Arctos is a studio, not a funding agency or grant writer. This guide exists because clients ask the same question before almost every build, and the answers are scattered.
The short answer
- A standard website rebuild is rarely grant-eligible in 2026. CDAP, which covered it, is closed.
- AI adoption has new federal financing: BDC's LIFT initiative, launched April 2026.
- Alberta digital technology companies can apply to Alberta Innovates programs.
- Novel technical work may earn SR&ED tax credits or NRC IRAP support.
The Canada Digital Adoption Program has closed
CDAP was the program most small businesses used for websites, e-commerce, and digital plans. Its Boost Your Business Technology stream stopped taking applications in February 2024 and the Grow Your Business Online micro-grant closed in September 2024. No direct federal replacement has been announced, so anything still advertising a CDAP website grant is out of date.
BDC LIFT, for AI adoption
The Business Development Bank of Canada launched LIFT (Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology) in April 2026 with $500 million committed. It connects small and medium-sized businesses with advisors who identify where AI fits in the business, then offers financing, up to $5 million, to implement it, with preferential terms for choosing a Canadian AI solution or integrator.
It is a loan, not a grant, so it suits a project with a clear business case.
Alberta Innovates
Alberta Digital Traction Program. Up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, covering up to 75 percent of a project, for Alberta digital technology companies with software at the core of their product. Applicants contribute at least 25 percent in cash and must have fewer than 50 full-time employees and under $1 million in annual recurring revenue. Intake is continuous.
Micro Voucher Program. For Alberta small and medium-sized businesses developing a novel digital technology, with a minimum 25 percent cash contribution. Registration for the most recent intake closed on 29 May 2026, so watch for the next one.
NRC IRAP
The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program supports Canadian small and medium-sized businesses developing new technology, combining advisory help with funding. It starts with a conversation with an Industrial Technology Advisor rather than an open application form.
SR&ED tax credits
Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credits reward work that resolves a technological uncertainty existing knowledge cannot answer. Custom software or AI work can qualify when it is genuinely experimental; building with established methods usually does not. Keep technical records as the work happens, because claims depend on them.
What funding rarely covers
Innovation programs fund new technology, not routine improvements. A marketing website redesign, a CRM setup, or a standard automation built from existing tools is usually paid for directly. That is worth knowing before a project is delayed waiting on a grant that will not come.
Questions
Are there grants for small business websites in Calgary in 2026?
Rarely for a standard marketing website. The federal Canada Digital Adoption Program, which covered website and e-commerce work, closed in 2024 with no direct replacement. Alberta and federal innovation programs fund new technology development, not routine website rebuilds, so most website projects are paid for directly or financed.
What replaced the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)?
No direct replacement has been announced. Businesses now look to BDC's LIFT initiative for AI adoption financing, Alberta Innovates programs for digital technology companies, NRC IRAP for technology innovation, and SR&ED tax credits for experimental software development.
Is there funding for AI projects in Alberta?
Yes, mainly as financing rather than grants. BDC's LIFT initiative, launched in April 2026, pairs small and medium-sized businesses with advisors to find where AI fits and then offers loans to implement it. Alberta Innovates and NRC IRAP can also support AI work that involves developing new technology.
Does custom software qualify for SR&ED?
Sometimes. SR&ED rewards experimental development that resolves a technological uncertainty existing knowledge cannot answer. Building custom software with established methods usually does not qualify; genuinely novel technical work can.