Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund

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: Who can I contact for more information about the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund?

You can contact Government of Nunavut by email at edt@gov.nu.ca or by phone at 867-982-7445.

Q: Where is the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund available?

The Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund program is available the province of NU.

Q: Are startups eligible for the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Kugluktuk, NU

Financing for business training and aftercare in Nunavut

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : November 1, 2021
Closing date : March 31, 2022

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Retail trade
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

Get up to $100,000 to cover up to 80% of the costs of business training and skills development including accounting, bookkeeping, business start-up, tourism safety and risk management. You can also benefit from help in establishing business aftercare prog

Financing terms and conditions

The Entrepreneur Development Fund aims to assist businesses through training and skill development initiatives as part of its broader financing modalities. These modalities are designed to ensure businesses receive the necessary support to overcome skill gaps and financial challenges.

Subsidization for eligible training costs in areas such as accounting, bookkeeping, business start-up processes, and tourism safety and risk management.
Support for establishing business aftercare programs to ensure ongoing business health.

Activities funded

This grant supports activities aimed at assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs through skill development and operational support. The eligible activities focus on training, business planning, and enhancing operational capabilities.

Training in accounting, bookkeeping, and business start-up strategies.
Tourism safety and risk management training.
Development of business and marketing plans.
Support for new pilot projects and business wind-down planning.
Establishment of business aftercare programs.
Addressing immediate legal or bookkeeping issues.
Purchasing tools and minor capital items for business operation.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 44,000

Provide aftercare services for pandemic-affected businesses

$ 48,000

Develop a tourism safety program for new adventure tours

$ 44,000

Launch a bookkeeping and accounting service for small businesses

$ 24,000

Support for local artists to enhance their online presence

$ 44,000

Expansion of retail boutique focusing on sustainable fashion

$ 40,000

Launch a business development program for Indigenous artists

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the business size, sector, and legal standing.

The applicant must be a business or entrepreneur typically with less than $500,000 in gross sales or fewer than ten employees.
Applicants may be from any sector including artists, craftspeople, retail, tourism, and harvesting.
The applicant must have no outstanding accounting or other contractual obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

Who is eligible?

Businesses or entrepreneurs with less than $500,000 in gross sales or fewer than ten employees. All sectors, including artists, craftspeople, retail, tourism, and harvesters, are eligible. Applicants must be in good standing with no outstanding obligations to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies may not be eligible for this grant. The eligibility criteria may exclude certain industries or entities. Please refer to the specific guidelines for detailed information.

Companies with gross sales exceeding $500,000
Companies with more than ten employees
Companies that are not in good standing or have outstanding obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses for the Small Business Support Program include essential operational costs incurred by businesses due to the pandemic.

Insurance or licensing fees.
Office rentals.
Utilities.
Non-refundable business expenses for goods that are unusable due to the pandemic.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to businesses and entrepreneurs in the regions of Nunavut, focusing on enhancing local economic development. Funding is accessible to those who operate within specified areas covered by the regional economic development offices.

Kitikmeot Region
Kivalliq Region
North Baffin Region
South Baffin Region

Selection criteria

The Small Business Support Program in Nunavut has specific evaluation and selection criteria for grant applications. These criteria include:

Applicant's demonstration of how their business has been affected by the pandemic
Good standing without outstanding obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation
Expense eligibility: subsidizing specific business expenses related to the pandemic
Limitations on fund usage: cannot compensate for lost income, tax remittances, loan payments, or owner drawings
Subsidized costs must be incurred between November 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022

How to apply

Obtain Application Form

Find and download the Small Business Support Program Application form from the official website or contact the Community Economic Development Office to receive the form.

Prepare Application

Complete the Small Business Support Program Application form with accurate business details.
Write a short explanation of how the business has been affected by the pandemic, emphasizing specific challenges and impacts on your business.

Submission

Submit the completed application package, including all necessary forms and documentation, through your local Community Economic Development Officer or the relevant Regional Community Operations Office.
If applicable, use the contact information provided for the relevant region: Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, North Baffin, or South Baffin.

Follow-up

Contact the office where you submitted your application to confirm receipt if no confirmation is received within a reasonable timeframe.
Retain a copy of all submitted documents for your records.
Keep track of any communications from the funding body regarding your application status.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The funding application deadline is March 31, 2022, emphasizing the urgency for applicants to submit their packages promptly.
Eligible expenses must have been incurred within the specified period from November 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, which is critical for planning financial documents.
Applicants must ensure they are in good standing with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, which can streamline the approval process.
Submissions can be made through local Community Economic Development Officers, providing localized support and potentially personalized assistance for applicants.

Contacts

edt@gov.nu.ca

867-982-7445

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund. 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 Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund?

Who is eligible for the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund program?

To be eligible for the Small Business Support Program — Entrepreneur Development Fund program, you must: Businesses or entrepreneurs must have less than $500,000 in gross sales or fewer than ten employees to be eligible. Applicants must be in good standing with no outstanding accounting or other contractual obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation. Funding is available to businesses from all sectors, including artist, craftspeople, retail, tourism, and harvesters.