BRAIN

The B.R.A.I.N provides information and resources to help your business succeed.

The Bonnyville Resource and Information Network (B.R.A.I.N) provides vital resources to help businesses in the region thrive. With significant opportunities arising from the CFB Cold Lake expansion due to Canada’s future fighter program, local businesses can diversify by securing contracts in areas like construction, food services, and maintenance. The page also highlights key funding and support programs, including federal initiatives like the Jobs and Growth Fund, Accelerated Investment Incentive, and SR&ED tax credits, alongside provincial programs from Alberta Innovates and the Canada-Alberta Job Grant. B.R.A.I.N serves as a strategic hub for businesses seeking growth, innovation, and government partnerships.

Local Opportunities

CFB 4-Wing Cold Lake

CFB Cold Lake has been identified as the home of Canada’s future fighter program.

This expansion to the air base will provide many opportunities for local contractors from food services, cleaning supplies, construction and maintenance, to name a few.

Federal Government Programs

Government of Canada

strategic programs designed to fuel business growth and innovation, making now the ideal time to invest.

From the Jobs and Growth Fund, driving economic recovery and expansion, to the Accelerated Investment Incentive, which fast-tracks capital investments, and the SR&ED tax credits that reward cutting-edge research and development—these initiatives offer businesses a competitive edge. With financial incentives and robust support, this is your chance to unlock growth potential, innovate boldly, and position your business for long-term success.

The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs, and position Canada’s economy for an inclusive recovery and long-term growth. Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies, in this case PrairiesCan, the fund will provide $700 million nationally over 3 years to position the regional economies for long-term growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs across Canada. Applications will be accepted through a continuous intake process.  All projects must be completed prior to March 31, 2024.

 

The SR&ED program provides tax credits and refunds for expenditures on eligible R&D activities in Canada. This program is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency and provides more than CA$3 billion tax incentives annually to businesses. These tax incentives come in the form of income tax deductions, investment tax credits, or refunds. Examples of work that qualifies for the SR&ED tax incentives include experimental research conducted to achieve technological advancement to create or improve new materials, devices, products or processes.

Alberta CAP is a CA$3 billion, five-year (2018-2023) federal-provincial-territorial government (FPT) investment initiative in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. It aims to generate economic growth, job creation and innovation within the sector. CAP provides a suite of government funding programs to businesses and initiatives in the sector and seeks to address region-specific needs. These programs are cost-shared between the federal government and the provincial/territorial government, with each party contributing 60% and 40%, respectively. In Alberta, CAP has committed CA$406 million towards strategic initiative programs over five years. It has resulted in various streams of funding for businesses and organizations that produce, modify, manufacture and advocate for Alberta-made agricultural products. The programs offered under CAP are the Agriculture and Food Sustainability Assurance Initiative, Efficient Grain Handling Program, Emerging Opportunities Program, Farm Technology Program, Market Assurance Program, Water Program, Youth Agriculture Education Program and many more. These programs were updated in 2022 and are scheduled to be in effect until the expiration of CAP on March 31, 2023.

The Accelerated Investment Incentive was introduced in 2018 as a means to encourage investment in capital assets. This temporary incentive provides an enhanced first-year allowance for certain property that is subject to capital cost allowance rules. Manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment acquired after November 20, 2018 (until 2024), and available for use before 2028, will be eligible for an initial 100% deduction. A phase-out will begin for property that becomes available for use after 2023. In relation to agribusiness, this incentive allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of machinery and equipment used for the manufacturing or processing of goods. These measures are scheduled to be phased out between 2024 and 2027.

Are you looking to grow? BSP supports high-growth businesses that are scaling up and producing innovative goods, services, or technologies. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated Canadian companies.

The objectives of the program are to:

 

  • assist high-growth companies to scale-up and expand,
  • support technology demonstration and bringing new technologies to market,
  • encourage the early adoption or adaptation of leading-edge technologies and processes to improve productivity, and
  • increase businesses’ capacity to grow through market diversification and entry into global markets.

 

Your project proposal must support one of the following priorities:

 

  • clean technology
  • clean resources
  • digital technology
  • advanced manufacturing
  • value-added agriculture
  • health/bio-sciences

Provincial Government Programs

Province of Alberta

powerful opportunities to drive business success and innovation in Alberta.

With initiatives like Alberta Innovates, supporting cutting-edge research and technology development, and the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, which invests in workforce training and upskilling, these programs are designed to give businesses a competitive advantage. By leveraging provincial funding and support, you can strengthen your operations, empower your team, and position your business to thrive in Alberta’s dynamic economy. Now is the time to innovate, invest, and grow.

Alberta Innovates offers programs aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) advance business readiness levels and accelerate product commercialization. Under the R&D Associates, SMEs may be eligible for up to CA$67,500 in grants for one year in order to employ in-house professional research and development capability. Additionally, under the Commercialization Associates program, SMEs may be eligible for up to CA$105,000 in funding to employ highly trained personnel for one year.

Eligible employers can get government funding to help employees and unemployed Albertans  access training opportunities.

Workforce Strategies grants support organizations with innovative solutions that will help Albertans develop new skills and assist employers and industry to grow their workforce. Workforce Strategies grant funding is intended to provide eligible applicants with the ability to implement projects that support skills, employment and workforce development needs.

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