Alberta businesses across all sectors that are ready to grow globally
Services
Level Up (Alberta)
Free province-wide trade development program launched September 22, 2026 by Calgary Economic Development with Government of Alberta funding (Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration). Helps Alberta businesses become export-ready and diversify into new international markets through a Trade Hub of resources, on-demand market- and sector-specific courses, live workshops and one-on-one mentorship. Builds on the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) with deeper, market-specific knowledge for entering complex markets.
Overview
Free province-wide trade development program launched September 22, 2026 by Calgary Economic Development with Government of Alberta funding (Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration). Helps Alberta businesses become export-ready and diversify into new international markets through a Trade Hub of resources, on-demand market- and sector-specific courses, live workshops and one-on-one mentorship. Builds on the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) with deeper, market-specific knowledge for entering complex markets.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | advisory/training |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | AB |
| Administrator | Calgary Economic Development (funded by Government of Alberta, Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration) |
| Intake status | Open - rolling; launched Sep 22, 2026; apply via the Level Up page (calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com/levelup) |
| Non-US bias | Explicitly helps businesses reduce reliance on any single market and diversify into new international markets, including non-US markets |
Eligibility
Applicants must meet at least one criterion
participation in a trade mission (led by the Government of Alberta, Calgary Economic Development, Global Affairs Canada or Edmonton Global); referral from government staff or a partner organization; completion of the Trade Accelerator Program; or at least $250,000 in revenue during the most recent fiscal year
Free to eligible Alberta businesses
What it covers
Trade Hub
one-stop repository of export funding opportunities, export guides and practical resources, trade mission information, free trade agreement snapshots, trade announcements and an interactive Alberta Trade Deal Map
Courses
flexible, on-demand learning focused on specific markets, sectors and export topics, with participants building a learning path that matches their business goals
Course Journey
learn (complete online courses at your own pace), apply (join a live workshop to explore the topic deeper) and grow (one-on-one mentorship with the course instructor)
Market and diversification rules
No market restrictions; programming supports diversification across markets including non-US destinations
Designed for businesses ready to move beyond TAP export planning into entering more complex markets
How to apply
Review program details on the Level Up page (calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com/levelup)
Complete the online application, demonstrating at least one eligibility criterion (trade mission participation, partner referral, TAP completion, or $250K+ revenue)
Attend the courses and workshops and engage with the mentorship component
Stacking notes
Free advisory/training program that complements the Alberta Export Expansion Program travel grants, TAP, and federal CanExport funding
Delivered with partners including the Business Development Bank of Canada, JORI Logistics, Alberta Chambers of Commerce and others
Notes
Launched Sep 22, 2026 by Calgary Economic Development and the Government of Alberta as a trade capacity-building response to trade disruption and tariff uncertainty
In 2025, businesses supported through Calgary Economic Development's trade services secured 45 trade deals generating $60 million in trade revenue across 21 countries on six continents
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
Book a free readiness call
Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
Book a free readiness call