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Updated October 2026 · Verified against Global Affairs Canada guidelines
Advance Payment
Grant Federal Between Intakes

CanExport Community Investments

Global Affairs Canada
Maximum Funding
Up to $500K
Annual intake — 2026-27 intake closed January 30, 2026; next intake expected ...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Advance Payment
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
60%
CanExport Community Investments provides up to $500K. CanExport Community Investments provides non-repayable grants of up to $500,000 to Canadian community-level non-profit organizations to help Canadian communities attract, retain, and expand foreign direct investment (FDI). The program covers up to 60% of eligible costs. Annual intake — 2026-27 intake closed January 30, 2026; next intake expected January 2027.
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

115 organizations received this funding in 2025 — 430 awards since 2019. Typical award: $31.9K. Half of all awards fall between $22.2K and $71.5K. The advertised maximum is $500K — most awards land closer to $31.9K. 8% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top provinces: Ontario 33% · Alberta 15% · Quebec 14%. Covers: CanExport Community Investments contributions to municipalities and regional economic development organizations, not individual businesses. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through October 2026.

The typical CanExport Community Investments award is $31.9K — the median of 430 awards since 2019, even though the program advertises up to $500K. In 2025, 115 organizations were funded.

115funded in 2025
$31.9Ktypical award
430awards since 2019
8%for-profit

Most awards fall between $22.2K and $71.5K, with a typical (median) award of $31.9K. The program funds up to $500K for the largest projects — about 16 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $31.9K $22.2K $71.5K
up to $500K

Most awards land between $22.2K and $71.5K, with a typical award of $31.9K — and this program funds up to $500K for the largest projects.

Top provinces ON 33%AB 15%QC 14%

Named recipients

Recent recipients of CanExport Community Investments include MRC de Maria-Chapdelaine (Dolbeau-Mistassini, QC, 2025), Ville de Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke, QC, 2025) and Foothills County (High River, AB, 2025).

  1. 2025MRC de Maria-ChapdelaineDolbeau-Mistassini, QC
  2. 2025Ville de SherbrookeSherbrooke, QC
  3. 2025Foothills CountyHigh River, AB
  4. 2025The Corporation of theCity of VaughanMaple, ON
  5. 2025Town of ParadiseParadise, NL
  6. 2025Corporation of the City of SarniaSarnia, ON
  7. 2025Corporation of the Town of AjaxAjax, ON
  8. 2025City of Kawartha LakesLindsay, ON
  9. 2025Municipality of Cypress CountyDunmore, AB
  10. 2025Town of EdsonEdson, AB
Show 30 more recipients
  1. 2025Nanaimo Prosperity CorporationNanaimo, BC
  2. 2025The Lake Simcoe PartnershipBeaverton, ON
  3. 2025Weyburn Regional Economic Development Inc.Weyburn, SK
  4. 2025City of AirdrieAirdrie, AB
  5. 2025Palliser Economic Partnership Ltd.Consort, AB
  6. 2025SouthGrow Regional InitiativeLethbridge, AB
  7. 2025Rural Municipality of TacheDufresne, MB
  8. 2025Ignite Economic Development AgencyFredericton, NB
  9. 2025City of Mount PearlMount Pearl, NL
  10. 2025Corporation of the City of GuelphGuelph, ON
  11. 2025Invest OttawaOttawa, ON
  12. 2025Quinte Economic DevelopmentCommissionBelleville, ON
  13. 2025City of CharlottetownCharlottetown, PE
  14. 2025CIty of SummersideSummerside, PE
  15. 2025Wood Buffalo Economic DevelopmentCorporationFort McMurray, AB
  16. 2025Metro Vancouver Regional DistrictBurnaby, BC
  17. 2025Alberta's Industrial HeartlandFort Saskatchewan, AB
  18. 2025City of RevelstokeRevelstoke, BC
  19. 2025YYJ Prosperity Association South Island Prosperity PartnershipVictoria, BC
  20. 2025Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.Winnipeg, MB
  21. 2025Portage Regional EconomicDevelopment Inc.Portage la Prairie, MB
  22. 2025Winnipeg Metropolitan Region Inc. Capital Planning RegionWinnipeg, MB
  23. 2025Envision Saint John: The RegionalGrowth AgencySaint John, NB
  24. 2025Pictou County PartnershipNew Glasgow, NS
  25. 2025Développement industriel Granbyet région Inc. et région Inc.Granby, QC
  26. 2025Investissement et DéveloppementGatineauGatineau, QC
  27. 2025Montréal InVivoMontréal, QC
  28. 2025City of Moose JawMoose Jaw, SK
  29. 2025City of YorktonYorkton, SK
  30. 2025Economic Development Regina Inc.Regina, SK
See how much each recipient received, and how each award compares to the typical one. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all CanExport Community Investments winners →

