Backing Canadian Small Businesses Grant Program (Canada)

Funded by American Express Canada and administered by DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University, 100 Canadian small businesses with community significance, owned by individuals experiencing economic hardship, will be selected to receive a grant and mentoring support from DMZ.

Each selected business will receive mentoring support consisting of workshops, small group sessions, and one-on-one meetings with experienced DMZ program mentors. On a part-time basis, small business owners will receive coaching and knowledge on areas relevant to their business, such as sales, marketing, operations, and leadership.

Funding Information

• Grant amount: $10,000 CAD.

Uses of the Fund

• The grant funds must be used towards critical business needs that support long-term business sustainability and growth. Potential uses could include critical improvements needed to sustain operations—such as enhancing digital capabilities, investing in new product development, purchasing new equipment, and making other physical improvements.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for the program, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
  • The applicant must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or hold current and valid authorization in Canada
  • The applicant must be at least 18 years or older
  • The business must be an independent business and not part of a franchise
  • Own a business incorporated in Canada, where the business is primarily operated and managed in Canada
  • The business must be currently active in the Canadian market and been in operation on or before Jan 1, 2024
  • The business must have an annual revenue in 2024 of less than $1.5M CAD
  • The business must operate either out of a physical location or online
  • The applicant should be comfortable conducting business in either English or French (mentorship will be conducted in English or French)
• Preference will be given to applicants that best demonstrate:
  • Businesses with community reach and/or significance
  • Economic challenges experienced in the course of running or starting their business
  • Clear use of grant funds and the anticipated impact on their business

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following industries and business types are ineligible for the program:
  • Any government agency or Crown corporation, public administration, non-profit or charitable organization, or political organization of any type
  • Businesses engaged in any illegal activity
  • Franchises not founded in Canada, are not founded or run by the applicant, or have over ten (10) franchisees
  • Businesses, private clubs, and memberships which limit the number of memberships for reasons other than capacity

For more information, visit American Express Canada.