MARKET ACCESS GRANTS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATION.

The Market Access Grant program provides funding to cover third-party costs to allow individuals to attend markets to advance a project. Activities at markets can include pitching, demoing, training or other element. Applicants can apply for funding of 75% of costs, up to a maximum grant of $3,500.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants

Market Access Grants are available to:

  • enterprises with a principal office in the Edmonton metro region that have been resident and operational for a minimum of one year; or,
  • individuals with professional screen media content creation experience or expertise who have been resident in the Edmonton metro region for a minimum of one year.

Applicants must be in good standing with the ESIO and the City of Edmonton.

Exceptions may be considered, please contact [email protected] to discuss prior to completing the application.

Only one Market Access Grant will be offered per applicant in 2023. If you received a Market Access Grant in 2023, you are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects must be 100%-owned, -controlled or -optioned by the applicant.

Initiatives that are outside of the day-to-day operations of an applicant will receive priority for funding.

Ineligible Projects

  • Projects that are primarily propaganda (false, exaggerated, or distorted ideas, visual material and statements typically used for a political purpose)
  • Interactive digital media projects that do not have an interactive element (for example, e-publications, catalogues and compilations of re-purposed material without value-added content)
  • Projects that promote cruelty, sexual violence or sexual exploitation
  • Projects which contain elements that are pornographic, obscene, indecent or contain child pornography or are considered hate speech within the meaning of the Criminal Code of Canada
  • Projects that are libelous or in any way unlawful

 

Eligible Activities

  • 75% of virtual or in-person event registration fees
  • 75% of return trip travel costs to in-person events, inclusive of air and ground transportation
  • 75% of accommodation costs
  • Per diem at a maximum of $45 per day per attendee
  • 75% of pitch material costs

Other costs may be considered, subject to pre-approval. Contact [email protected] to discuss prior to completing the application.

Only arms-length, third-party costs are eligible.

Activities must occur between August 2 and February 28, 2024.

Ineligible Activities

  • Project costs, such as costs incurred during the development, production and release phases of film and television projects and costs incurred during the concept, prototype, development and marketing phases of an interactive digital media project
  • Activities for which the applicant has already received funding, or a commitment for funding, from the ESIO
  • Activities for which the applicant has already received funding, or a commitment for funding, from another grant source, unless the activity is not fully funded by that source
  • Controlled substances
  • Pre-paid cards
  • Hospitality costs
  • GST will not be reimbursed if the applicant has a GST number.
  • Costs for which the applicant has received, or will receive, non-repayable funding

 

APPLICATION

Applications will be accepted beginning on August 9 until 11:59 pm MDT on August 31, 2023.

Applicants must submit a separate application form for each project. Applicants may indicate a priority order for multiple submissions; however, applications that best align with the program goals may be chosen over the applicants’ priority choices. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Based on a variety of factors, including the number of high-quality applications, the ESIO may not fund 100% of a request.

Successful applicants will be notified approximately one month after the closing date.

 

CONTACTS

Any questions regarding eligibility, the application process or application assessment can be submitted to [email protected].

Any concerns related to the application process or assessment or with client services can be submitted to [email protected].

 

Application Form