Start and Grow Your Business with ACTI in Lethbridge
Start and Grow Your Business with ACTI
in Lethbridge
Start and Grow Your Business with ACTI
in Lethbridge
Live online business training supported by one-on-one guidance in your community.
Program cost: Free for eligible participants
Program length: 26 weeks
10 Weeks of Live Online Training: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
16 Weeks of Guided Business Development: You work on building your business 30+ hours a week and meet with your mentor once a week
ACTI’s Lethbridge Business Training Program gives you the practical training, mentorship, and local support needed to turn your business idea into a full-time business that is registerd in Alberta.
This is not a self-directed online course. You will attend live classes, interact with instructors and classmates, and work on your businesses in real time.
A local Community Program Lead also provides you with one-on-one support, local market insight, and connections to business resources, relationships, and events throughout Lethbridge and Southern Alberta.
ACTI’s Lethbridge Self-employment Program gives eligible participants the practical training, mentorship, and local support needed to turn a viable business idea into full-time self-employment.
The program is delivered through live online instruction, allowing participants to take part from home. Lethbridge participants join the same scheduled intake as participants from Medicine Hat, creating a larger and more diverse learning group from across Southern Alberta.
This is not a self-directed online course. Participants attend live classes, interact with instructors and classmates, and work on their businesses in real time.
A local Community Program Lead also provides one-on-one support, local market insight, and connections to business resources, relationships, and events throughout Lethbridge and Southern Alberta.
Depending on the subject matter, there may also be opportunities for participants from Lethbridge and Medicine Hat to come together for in-person sessions.
Program delivery: Live, instructor-led
online learning
Local support: One-on-one assistance from a Lethbridge Community Program Lead
Program length: 26 weeks
Training schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the 10-week training phase
Program cost: Fully funded for eligible participants
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Ready to Take
the Next Step?
Attend an ACTI information session to learn more about the online program, local support, eligibility, and application process.
10 Weeks of Live Online Training
Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
Workshops includes:
Business planning and goal setting
Market research and business viability
Marketing, promotion and sales
Accounting, banking and financial forecasting
Licensing, insurance and business operations
Customer development and launch preparation
You work on your own business throughout the training, making meaningful progress while you learn.
The first 10 weeks combine structured instruction with real-time business development.
Training includes:
Business planning and goal setting
Market research and business viability
Marketing, promotion and sales
Accounting, banking and financial forecasting
Licensing, insurance and business operations
Customer development and launch preparation
Participants use their own business concepts throughout the training, allowing them to make meaningful progress while they learn.
16 Weeks of Guided Business Development
After completing the training phase, you continue building your business with:
Weekly small-group mentorship
Personalized coaching and guidance
Local market insight
Networking events
After completing the training phase, participants receive continued support through:
Weekly small-group mentorship
Personalized coaching and guidance
Local market insight
Support as the business moves toward launch
After completing the training phase, participants receive continued support through:
Weekly small-group mentorship
Personalized coaching and guidance
Local market insight
Support as the business moves toward launch
Select opportunities to participate in person may also be available
Is This Right for You?
The program supports a diverse range of business ideas that reflect the Lethbridge and Southern Alberta economy.
This could be the right fit if you want to:
Want to start your own trades business
Want to start your own skilled labour business
Want to provide services
Want to provide new services or products
Want to purchase a business
Want to own a home-based business
Want to become self-employed
Want to become an entrepreneur
You must have relevant skills, experience, education, or industry knowledge connected to your proposed businesses.
The program supports a diverse range of business ideas that reflect the Lethbridge and Southern Alberta economy.
Participants may include:
Tradespeople and skilled workers moving into independent business
Cleaning, maintenance and home-service providers
Personal-service and mobile-business operators
Caregivers and people returning to the workforce
Career transitioners seeking flexible self-employment
Agriculture-adjacent and rural-service businesses
Home-based business owners
Consultants and professional-service providers
Applicants must have relevant skills, experience, education, or industry knowledge connected to their proposed businesses.
Can I get financial help while attending?
Funding is based on factors including:
Household income
Household size
Your individual circumstances
We'll explain available financial assistance and how it works during the Discovery Information Session.
The program supports a diverse range of business ideas that reflect the Lethbridge and Southern Alberta economy.
Participants may include:
Tradespeople and skilled workers moving into independent business
Cleaning, maintenance and home-service providers
Personal-service and mobile-business operators
Caregivers and people returning to the workforce
Career transitioners seeking flexible self-employment
Agriculture-adjacent and rural-service businesses
Home-based business owners
Consultants and professional-service providers
Applicants must have relevant skills, experience, education, or industry knowledge connected to their proposed businesses.
Upcoming Lethbridge Start Dates
Upcoming Lethbridge
Start Dates
September 14, 2026
Applications are now being considered for ACTI’s first Lethbridge intake.
January 11, 2027
Start the new year by turning your business idea into an actionable plan.
March 22, 2027
Develop your business with structured training and support from people who understand your community.
September 14, 2026
Applications are now being considered for ACTI’s first Lethbridge intake.
January 11, 2027
Start the new year by turning your business idea into an actionable plan.
March 22, 2027
Develop your business with structured training and support from people who understand your community.