Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program

This grant supports various financing modalities designed to assist Indigenous communities and organizations with their capital projects while ensuring financial sustainability. The modalities primarily focus on leveraging existing funds and resources to supplement grant funding.

• Applicants must demonstrate the ability to cover all project costs exceeding the maximum funding available from the ICCGP.
• Financing may be in the form of cash equity, contributed equity, loans, mortgages, grants, or a combination of these options.
• Cash equity can include cash operating surplus, retained earnings from the applicant’s businesses, or funding provided as capital funds by Indigenous Services Canada.
• Contributed equity is eligible at fair market value and includes donated labor, valued based on trade rates or the Ministry of Labour’s fair wage schedule.
• For minor renovation or retrofit, major renovation or retrofit, or construction project stages, applicants are required to cost-share at least 10% of the total project stage costs.
• At least half of the cost-shared amount must be in cash; the contribution source must not be federal or provincial government grants or loans.

The eligibility criteria for this grant include:

• Must be an Indigenous entrepreneur, business, community, or organization
• Projects must contribute to diversifying Indigenous economies and improving employment opportunities
• Priority given to projects that support collaboration between Indigenous communities and the private sector
• Specific eligibility requirements may vary based on the funding stream being applied to

Who is eligible?

Eligible types of companies for the Indigenous Economic Development Fund include Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, communities, and organizations. The fund supports projects that diversify Indigenous economies, increase access to employment and training opportunities, and provide start-up and expansion financing.

• Indigenous entrepreneurs
• Businesses
• Communities
• Organizations

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses for the Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF) include costs related to diversifying Indigenous economies, increasing access to employment and training opportunities, providing start-up and expansion financing for small and medium-sized businesses, and supporting economic development initiatives through collaboration between Indigenous communities and the private sector.

• Diversification of Indigenous economies
• Access to employment and training opportunities
• Start-up and expansion financing for small and medium-sized businesses
• Support for economic development initiatives through collaboration with the private sector

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is applicable to Indigenous communities and organizations located in Ontario. Eligible areas are explicitly targeted to foster economic and social development within these regions.

• First Nation communities in Ontario.
• Métis communities in Ontario.
• Indigenous organizations operating within Ontario.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant.

• Alignment with the fund's objectives and priorities
• Feasibility and sustainability of the project
• Potential economic impact and benefits to Indigenous communities
• Evidence of collaboration and community engagement
• Demonstrated need for funding