All businesses incur costs, whether it is purchasing property, paying overhead or employees. Financing is a vital component in business planning. 

At times unexpected expenses occur. A common approach is to obtain a business loan from a bank or lending institution. Grants and funding programs may also be available from the government and not-for-profit organizations.

Banks located in Sherwood Park

• ATB Financial
• BMO Bank of Montreal
• Canadian Western Bank
• CIBC
• RBC Financial
• Scotia Bank
• Servus Credit Union
• TD Canada Trust
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

Grants and funding programs

Federal programs

• Alberta Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
  The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) provides access to business services across Western Canada.

• Canadian Small Business Financing Program
  Businesses may be eligible for up to $500,000 loans for land and buildings, equipment, or renovations.

• Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC)
  Offers customized workshops, to help organizations increase their energy efficiency and reduce costs.

• Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFAIT)
  DFAIT provides Canada's foreign policy, trade, development programs and services for Canadian businesses and travellers. Funding programs are available in specified areas. 

• Futurpreneur Canada
  A not-for-profit organization provides support for young entrepreneurs, including funding programs.

• Government of Canada
  The Government of Canada has amalgamated most of their funding programs under one umbrella where you may enter your information and then it will route you to appropriate information depending on your situation. 

• Innovative Solutions Canada 
  An initiative that provides government grants and procurement contracts to stimulate technology research, development, and commercialization. 

• Mogo Investor Relations
  A publicly-listed finance company that provides equity and capital for technology, media and healthcare startups.(formally Difference Capital)

• National Angel Capital Organization
  NACO is a community of angel investors which connects entrepreneurs with financing opportunities.  

• NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program
  Providing financial support to qualified small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada to help them undertake technology innovation.

• RHO Ventures
  A private venture capital firm that provides seed funding for startups, particularly those in innovative technology sectors.

• Start-up Financing

Provincial programs

• Accelerate Fund
  An early stage angel investor for Alberta technology companies.

• Alberta Financial Services Corporation (AFSC)
  A provincial crown corporation that provides risk management and lending programs for agri-business as well as commercial businesses. 

• Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
  Provides programs and services to support agriculture, agri-business and food processing.

• Alberta Innovates
  The research and innovation system that supports excellence in science. Alberta Innovates provides funding for bio, health, energy, environmental and technological research and development.

• Alberta Parks and Recreation
  Provides funding programs and grants for initiatives in sports, tourism and recreation programs.

• Innotech Alberta
  Helps technical industries find solutions, develop products and move technologies to market by building on Alberta’s established advantages, facilitating access to key partners, and investing in research to support priorities.

• Sustainable Development Technology Canada
  Provides funding for Canadian clean-tech projects and coaching. Opportunities include the SD Tech Fund for projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water and clean soil. 

• Travel Alberta
  The mission of the Cooperative Marketing Investment Program is to increase the marketing capacity of our industry partners.

• Venture Capital Association of Canada
  A hub for venture capital, angel investors, private equity and other programs.

Local, regional, venture capital groups and other not-for-profit programs

• A100
  An industry association that provides funding, networking and education programs for startups in the technology industry.

• ATB BoostR
  A crowdsourcing and social networking website for local start-ups.

• Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
  Alberta Women Entrepreneurs is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to women in business. The organization provide lending, education and other programs.

• C100
  Provides funding, education and networking programs for technology startups

• Community Futures (Elk Island Region)
  A community-driven, not-for-profit organization that helps small businesses start, expand, franchise or sell a business.

• Valhalla Angels
  Valhalla Angels is an investor only membership group committed to building Western Canadian industry through early stage angel investing.

• EVOK Innovations
  Evok Innovations is a clean tech fund that accelerates the development and commercialization of solutions to the most pressing environmental and economic challenges facing the oil and gas sector