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Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) - Access to Capital is a grant from Indigenous Services Canada, administered by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), that provides financing for Indigenous entrepreneurs and community-owned businesses.
Eligible applicants include First Nations (status and non-status), Métis, and Inuit individuals aged 18 or older, with awards up to $99,999 for individuals and up to $249,999 for community-owned businesses with at least 51% Indigenous ownership. Applications are submitted through local Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) rather than directly to the government, ensuring community-based delivery of capital support.
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Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program - NACCA National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program The Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) is a comprehensive range of complementary products designed to strengthen the network of Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs) and to foster increased availability and affordability of capital for developmental lending.
NACCA manages the delivery of the AEP products and services described below. NACCA is responsible for: Application and claims processes; Data collection and analysis on IFI operations; Advocacy on behalf of the IFI network; and, Needs assessment, research, and product development with respect to the design and delivery of financial products and services. The AEP Policy Manual and its attachments are available from the menu.
The AEP Committee is a standing committee of the NACCA Board of Directors and provides oversight to the delivery of the suite of products. Terms of Reference for the committee are located in the attachments to the AEP Policy Manual.
The AEP lending products and services include the following: Aboriginal Capacity Development Program (ACDP) The Aboriginal Capacity Development Program is designed to enhance the capacity of employees and board directors of IFIs, optimize efficiencies, and increase their capacity to engage unused capital for developmental lending.
The product enables IFIs to obtain educational support focused on the effective and consistent delivery of developmental lending across the network. Examples include loan management systems, standard administrative or audit procedures for financial institutions, and investment of surplus funds.
Aboriginal Developmental Lending Assistance (ADLA) In 2014-15, NACCA launched the Aboriginal Developmental Lending Assistance Program, designed by IFIs and NACCA to enhance IFI sustainability and to provide a consistent means to compensate IFIs for developmental loan losses and the high cost of developmental loan administration.
Such assistance enables qualified IFIs to absorb the cost of capital shortfall tied to developmental lending as well as the pre-and post-loan care costs, enabling the full deployment of AFI loan capital to Aboriginal entrepreneurs.
Interest Rate Buy-Down (IRB) In the absence of adequate capital to meet the demand, the Interest Rate Buy-Down program has been important for some IFIs to access incremental loan capital from commercial and non-commercial sources.
IRB is designed to encourage an increase in developmental lending to Indigenous businesses by providing a subsidy to those qualified IFIs wishing to secure additional loan funds from sources of capital such as banks, trust companies, and arm’s-length private lenders of capital. A subsidy is provided to IFIs with a low liquidity ratio to offset the interest costs for accessing capital for additional developmental lending.
Enhanced Access (EA) Loan Fund IFIs serve specific territories and communities across Canada and, as a result, some areas of the country do not have access to a source of developmental lending. To fill these gaps, the Enhanced Access Loan Fund provides repayable, interest-free loans to IFIs in order to lend to Aboriginal business ventures.
This product provides critical loan capital to IFIs, enabling these organizations to assist Aboriginal businesses operating in un-serviced regions to offset transaction costs related to developmental lending. Aboriginal Business Financing Program (ABFP) NACCA delivers the Indigenous Business Financing Program that provides equity financing to increase the number of Indigenous businesses in Canada.
This product delivers non-repayable contributions to a maximum of $99,000 for Indigenous entrepreneurs and $250,000 for community-owned Aboriginal businesses. Nation-wide coverage will be achieved as NACCA manages the product to IFI regional leads that flow funds to regional groups of IFIs across Canada. NACCA Hosts BC/Yukon Young Indigenous Leaders Pilot Reception Career Opportunity – IEP Support Officer
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: First Nations (status and non-status), Métis, and Inuit individuals aged 18+ and Indigenous community-owned businesses (51%+ Indigenous ownership). Applicants apply through their local Aboriginal Financial Institution. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $99,999 for individuals, up to $249,999 for community-owned businesses Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program – Business Opportunities is a grant from Indigenous Services Canada that funds regional and national initiatives promoting Indigenous entrepreneurship and improving access to business opportunities. The program supports non-repayable contributions to projects that foster an entrepreneurship culture, strengthen Indigenous organizational capacity, and help connect Indigenous businesses to broader markets and opportunities. This stream does not fund individual business startups or expansions. Eligible applicants are Indigenous organizations and community-owned Aboriginal businesses in Canada. Awards reach up to $99,000 for individuals and up to $250,000 for community-owned businesses. The application deadline is October 31, 2026.
Inuit Cultural Education Centres Grant Program is an Indigenous Services Canada program providing grants to Inuit individuals and community-based Inuit cultural education centres to support the development, preservation, and promotion of Inuit cultural heritage. The program aims to enable Inuit individuals and communities to express, share, and develop their cultural heritage with other Canadians, thereby promoting awareness of Canada's cultural diversity. Eligible recipients include Inuit individuals ordinarily residing in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Northwest Territories and other Inuit land claim settlement areas, as well as community-based Inuit cultural education centres. Government funding will not exceed 100% of eligible expenditures. Program guidelines are effective from April 1, 2026, through the 2026 to 2027 program year.
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital is sponsored by Indigenous Services Canada (administered by National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association - NACCA via Indigenous Financial Institutions and Métis Capital Corporations). This program provides non-repayable equity contributions and business services to Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses to start, expand, or acquire a business. It enhances access to capital for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses in Canada.