Support for First Nations, Indigenous Entrepreneurs, Organizations and Corporations
National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association
will be adding details on this page regarding the $306.8 million stimulus package announced by the Prime Minister on April 18, 2020. This emergency funding is to counter the economic effects of this pandemic for NACCA, the network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions and their Indigenous business clients. View Frequently Asked Questions or to sign up for updates, CLICK HERE
Community Futures British Columbia
$287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which will specifically target small businesses and rural communities across the country. Click Here to learn more.
​
More details on the RRRF small business supports and how to access them will be available shortly. In the meantime, for assistance and information regarding COVID-19 related small business supports in rural BC, use the location finder below to contact your local Community Futures Office.
​
Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF)
​
The Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) provides short term support, in the form of a non-repayable grant, for ongoing operational costs to small- and medium-sized territorial businesses impacted by economic disruptions due to COVID-19.
​
The NBRF complements the suite of relief measures implemented by the Government of Canada to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Canadian economy.
​
The Fund will provide eligible territorial SMEs with short-term relief for operational costs in the form of a non-repayable grant ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $100,000. The funding will cover a maximum period of 4 months, retroactive to April 1, 2020.
​
The NBRF is delivered directly through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
​
For more information on the NBRF, please consult the NBRF guidelines.
​
Canada Business App:
​
Find COVID-19 support and other programs and services:
​
Download Canada Business to see how easy it is to navigate government services, get recommendations tailored to your business, set up personalized notifications and find the answers you need to start up, scale up and access new markets.
Download at the App Store or Google Play
​
​
Indigenous Community Support Fund - Call for Proposals for Urban and Off-reserve organizations is CLOSED
​
Graphic of Distribution, CLICK HERE for more information.
​
​
​
​
COVID-19: First Nations Community Guide on Accessing Additional Supports
$100 million for areas of federal responsibility, including for First Nations, Inuit and Métis community public health needs. These funds will:
-
respond to identified needs to update and/or activate pandemic plans
-
support an effective allocation of the limited public health and primary health care capacity to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak
-
align response efforts with scientific evidence as determined by a medical officer of health
-
address immediate needs in the short term
​
CLICK HERE to learn more. Below are some of the costs your community can be reimbursed or funded for:
​
-
Community or service provider level infection prevention and control supplies (such as soap, sanitizers, disinfectants, personal clinical supplies, community training)
-
Medical transportation under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program: Travel (air, ground and water) and meals and accommodations. High-risk individuals are eligible for private ground transportation, such as taxi, and private accommodations, such as hotel
-
Emergency transportation and additional escorts under the Non-Insured Heath Benefits program: Travel (air, ground and water) and meals and accommodations. High-risk individuals are eligible for private ground transportation, such as taxi, and private accommodations, such as hotel
-
Health human resources surge capacity: primary care nurses and public health nurses, or other health providers such as paramedics and community workers
-
Mental health services to support communities, particularly when they are facing affected individuals
-
Adaptation of community space for surge capacity access to medical care or for self-isolation or other related purposes and additional operation and maintenance cost incurred by surge capacity requirements
-
Storage costs of supplies
-
On-the-land initiatives to support social isolation or food security
-
Other types of expenses considered on a case-by-case basis.
​
CLICK HERE for funding request form
​
​
Indigenous Tourism British Columbia (ITBC) (Up to $5,000) - Closed
​
THE COVID-19 ITBC EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WILL PRIORITIZE:
-
Market-ready Indigenous tourism business owners / sole proprietorships or family-owned partnerships that have lost salary or income because of a severe disruption to business due to COVID-1
-
Market-ready Indigenous tourism business that is experiencing a decline in business, have had cancellations in 2020 tourism season and/or have lost business revenue.
-
Market-ready Indigenous tourism business that has traditionally relied on own-sourced dollars to operate, who do not qualify for government relief programs and/or do not have financial support from traditional banks or financial institutions.
​
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (Up to $25,000) - Closed
​
COVID-19 Development Stimulus Fund - CLICK HERE TO APPLY
​
This program is intended to assist as many Indigenous tourism businesses as possible from across Canada. There are limited funds available and therefore the funding amount for any individual applicant will be up to a maximum of $25,000. Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, ITAC may present an offer less than the full requested amount.
The project must be specific to helping your Indigenous tourism business recover from COVID-19. There are three primary areas of focus in 2020-2021. These include:
-
Maintaining jobs
-
Diversifying revenue streams
-
Resiliency/strengthening business offerings
​
​
​
