Alberta Self-Employment Program ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Unemployed individuals registered with Alberta Employment Services - Recent job losers or those facing imminent job loss - Income-qualified applicants meeting Alberta's low-income thresholds - Canadian citizens or permanent residents residing in Alberta - Individual sole proprietors (not existing businesses or incorporated entities) - Applicants must demonstrate intent to start a new self-employment venture - Must be available to commit full-time to training and business development ### 💰 Funding Details - Grant Type: Non-repayable training and business development support - Funding Coverage: Program costs are subsidized (exact participant cost varies by delivery partner) - No Matching Requirement: Government fully funds eligible participant training - Potential Living Allowance: Participants may receive income support during training period (varies by individual circumstances) - No Loan Component: This is a grant program; funds do not require repayment - Indirect Support: Business counselling, mentoring, and coaching provided at no cost to participant ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Formal self-employment training courses and workshops - Business plan development and refinement - One-to-one business counselling sessions - Coaching and mentorship from experienced business advisors - Guidance on business fundamentals (finance, marketing, operations) - Follow-up support during initial business implementation phase - Skills assessment and entrepreneurship readiness evaluation ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Program Duration: Typically 12-16 weeks of active participation - Attendance Requirement: Full commitment to training program; mandatory attendance at sessions - Business Plan Completion: Participants must develop a viable, reviewed business plan before completion - Employment Status: Must remain registered as unemployed/seeking work through Alberta Employment Services during program - Follow-Up Period: Ongoing support provided for 6-12 months post-business launch - Performance Tracking: Participants tracked for business viability and self-employment success metrics - Reporting Obligations: May be required to provide updates on business progress post-program - **Funding