Deadline Date: May 19, 2026
The Backing Canadian Small Businesses grant program supports locally significant small businesses across Canada by providing funding and mentorship to help them grow and strengthen their community impact.
The program focuses on supporting small business growth, strengthening local economic impact, providing financial grants to entrepreneurs, offering mentorship and coaching support, and enhancing business skills in sales, marketing, operations, and leadership development.
This initiative is funded by American Express Canada and administered by DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University. It is designed to empower small businesses that play an important role in their local communities by giving them financial assistance and structured mentorship to support long-term sustainability and growth.
Through the program, 100 selected Canadian small businesses will each receive a grant of $10,000 CAD. In addition to financial support, participants will benefit from mentoring provided by experienced DMZ mentors, including both group sessions and one-on-one guidance. Business owners will also receive coaching on key operational areas such as sales, marketing, leadership, and day-to-day business management.
The program is intended to help entrepreneurs strengthen their capabilities and scale their businesses through structured support and expert guidance. It focuses on practical business development needs, ensuring participants can apply learning directly to their operations and growth strategies.
Eligibility is limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with valid authorization to work in Canada who are at least 18 years old. Applicants must own an independent business that is not part of a franchise and is incorporated and primarily operated in Canada. The business must be active in the Canadian market and have been operating on or before January 1, 2026.
For more information, visit DMZ.
