Business Financing

Whether you are looking for financial support for an established business or you are looking for start-up funding, this section will point you to good sources of information for Saskatchewan businesses.

Strategis
This website can help you to obtain a broad list of contacts, services and financial programs with links to useful sites.

Government of Canada - Canada Business Service Centers:

• Federal Government Programs and services for Business Start-up. A comprehensive list of over 130 programs.
• The Business Start-Up Assistant can help you get your new business going. There's lots of advice for developing a business plan, arranging financing, and researching the marketplace.
• Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBF) - this program helps new and existing small businesses obtain term loans directly from authorized lenders towards financing the purchase and improvement of fixed costs.

Directory of financial providers - Industry Canada. for example, chartered banks, credit unions, financial professionals, venture capital contacts and more.

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.
This program helps women in urban and rural areas of Saskatchewan access business advisory services, training, financial assitance through a loan fund and networking opportunities.

Farm Credit Corporation
FCC is Canada’s largest agricultural term lender, providing specialized financial services to farming operations including family farms and small to medium-sized agribusiness.

Staffing and Training

Grants and Contributions for Business/Employers available through the Government of Canada.

The Saskatchewan Government has several supporting programs in place to assist Employers in hiring employees. Including the following

Job Start/Future Skills
This program links training to employment. It provides recognized training and employment opportunities for unemployed Saskatchewan people who need job skills while providing employers with the skilled workers they need to fill new positions.

The following Employment Programs help unemployed people on provincial social assistance and on Employment Insurance benefits get the training and work experience they need to get a job. Employers benefit by finding workers to fill jobs.

• Community Works - helps participants gain meaningful work experience, while helping community-based organizations and muncipalities enhance community facilities or services.
• Bridging - funds a variety of programs, services and supports that link participants to jobs. These may include: assessment; counselling; life skills; academic upgrading; entry level skills training.

Click here for additional information on available programs offered by the Saskatchewan Government.

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
The objective of the Opportunities Fund is to generate innovative activities which help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain and keep employment or self-employment.

• Funding may be provided to cover costs such as participant wages or related employer costs;
• Funding may be provided to cover overhead costs related to planning, organizing, operating, delivering and evaluating approved activities, including costs such as staff wages and employment related costs. Eligible expenses will be negotiated with program officials.

Employability Assistance for the Physically Disabled (EAPD)
The EAPD Program provides funding to assist adults with diabilities to prepare for, secure and maintain employment. Various supports are offered, including training-on-the-job, vocational and work assessments, psycho-educational assessments, job coaching, support for employers and disability related costs in a wide variety of post-secondary education and training programs.

Hiring Students

Student Employment Experience(SEE)
The SEE is a year-round program that provides eligible employers with up to 75% of wages and benefits to hire students in either a part-time of full-time job that is relevant to their field of study.

Canada Summer Jobs
This program provides wage subsidies to employers who create summer jobs for students.

The Green Team
SEIMA and the Minsitry of Advance Education, Employment and Labour offer employment funding through the Green Team. This program seeks to place Saskatchewan students in summer jobs that provide an opportunity to develop their environmental knowledge and build their experience in Saskatchewan's green and prosperous economy.

Youth Employment Strategy Program
(YES) is the Government of Canada's commitment to help young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition to the workplace