Lands and Economic Development Services Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the Lands and Economic Development Services Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Lands and Economic Development Services Program is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Lands and Economic Development Services Program?

Lands and Economic Development Services Program is funded by Government of Canada

Q: Who is eligible for the Lands and Economic Development Services Program program?

To be eligible for the Lands and Economic Development Services Program program, you must: • Must be an Indigenous-owned business or support Indigenous business participation. • Project must contribute to Indigenous economic development.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Lands and Economic Development Services Program?

You can contact Government of Canada.

Q: Where is the Lands and Economic Development Services Program available?

The Lands and Economic Development Services Program program is available across Canada.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Lands and Economic Development Services Program program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the Lands and Economic Development Services Program program.

Last Update: August 7, 2025

Canada

Supports Indigenous economic development and sustainable land management

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Utilities
Construction
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The Lands and Economic Development Services Program, administered by Indigenous Services Canada, provides funding to First Nations and Inuit communities to enhance economic development and improve land and environmental management through operational and project-based initiatives. Eligible activities include community economic development planning, capacity building, land management, and environmental stewardship; the maximum funding amount is not specified.

Activities funded

Development and implementation of economic development plans for First Nations and Inuit communities.
Capacity-building initiatives to enhance land and resource management skills.
Support for environmental management and pollution prevention projects, particularly waste management on reserve lands.
Preparation for participation in major resource development initiatives and strategic economic development activities.
Projects that facilitate the addition of lands to reserves, including land designations and surveys that support economic development.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 163,500

Capacity-building in GIS land mapping for sustainable resource planning

$ 210,000

Survey and legal designation for economic development on new reserve lands

$ 129,000

Development of an economic plan for Indigenous-owned eco-tourism venture

$ 160,000

Support for land code development under the First Nations Land Management

$ 185,000

Implementation of a comprehensive waste management system on reserve

$ 245,000

Pilot renewable energy microgrid to enhance reserve energy autonomy

Eligibility

The applicant must be a First Nations or Inuit community.
The project must support economic development, land, or environmental management within First Nations or Inuit communities.
Proposed activities should enhance capacity for land management, economic planning, or environmental protection.

Who is eligible?

First Nations communities
Inuit communities

Eligible expenses

Operational costs for delivering economic development services.
Capacity development initiatives related to land and economic management.
Proposal development support expenses.
Costs associated with the management of reserve lands, resources, and the environment.
Expenses for on-reserve environmental management, including waste management and pollution prevention.
Support services to prevent contamination of reserve lands.
Costs related to land codes, individual agreements, land management systems, and environmental agreements.
Expenses for land additions, designations, and surveys that enable economic development.

Eligible geographic areas

First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada

Selection criteria

Initiatives that strengthen land and environmental management, and economic development as a key function of local government.
Support for Indigenous participation in major resource development initiatives.
Readiness to participate in the First Nations Land Management Regime or strategic economic development and associated land use planning.
Initiatives that promote on-reserve environmental management and pollution prevention, particularly waste management.
Additions to reserves, designations, and surveys that support economic development.
Level of risk involved with the project.
Demonstrated need for federal funding.
Environmental benefits for First Nations and Inuit individuals, businesses, or communities, such as improved waste management or rehabilitation of contaminated lands.

How to apply

Assess eligibility and objectives

Identify if your community aims to enhance economic development or land management capacities
Determine eligibility as a First Nations or Inuit community
Review the objectives and support types offered by the program

Select appropriate funding type

Choose between operational and project-based funding options
Align your community's needs with the program priorities
Select the relevant type of funding for your initiative

Prepare application documents

Prepare the necessary documentation for your application
Gather evidence of the demonstrated need for federal funding
Collect information on environmental benefits or project outcomes

Draft and review the application

Draft a detailed application aligning with program priorities
Include supporting documents such as land management plans and environmental strategies
Review for completeness and compliance with guidelines

Submit your application

Submit the completed application and all supporting materials to Indigenous Services Canada
Ensure submission deadlines for the selected funding type are met

Additional information

The program combines five prior community-based economic and land management support programs under a single initiative.
Administered by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) since 2014.
Priority is given to initiatives that strengthen land management and economic development within Indigenous communities.
Date of last modification for program information: June 11, 2020.

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Lands and Economic Development Services Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Lands and Economic Development Services Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the Lands and Economic Development Services Program?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under Lands and Economic Development Services Program?

Development and implementation of economic development plans for First Nations and Inuit communities. Capacity-building initiatives to enhance land and resource management skills. Support for environmental management and pollution prevention projects, particularly waste management on reserve lands. Preparation for participation in major resource development initiatives and strategic economic development activities. Projects that facilitate the addition of lands to reserves, including land designations and surveys that support economic development.