Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development)

• The applicant must be one of the 35 Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, or Peskotomuhkati (MMPFN) First Nations in the Gaspé region of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Nova Scotia, affected by the Supreme Court of Canada Marshall Decision.
• All applications must be reviewed and verified by the Business Development Team (BDT) before eligibility for funding.
• The proposed activities must be aligned with the CFE (communal commercial fishing enterprise) Business Development Plan and support its implementation.
• The application must include a completed AICFI Application Form, a detailed budget, and a letter of support signed by the Chief or a Band Council Resolution (BCR) authorizing submission.

Who is eligible?

• Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy (Peskotomuhkati) First Nations communities in the Gaspé region of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia affected by the Supreme Court of Canada Marshall Decision

Who is not eligible

• No specific information is provided regarding companies or industries that are not eligible for the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Capacity Building (Business Development) grant.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries, wages, and related costs for positions supporting business operations, such as Fisheries Director, Fisheries Coordinator, Assistant Fisheries Coordinator, Bookkeeper, or Fisheries Management System (FMS) Coordinator.
• Business and technical assistance related to enterprise development.
• Support for governance design and enhancement of management practices.
• Accounting and accountability measures, including enterprise risk management.
• Communications related to business development activities.
• Travel costs directly associated with business operations development.
• Administrative expenses required to implement the Business Development Plan.

Eligible geographic areas

• Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) First Nations in the Gaspé region of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia affected by the Supreme Court of Canada Marshall Decision

• Alignment of proposed activities with the CFE’s Business Development Plan.
• Clarity and completeness of the application and supporting business case, including a detailed work plan and budget information.
• Support and verification of the application by the Business Development Team (BDT).
• Inclusion of a letter of support from the Chief or a Band Council Resolution.
• Demonstrated capacity to complete proposed activities within the fiscal year.

• Support from the Business Development Team (BDT) is provided at no cost to the applicant.
• All information provided in the application and supporting documentation, as well as collaboration with the BDT, will be kept confidential by the Program Authority.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit applications as early as possible in the fiscal year, as notional funding may be re-allocated after July 31.
• A letter of support from the Chief or Band Council Resolution must be included with the application.