Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Business Opportunities
The Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) provides access to capital and access to business opportunities to Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners in Canada.
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About the program
The Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) seeks to increase the number of viable businesses in Canada owned and controlled by Indigenous people. The AEP funds a broad range of entrepreneurial pursuits and aims to build capacity, reduce barriers and increase access to capital, by forging partnerships that will increase economic opportunities for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Access to Business Opportunities is one of 2 streams under the AEP. The other stream is the Access to Capital which provides Indigenous businesses with access to non-repayable contributions for supporting eligible business proposals and leveraging additional funds.
Access to business opportunities
The Access to Business Opportunities stream provides national level funding to promote a culture of entrepreneurship through national Indigenous organizations to improve access to business opportunities and to enhance the capacity of Indigenous businesses. Support will vary depending upon the needs of the recipient, the availability and sources of funding, the eligibility of costs, the economic benefits, and the project viability.
Eligible activities will be reimbursed for 100% of costs, to a maximum of $500,000 include:
- institutional development, including training and development and business supports to business development organizations
- business advisory services and training
- commercial ventures including business innovation and growth
- market development
- business development and advocacy activities
For more details, consult the terms and conditions.
Who can apply?
- First Nation and Inuit communities and governments, including Tribal Councils
- Indigenous individuals
- Organizations and associations, whether Indigenous-owned or non-Indigenous-owned, as long as they are not charitable or religious
- Businesses owned and controlled by Indigenous peoples
- Canadian owned and controlled banks, credit unions and trust companies authorized to make commercial loans and are provincially or federally regulated
- Private equity providers
- Provincial or federal crown corporations
- Municipal governments
- Labour organizations
- Universities, colleges and other learning institutions
Deadline
There is no deadline to apply. Applications made after all annual funding has been distributed may be considered for the next financial year.
How to apply?
Contact the business development directorate:
- by email: APA-ABO@sac-isc.gc.ca