Both are non-dilutive (you don't give up equity). We help you claim both types and explain the difference in plain language.
My BC startup is pre-revenue. Can I still access funding?
Yes. Futurpreneur offers loans up to $60K for entrepreneurs aged 18–39 with no revenue requirement. Innovate BC's Fast Pilot program funds early-stage projects. NRC IRAP advisory services are available to pre-revenue tech companies. We'll identify what's accessible at your specific stage.
Not sure which programs apply to your BC business?

Book a free 30-minute assessment. We map every program you qualify for — SR&ED, grants, loans, training — and tell you the realistic dollar amount you can expect.

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