SMEDCO Loan Programs

• The Funding Application, fully completed, signed, dated, and witnessed.
• The Personal Financial Statement, fully completed, signed, dated, and witnessed for each business owner.
• A copy of the MN-S Card, Saskatchewan Driver’s License, and Saskatchewan Health Card for each business owner.
• A detailed resume highlighting relevant skills, experience, and education for each business owner.
• Quotes for project costs, Articles of Incorporation, Business Registration or Partnership Agreement as applicable, and three years of business financial statements if expanding an existing business.

Who is eligible?

• Métis entrepreneurs operating a business based in Saskatchewan.
• Métis-owned corporations where greater than or equal to 50% of the voting shares are owned by a Métis person.

Who is not eligible

• Political bodies for political process.
• Businesses in residential real estate or commercial real estate for the sole purpose of lease or rent to others; the applicant’s business must occupy the majority of space and be commercially viable, exclusive of the rental or lease income to receive support from CCDF, and some exceptions may apply.
• Bars, sexually exploitive businesses in nature, pawnshops, payday loans, tobacco retailers or manufacturers, cannabis businesses, and gambling businesses; some exceptions may apply to gambling – VLTs.
• Basic farming and ranching businesses, and restaurants in large Urban Centres; some exceptions apply.
• Applicants whose principals or guarantors are undischarged bankrupts or have bankruptcy proceedings in existence with respect to themselves or companies they operate.

Eligible expenses

• Capital costs such as land, buildings, equipment, leasehold improvements or renovations, vehicles, and other capital assets.
• Operating costs for the first three months, including insurance, rent, and utilities, plus one month of inventory.
• Marketing costs up to a maximum of $8,000, including website, logo development, and signage.
• Support program costs, including training for bookkeeping or accounting software and bookkeeping support for one year of business operations.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Political bodies for political process, cultural activities, and social programs.
• Residential real estate and commercial real estate for the sole purpose of lease or rent to others; the applicant’s business must occupy the majority of space and be commercially viable, exclusive of the rental or lease income to receive support from CCDF, and some exceptions may apply.
• Assets that can be perceived to be for personal use, such as a car or pickup truck.
• Bars, sexually exploitive businesses in nature, pawnshops, payday loans, tobacco retailers or manufacturers, cannabis, or gambling; some exceptions may apply to gambling – VLTs.
• Basic farming and ranching, payment of dividends, refinancing, and restaurants in large Urban Centres; some exceptions apply.

Eligible geographic areas

• Saskatchewan

• Download the Funding Application and Personal Financial Statement forms.
• Complete all sections in full and save copies for your records.
• Submit the completed forms by email, fax, mail, or drop them off in person at one of the SMEDCO offices.

• After submission, the application will be reviewed and SMEDCO will be in contact.
• CCDF and SaskMétis Economic Development Corporation may conduct credit checks, inquiries, and searches necessary to reach a decision on the application or to administer the loan.
• The applicant consents to the disclosure of credit information to any credit reporting agency or to anyone with whom they have financial relations.
• For the Métis Entrepreneur Equity Program (MEEP) and Métis Assistance Program (MAP), account information may be shared with third party service providers and/or provincial or federal government agencies for statistical, research, and evaluation purposes.

• The Métis Assistance Program (MAP) is designed to strengthen applicants’ ability to secure additional financing from other institutions and agencies.