Archived - Aboriginal Business Development Program (ABDP)

Who can apply?

Applicants must be individuals of Canadian Aboriginal heritage (Status or Non-status Indian, Métis or Inuit) or a majority-owned Aboriginal business, financial organization, or development corporation.

To be eligible for support, applicants should be involved with the proposed business full time in a management capacity and must be able to provide some level of cash equity to support the project.

What activities qualify?

Funding is available to assist a wide range of activities such as:

• Business planning
• Capital costs, including associated operating costs
• Business acquisitions and expansions
• Marketing initiatives that are local, domestic or export oriented
• New product or process development
• Adding technology to improve operations or competitiveness
• Financial services, business support, business related training and mentoring services

What information is required?

Applicants may submit a brief Statement of Intent, which will be reviewed by CanNor to determine whether the project meets the program criteria.  Applicants will then be advised on the development of the full application.

In general, with their application and prior to approval, applicants must demonstrate:

• Aboriginal heritage
• A balanced financial package (involving debt financing from other sources, as well as personal equity)
• Experience in the sector and viable business opportunity

A full application includes:

• project design, including description, objectives, scope and deliverables
• uses and sources of funds
• identification and justification of costs
• management capacity
• project organizational structure
• administrative arrangements
• time lines
• community economic benefits
• where appropriate, compliance with laws and regulatory requirements, environmental effects, land tenure requirements, and operating, maintenance and repair plans

To apply for this program, please contact the regional office for more information.

What are the funding limits?

Individual Aboriginal entrepreneurs may receive up to $99,999 in funding assistance for a single project.

For community-owned businesses, assistance can be up to $1,000,000. The level of support for a business project will depend on a range of factors including, but not limited to, the scale and scope of the development, financial history and projections, and availability of resources.

How is the program delivered?

Applications are submitted to a CanNor regional office, where projects are reviewed. If a project is approved for funding, CanNor enters into a funding agreement with the recipient. Recipients are expected to report on the implementation and results of their projects.

Program delivery across the territories varies; some of the funding is delivered directly by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, while other funding is delivered through third-party delivery agents.

Regional Contact information

CanNor, Yukon Region
215-305 Main Street
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2B3
Tel: 867-667-3263
Fax: 867-667-3945
Email: ytinfo@cannor.gc.ca

CanNor, Northwest Territories Region
P.O. Box 1500
Yellowknife, NWT
X1A 2R3
Tel: (867) 766-8327
Fax: 867-766-8401
Email: ecdevnwt@cannor.gc.ca