Nutrition North Canada retail subsidy program
- Open Date : April 14, 2020
Overview
The Nutrition North Canada (NNC) retail subsidy program offers financial support to retailers, suppliers, food banks, charitable organizations, and local food growers in isolated northern communities to sell or distribute eligible food and essentials at reduced prices. The program aims to increase access to nutritious food in these areas with no specified maximum funding amount, focusing on eligibility rather than a funding cap.
At a glance
Funding available
- Increase social or community impact
- Varies by project
- Open Date : April 14, 2020
Eligible candidates
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Retail trade
- Health care and social assistance
- Canada
- Non-profit
- Sole proprietorship
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Primary and Secondary Education
- Other Education
- Research
- Social Services
- Emergency and Relief
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Nonprofits / charities
- Low-income individuals / families
- All structures
- Local
- Regional
Next Steps
Activities funded
This grant provides financial assistance to businesses and organizations to subsidize the cost of essential food and items in isolated northern communities. Eligible activities focus on distributing and selling food and essential goods at reduced prices and promoting local food production.
- Selling or distributing eligible food and essential items by registered retailers in eligible communities.
- Supplying eligible food from suppliers located outside of eligible communities to northern retailers, social institutions, and commercial establishments.
- Processing or distributing country food by government-registered establishments in communities eligible for subsidy.
- Operating food banks and charitable organizations serving eligible communities without profitability.
- Producing and distributing food in greenhouses and other local growing facilities situated in eligible communities.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
The Nutrition North Canada (NNC) retail subsidy program is accessible to a variety of establishments interested in selling or distributing food and other essentials at reduced prices with financial support from the program. Eligible establishments must register with NNC or purchase eligible items from registered retailers or suppliers.
- Retailers operating in eligible communities who offer eligible food and essential items.
- Suppliers located outside eligible communities who provide food to northern retailers, eligible social institutions, eligible commercial establishments, or individuals in eligible communities.
- Country food processors or distributors that are government registered, inspected, or licensed and located in eligible communities.
- Registered food banks and other charitable organizations serving eligible communities.
- Local food growers such as greenhouses in eligible communities who produce food for local sale or distribution.
Residents of northern, isolated communities can benefit from the subsidy by purchasing subsidized items from registered retailers or placing direct orders with registered suppliers. However, resource companies, construction companies, and government establishments cannot apply.
Who is not eligible
The Nutrition North Canada retail subsidy program excludes certain types of businesses and organizations from receiving subsidies, focusing on ensuring subsidies reach the intended communities and individuals. The restrictions relate mainly to the main activities of these entities.
- Mining companies.
- Oil and gas companies.
- Exploration companies and camps.
- Companies providing support activities for mining, oil and gas extraction, exploration, and development.
- Surveying and mapping services.
- Construction companies.
- Environmental cleanup operations.
- Electricity companies.
- Weather stations.
- Research stations and projects.
- Military establishments and operations.
- Outfitters.
- Bed and breakfast establishments and boarding houses, except where these facilities are used as women's shelters, emergency housing, or for other purposes as affirmed by the local government.
Eligible expenses
This program offers subsidies to improve access to affordable food and essential items in northern, isolated communities. Eligible activities aim to enhance the availability of locally produced and permissible food products in these areas.
- Retail operations in eligible communities selling eligible food and essential items.
- Supply chains providing food to northern retailers, eligible social institutions, and individual consumers in eligible communities.
- Country food processing or distribution by government-registered, licensed producers within eligible communities.
- Food bank and charitable organization services operated in eligible communities.
- Local food growing initiatives from greenhouses or similar facilities in eligible communities.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is available to businesses and organizations operating in communities deemed eligible by the Nutrition North Canada program. These areas are primarily remote and isolated northern communities in Canada.
- Remote northern communities recognized by Nutrition North Canada for subsidy purposes.
- Isolated areas identified as eligible by Canadian federal support initiatives.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Once registered, a Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC) official will contact the applicant to prepare a Contribution Agreement.
- The Contribution Agreement requires recipients to support Nutrition Education Initiatives by working with community workers and health professionals.
- Recipients must also agree to audits by CIRNAC as required.
- Monthly subsidy claims must be submitted to claim payments, and must include detailed reports and documentation for verification.
- A third-party claims processor manages the subsidy claim system, ensuring subsidy accuracy and completeness.
- Compliance audits are conducted annually by an independent, accredited third-party auditor.
- Periodic reporting of data such as pre-subsidy prices and Revised Northern Food Basket costs is required to support program monitoring.
- The program ensures visibility and transparency of subsidies to consumers through specific communication materials.