Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development

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 deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Who is eligible for the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development program?

To be eligible for the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development program, you must: • The applicant must be an Indigenous entrepreneur or an Indigenous business. • The business must be located in the Canadian territories. • The project should aim to establish or grow Indigenous businesses.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development?

You can contact Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) by email at operations@cannor.gc.ca or by phone at 867-873-9341.

Q: Where is the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development available?

The Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development program is available across Canada.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Financial support for Indigenous businesses in the territories

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

All industries

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Get a financial contribution to cover up to 90% of eligible costs when your Indigenous-led organization undertakes a project to expand your business in one of the 3 northern territories.

Activities funded

This program is aimed at supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses to establish or grow their operations. It focuses on enhancing economic opportunities and access to capital in Indigenous communities across the Northern territories.

Support for business plan development and strategic planning initiatives.
Provision of funding for business expansion and startup costs.
Facilitation of market research and feasibility studies for new business ventures.
Access to mentorship and advisory services to strengthen business acumen.
Development of training programs tailored to Indigenous business needs and skills enhancement.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 36,000

Enhancing access to capital for an Indigenous fishing business

$ 30,600

Promoting entrepreneurship in an Indigenous community

$ 72,000

Establishing a new Indigenous restaurant with traditional cuisine

$ 54,000

Establishing a new Indigenous arts and crafts store

$ 67,500

Expanding an Indigenous tourism company focusing on eco-tours

$ 36,000

Expanding an existing Indigenous craft studio

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses in the territories.

The applicant must be an Indigenous entrepreneur or Indigenous business.
The business or project must be located within the territories.
The proposed activities must aim to establish or grow the Indigenous business.

Who is eligible?

Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous businesses seeking to establish or grow their operations, with support from regional Service Delivery Partners (SDPs) to facilitate access to capital and local economic opportunities in the northern territories of Canada.

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies may not be eligible for this grant:

Non-Indigenous businesses
Companies operating outside of the territories (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon)
Businesses not focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship or development

Eligible expenses

The Entrepreneurship and Business Development (EBD) Program aims to support the growth and establishment of Indigenous businesses. Activities eligible for this grant focus on enhancing business capacity and facilitating economic opportunities.

Business planning and management skills development.
Marketing and market development initiatives.
Access to business financing and capital resources.
Support for business infrastructure and technology adoption.
Training and mentorship programs for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies located in the territories served by CanNor's regional Service Delivery Partners (SDPs). It focuses on enhancing Indigenous entrepreneurship across specific Northern regions.

Businesses located in Nunavut (Qikiqtaaluk) under the Kakivak Association.
Enterprises in Nunavut (Kivalliq) within the Kivalliq Inuit Association region.
Companies based in the Northwest Territories served by the Metis Dene Development Fund.
Organizations in Yukon affiliated with däna Näye Ventures.

Selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant:

Demonstrated potential for business viability and growth
Alignment with the program objectives to promote entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities
Ability to enhance access to capital for Indigenous businesses
Overall impact on local and regional economic opportunities

How to apply

Initial Contact

Identify and contact the appropriate CanNor approved Service Delivery Partner (SDP) depending on your location.
Reach out via email or phone as provided to express your interest in the EBD program and seek assistance with the application process.

Obtain Application Form

Email Operations@cannor.gc.ca or contact a regional office to request an official application form for the EBD program.
Ensure that you have received all necessary documentation and guidelines for completing the application.

Application Preparation

Carefully fill out the application form, including detailed project descriptions, objectives, and expected outcomes.
Gather all required supplementary documents, such as business plans or financial statements.

Review and Submit Application

Review the application for accuracy and completeness.
Submit the completed application form and relevant documents to your chosen SDP or directly to CanNor if instructed.

Confirmation and Follow-up

Wait for a confirmation of receipt from the SDP or CanNor.
Maintain contact for any further information or clarification that might be needed during the assessment process.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for potential applicants of the Entrepreneurship and Business Development (EBD) Program:

The program may be delivered by regional Service Delivery Partners (SDPs), thereby increasing local and regional access to the program.
Applicants should connect with one of the CanNor approved SDPs for assistance with their project funding applications.

Contacts

operations@cannor.gc.ca

867-873-9341

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development. 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.