2017 GRANT GOLD
- Find and meet properly
- 2018 grant conferences
- Your online conduct and grants
As we close 2017, I want to leave you with some key points from this past year.
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Find Grant
If you’re interested in winning a government grant for your business, the first thing you need to know is “which grant.”
Finding the best grant to apply for can be exhausting.
In fact our database now has over 600 grants in it.
To help you with your grant search, the Province of Alberta has provided this site:
http://www.smallbusiness.alberta.ca/funding-a-business/grants/
The federal government has a good site that can be found here: https://canadabusiness.ca/programs/#/?page=1
Another great resource is provided by the federal government. On October 21, 2005, the Government announced its commitment to proactively disclose the awarding of grants and contributions over $25,000 as part of its Management Improvement Agenda. http://open.canada.ca/en/search/grants?f%5B0%5D=date_year%3A2017&f%5B1%5D=type_en%3AContribution
If the thought of finding all the grants for your business is exhausting, we can provide you with a custom grant package. Just fill out this form: www.albertabusinessgrants.ca/needs-assessment. Once you fill the form, you will receive a link to book a complimentary consultation to review your findings.
Meeting the Grant Agency
Once you have found the perfect grant, you need to meet the grant agency BEFORE you write. Here are the key questions you need ask:
1. AM I ELIGIBLE?
2. ARE FUNDS STILL AVAILABLE THIS YEAR?
3. ARE YOU STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS?
4. WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?
5. HOW COMPETITIVE IS THE PROGRAM?
6. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE?
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IN 2018
GRANT CONFERENCES
1. Alberta Innovates: June 6 & 7, 2018
Grant conferences are rare but absolute GOLD.
Please book this date in your calendar for the Alberta Innovates conference: June 6 & 7, 2018. At the 2017 SPARK conference, Alberta Innovates gave the crowd a heads up about its 2018 conference.
I learned a lot about winning grants at the 2017 SPARK conference. I think the same will be the case at the 2018 Alberta Innovates conference in June. When all the grant agencies are in one room, they can mitigate your grant writing risk.
2. Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference: Mar 26 – 27, 2018
This conference is designed for all women in agriculture. The program emphasizes key leadership skills and developmental opportunities. Capitalize on your opportunities to network with women in agriculture and learn skills and tools from experts in their field.
Calgary, AB. More information: http://www.advancingwomenconference.ca
Major Events
Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Growing Forward II was the framework for most agricultural grants in Canada. It was a five-year framework, and it is coming to a close March 31, 2018.
The new framework is called the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), a five-year, $3 billion investment, which will come into effect on April 1, 2018. Here is how the government describes the program – don’t be confused, the CAP is just a fancy phrase for a pile of grants.
“[CAP] will strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, ensuring continued innovation, growth and prosperity. In addition, producers will continue to have access to a robust suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will focus on six priority areas:
Science, Research, and Innovation – Helping industry adopt practices to improve resiliency and productivity through research and innovation in key areas.
Markets and Trade – Opening new markets and helping farmers and food processors improve their competitiveness through skills development, improved export capacity, underpinned by a strong and efficient regulatory system.
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change – Building sector capacity to mitigate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment and adapt to climate change by enhancing sustainable growth, while increasing production.
Value-added Agriculture and Agri-food Processing – Supporting the continued growth of the value-added agriculture and agri-food processing sector.
Public Trust – Building a firm foundation for public trust in the sector through improved assurance systems in food safety and plant and animal health, stronger traceability and effective regulations.
Risk Management – Enabling proactive and effective risk management, mitigation and adaptation to facilitate a resilient sector by working to ensure programs are comprehensive, responsive and accessible.”
If you’re in agriculture, you need to be prepared for this wave of grants. Grants are often first-come first-serve. CAP Preparation in the first quarter of 2018 is critical for success.
ACTIONS TO TAKE IN 2018
Business Awards
When you apply for grants, business awards are great content for applications. Also, grant agency staff and politicians usually attend the ceremonies. I’ve often seen where the minister will tell my client about a grant in his or her department.
Do you think you stand a good chance of winning a grant if you win “small business of the year” and the grant minister invites you to apply? Trust me it’s a no brainer.
A little bit of planning and applying will go a long way.
Political Meetings
One thing I learned a long time ago working at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta: politicians run the show – not the bureaucrats. If you want to understand something about winning grants, you need to know that politicians are the boss in grants.
So what should you do?
Meet you Member of the Legislative Assembly or Member of Parliament.
All you need is an introduction to the grant agency staff from them. This simple introduction will go a long way in helping you secure a grant. Keep in mind you still need to have a strong application – the grant agency isn’t going to give out funding to someone it DOESN’T trust.
Online
Okay full disclosure I turned 40 in 2017, and what I’m about to say may seem odd for a few of our younger or more technology savvy entrepreneurs.
I see some people with NO social media presence or some people with some ridiculous comments on social media – especially emotional responses.
When you apply for grants and awards, one of the very first things these people are going to do is look you up online.
If you don’t know what you’re doing online, spend a few bucks in Q1 and give someone like Sharon MacLean a call at World Gate Media: www.WorldGate Media.com or sharon@worldgatemedia.com. She has a social media audit that could help you immensely.
Conclusion
Congratulations on growing grant knowledge in 2017. I’m sure if you’re following along in any of these blogs, you are well on your way to growing your business, creating jobs, inventing products, or improving our environment.
I wish you all success in 2018.
Happy New Year,
David Kincade
Phone: 780.297.6177
Email: davidk@albertabusinessgrants.ca
p.s. We win and manage government grants for Alberta businesses. Do you qualify for government grants? Find out here: https://albertabusinessgrants.ca/needs-assessment
