Guidelines – Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant

To be considered for CME’s Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant, funded by the Government of Alberta, please note that being a member of CME is not required.

 

To be eligible, your company must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a manufacturer based on the following definition:
  • A manufacturer is described as involved in operations to produce or support products/services related to manufacturing, processing, fabricating or refining.
• Must be operating in Alberta, with the investment to be made into Alberta manufacturing operations.
• Must be an incorporated business (federally or provincially) for 2 years or more continuously.
• Must demonstrate financial stability.
• Must have greater than 5 and fewer than 750 full-time employees (FTE) in Alberta.
• While applicants are encouraged to apply to other eligible federal programs, this funding cannot be stacked with other Government of Alberta-funded programs.

• The program provides funding for investments and implementation of long-term production assets and technology that increase capacity on production.
• Technologies may include: equipment; robotics; automation; artificial intelligence; machine learning; advancing networks; and equipment for investments in the Internet of Things. Please note: investments in ERP systems and general training are not covered under this program.
• Investments beginning April 1, 2025, in long-term production assets and technology may be eligible for funding. Implementation of the long-term production assets and technology must be completed by December 31, 2026.

A proposed budget must be submitted with each application. The budget should provide a detailed breakdown of costs. All service provider invoices must clearly outline the services provided. Line-item descriptions such as “services rendered” will not be accepted.

 

Eligible expenses:

• Capital equipment
• Installation of capital equipment related to the project
• Training on new equipment related to the project
• Direct materials related to the project
• Direct labour devoted to the completion and management of the project
• Project management/consulting fees (excluding travel)

Any expense claimed that does not have a receipt included will be removed from eligible costs.

 

Ineligible expenses:

• Entertainment and meals

CME reserves the right to remove any unreasonable costs.

Applications will be evaluated based on their ability to meet the following criteria:

 

• Technology investments that aim to improve and modernize the manufacturing process, leading to increased productivity and competitiveness
• Creation of long-term employment and high-value jobs

Each application will be given a fair evaluation based upon the information and supporting documentation provided in the application by the applicant. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is provided at the time of the application. CME will review the application and provide feedback on any missing documentation or where clarification is required. Missing information will delay the response time. As a general guideline, applications will be reviewed within a 45-business day timeframe.

All CME staff and contractors involved in the application review and selection process are covered by a strict confidentiality and conflict of interest agreement. The Government of Alberta will have access to all information upon request of the documents, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as amended from time to time.

The submitted application will be reviewed by CME and our industry experts, after which the applicant will be notified if their proposed project is approved or not. A CME representative will contact approved applicants and provide a copy of the Contribution Agreement (contract). CME will release 30% of the approved funding to the applicant within 30 business days of the date of the signed contract.

Once the approved applicant’s expenses have been paid in full, the applicant is ready to complete their final report to CME. Templates of reports and forms will be provided to the successful applicant by CME.

 

The applicant will be required to complete an Expense Claim Form which will identify the budgeted expenses submitted as part of the original application, and any significant variations (up or down) in actual expenses will need to be explained.

The Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant provides funding in the form of a matching contribution of up to $30,000 (a maximum of 50% of eligible costs, which can include capital equipment, materials, training on new equipment, installation of new equipment, professional service fees as well as a company’s direct labour devoted to the completion and management of the project up to $30,000). Non-eligible costs will be denied and will delay the final payment. If approved expenses end up being less than originally proposed, the award amount will be adjusted accordingly.

 

Copies of all invoices, supporting documents, and final report must be provided to an assigned CME representative.

 

Once the final report and expense claim have been received, they will be reviewed for final eligibility. Final payments on approved projects will be processed within 30-60 business days of the approval date.

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE (FTE)

A full-time employee is a person who works directly for the applicant company, works a minimum of 35 hours per standard week, is paid through company payroll, and is issued a T4 slip for income tax purposes. Part-time employees can have combined hours to create a FTE employee. For example, 2 part-time employees who work a total of 17.5 hours each per week can be combined to equal 1 FTE employee. The number of FTE employees must be sustained throughout the lifecycle of the project. A company must have a minimum of 5 FTE employees and maximum of 750 employees.

 

INCURRED EXPENSE

An expense is considered to have been incurred if the relevant services or products have been provided or delivered, and the payment has been made.

 

MANUFACTURING

Any natural or legal person who makes a physical good with tools and/or machines by affecting chemical, mechanical, or physical transformation of materials, substances, or components, or by simulating natural processes, usually repeatedly and on a large scale with a division of labour. Manufactured items often are, or are made out to be, different from other similar goods in one or more aspects, and are sold commonly under a particular brand name.

 

SMALL – MEDIUM SIZE ENTERPRISE (SME)

For the purpose of the Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant, a SME is a manufacturing company with 5 to 750 full-time employees (FTE).