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

CanExport Community Investments provides non-repayable grants of up to $500,000 to Canadian community-level non-profit organizations to help Canadian communities attract, retain, and expand foreign direct investment (FDI). Funding covers up to 60% of eligible activity costs and supports activities such as investor prospecting, hosting international delegations, investment promotion materials, and building FDI capacity. The program is distinct from CanExport SMEs and does not fund trade or export activities.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a Canadian community-level non-profit organization
  • Must be focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to a specific Canadian community or region
  • Activities must relate to FDI attraction, retention, or expansion — not trade or export activities
  • Must not fund initiatives related to mergers and acquisitions or investments from other parts of Canada
  • Must be a legal entity capable of entering a binding contribution agreement with the Crown
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Services All

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $500KUp to $500,000 (covers up to 60% of eligible expenses; FDI attraction — does not fund trade or export activities)
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 60% of eligible costs
Deadline
Annual intake — 2026-27 intake closed January 30, 2026; next intake expected January 2027

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
3/5

Moderate competition — prepare a strong application

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Approval Rate
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

This program is specifically for FDI attraction — not for helping local companies export.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Success Profile

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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win CanExport Community Investments

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Review program eligibility and application guide Confirm your organization is a Canadian community-level non-profit focused on foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction. Review the CanExport Community Investments Applicant's Guide at tradecommissioner.gc.ca to understand eligible activities and funding parameters.

Required Documents 6

✓ Completed CanExport Community Investments application form
✓ Description of eligible FDI attraction activities with budget

Eligible Expenses 9

Ineligible Expenses 7

Deadline Notes

Premium The full guide for this program also covers:
  • 5 more application steps
  • 4 more required documents
  • 9 eligible expenses
  • 7 ineligible expenses
  • Deadline notes

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Invest Ontario Programs Invest Alberta Programs ISED Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) FedDev Ontario
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

How CanExport Community Investments Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
CanExport Community Investments Up to $500,000 Moderate Advance Payment Annual intake — 2026-27...
FedDev Ontario Funding Varies Hard Reimbursement Ongoing
Yukon Economic Development Fund (EDF) up to $30,000 Moderate Milestone-Based Tier 1 (up to $30,000):...
Circular Economy Grant Program $5,000 - $25,000 Moderate Reimbursement Between intakes — 2026...
PEI Small Business Investment Grant Up to $3,750 Easy Reimbursement March 31, 2027 (annual...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CanExport Community Investments

Free
Can I apply if I'm a for-profit economic development agency?
No — only Canadian community-level non-profit organizations qualify. For-profits must apply for CanExport SMEs instead. The program explicitly excludes for-profit entities.
What's the typical grant amount for a regional economic development organization?
Mid-sized EDOs typically receive $50,000–$300,000. Major urban EDOs can get up to $500,000. Funding covers up to 60% of eligible costs.
When is the next application window?
Applications for 2027–28 open approximately January 2027. The 2026–27 window closed January 30, 2026. Monitor tradecommissioner.gc.ca for exact dates.
Do I need to pay upfront before getting funds?
Yes — the program uses an advance payment model. You cover 40% of costs upfront and claim back 60% of eligible expenses after delivery.
Can I combine this with other provincial programs?
Yes — compatible programs include Invest Ontario, Invest Alberta, and FedDev Ontario. Ensure activities align with both programs' objectives.

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