Small Business Support Program — Small Business Opportunities 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 is eligible for the Small Business Support Program — Small Business Opportunities Fund program?

To be eligible for the Small Business Support Program — Small Business Opportunities Fund program, you must: • Applicants must have a gross revenue generally below $500,000 or employ fewer than ten people. • Applicants must be in good standing and have no outstanding accounting or contractual obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

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

You can contact Government of Nunavut by email at edt@gov.nu.ca or by phone at 867645-8451.

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

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

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

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

Last Update: July 22, 2025

NU, Canada

Funding to start or grow a business in Nunavut

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Closing date : March 31, 2022

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Retail trade
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

Receive up to $100,000 for your new or expanding small business to offset the costs associated with a wide range of planning, start-up, expansion and marketing activities, and to help you face viability or wind-down challenges during COVID-19.

Financing terms and conditions

This grant offers financial support mechanisms designed to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs in addressing diverse challenges and opportunities. The funding modalities include specific allocations for various growth and development activities.

Subsidization of insurance or licensing fees, office rentals, utilities, or non-recoverable business expenses for unusable goods.
Funding aimed at helping businesses start and expand through business and marketing plan development.
Support for new pilot projects and business activities, including exit strategies.
Assistance for skill development and training in areas such as accounting and risk management in tourism.
Provision for addressing immediate legal or accounting challenges and purchasing minor capital assets like tools.
Support for liability insurance for operators in the tourism industry.

Activities funded

This grant supports projects and activities that help small businesses and entrepreneurs establish and grow their enterprises. The focus is on expanding business operations, enhancing marketing strategies, and addressing operational challenges.

Assistance in developing business and marketing plans.
Support for new pilot projects and ongoing business activities.
Training and skill development, including accounting, bookkeeping, and business start-up education.
Managing risk in the tourism sector and implementing business monitoring programs.
Support for overcoming immediate legal or accounting issues and purchasing minor capital assets.
Helping with liability insurance for tourism business operators.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 60,000

Creation of a cooperative shared workspace for local artisans

$ 75,000

Expansion of a local bakery to include an online delivery service

$ 80,000

Development of a mobile app for local tourism navigation

$ 90,000

Support for a local farmer to purchase new harvesting equipment

$ 30,000

Training program for small business owners in bookkeeping and accounting

$ 45,000

Launch of an aftercare program for newly established small businesses

Eligibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the business's revenue and employment criteria, as well as their standing with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

The business or entrepreneur must have a gross revenue generally less than $500,000.
The business must employ fewer than ten people.
The applicants must be in good standing with no outstanding financial or contractual obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

Who is eligible?

Applicants eligible for the Small Business Support Program include businesses and entrepreneurs with a gross revenue typically less than $500,000 or employing fewer than ten people. The program is open to businesses across all sectors, including but not limited to artists, craftspeople, retailers, tourism, and resource operators. Additionally, applicants must be in good standing without any outstanding accounting or contractual obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies are not eligible for this grant:

Companies with more than $500,000 in gross sales or more than ten employees.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers certain eligible business expenses to support small businesses.

Business insurance or licensing fees.
Office rental costs.
Utility expenses.
Non-recoverable expenses for unusable business goods.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies located across different regions within Nunavut as specified by the regional offices. The eligible locations demonstrate a focus on supporting local economic development in these areas.

Bureau de développement économique communautaire du Kitikmeot in Kugluktuk, Nunavut.
Bureau de développement économique communautaire du Kivalliq in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
Bureau de développement économique communautaire du Baffin-Nord in Pond Inlet, Nunavut.
Bureau de développement économique communautaire du Baffin-Sud in Pangnirtung, Nunavut.

Selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for the Small Business Support Program grant in Nunavut:

Applicants must have less than $500,000 in gross sales or fewer than ten employees.
Applicants must be in good standing and have no outstanding accounting or contractual obligations with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Business relief funding can be used for specific eligible expenses related to business operation and not for compensation of lost income or revenue.
Funding may cover costs incurred between November 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

How to apply

Ensure Eligibility

Verify that your business meets the eligibility criteria: less than $500,000 gross revenue or fewer than ten employees.
Ensure compliance with the Ministry of Economic Development and Transportation.

Gather Required Documents

Complete the Small Business Support Program application form.
Prepare a brief explanation of how your business was affected by the pandemic.

Submit Application

Send the completed application package to your local Community Economic Development Officer, if applicable.
Alternatively, submit the application to the appropriate regional Community Operations office.

Confirm Submission

Contact the relevant office to confirm receipt of your application.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The Small Business Support Program offers additional funding cycles for further business assistance initiatives.
Entrepreneur training funds include eligible training programs and establishing business monitoring programs.

Contacts

edt@gov.nu.ca

867645-8451

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Small Business Support Program — Small Business Opportunities Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Small Business Support Program — Small Business Opportunities 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.