archived
Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive
Financial support for new entrepreneurs in Nunavut
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Archived
Location
Nunavut, Canada
Overview
Get career counseling and start-up support with a $5,000 contribution that will help offset businesses expenses and licensed child care costs for children under the age of 6.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Archived
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nunavut
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
Eligible projects for the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive focus on enhancing the competitive edge of local businesses and fostering sustainable growth in the region. These initiatives aim to encourage the development of necessary business skills and create more employment opportunities for local residents.
- Providing goods and services to government, the private sector, and the public at competitive prices.
- Reinvestment of corporate earnings into the Nunavut economy.
- Developing business skills and experience to compete successfully with other Nunavut and southern businesses.
- Creating employment for Nunavut and local administrative and management staff.
- Training opportunities for Nunavut administrators and managers.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nunavut businesses that are limited companies with at least 51% of voting shares beneficially owned by Nunavut residents
- Nunavut co-operatives with at least 51% of voting shares beneficially owned by Nunavut residents
- Sole proprietorships whose proprietor is a Nunavut resident
- Partnerships in which the majority interest and benefits are owned by Nunavut residents
- Non-resident businesses that have carried out business in Nunavut for ten consecutive years and meet the policy’s Nunavut business overhead requirements
Who is not eligible
The Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive aims to support local businesses, but certain criteria must be met ensuring alignment with the policy's objectives. Eligibility depends on fulfilling specific residency or operational requirements.
Eligible expenses
The Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive grant covers expenses directly associated with business operations and development in Nunavut.
- Costs of leasing or owning office, commercial, or industrial space for the primary purpose of operating the business.
- Expenses related to hiring and maintaining a resident manager.
- Operational costs for conducting the majority of management and administrative functions within Nunavut.
- Expenditures for training and employing local administrators and managers.
- Expenses incurred in the process of applying for and obtaining designation as a Nunavut business.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses located in Nunavut.
- Businesses operating in Nunavut communities that qualify as a “subject community” as defined by the Government of Nunavut for the specific contract.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The Senior Management Preference Committee has the authority to waive the strict requirements of the Business Incentive Policy, provided the business aligns with the policy's spirit and intent and demonstrates long-term benefits to Nunavut's economy.
- Contracts under $1,000 must be sourced directly from approved Nunavut businesses, with no discount applied.
- Contracts valued between $1,000 and $5,000 include a 20% discount on Nunavut content, while those over $5,000 offer a 15-20% discount, including an additional discount for local content.
- If businesses fail to comply with the terms, they may face disqualification from the Nunavut business status, either temporarily or permanently.
- A Monitoring Office exists to ensure compliance with the policy and handle the designation of Nunavut businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive. 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 Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive?
Get career counseling and start-up support with a $5,000 contribution that will help offset businesses expenses and licensed child care costs for children under the age of 6.
Who is eligible for the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive program?
To be eligible for the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive program, you must:
The business must comply with the legal requirements to operate in Nunavut, ensuring at least 51% of ownership is held by Nunavut residents.
The business must maintain an approved place of business in Nunavut, performing the majority of its management and administrative functions within the territory.
For new businesses, the proposed management must be capable of developing necessary skills to compete successfully locally and with businesses outside Nunavut.
What expenses are eligible under Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive?
Eligible projects for the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive focus on enhancing the competitive edge of local businesses and fostering sustainable growth in the region. These initiatives aim to encourage the development of necessary business skills and create more employment opportunities for local residents. Providing goods and services to government, the private sector, and the public at competitive prices.
Reinvestment of corporate earnings into the Nunavut economy.
Developing business skills and experience to compete successfully with other Nunavut and southern businesses.
Creating employment for Nunavut and local administrative and management staff.
Training opportunities for Nunavut administrators and managers.
Where is the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive available?
The Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive program is available the province of Nunavut.
Is the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive?
Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive is funded by Government of Nunavut