
Strategic Partnerships Initiative
Last Update: August 7, 2025
Canada
Supports Indigenous economic development through coordinated federal partnerships
Strategic Partnerships Initiative at a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Unspecified
Financing Type
Partnering and Collaboration
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Grant Providers
- Government of Canada
Program status
Open
Overview of the Strategic Partnerships Initiative program
The Strategic Partnerships Initiative (SPI) provides up to $14.45 million annually to support Indigenous participation in economic development through investments in business development, infrastructure, feasibility studies, and workforce training. The program funds multi-year, multi-community projects aimed at fostering economic growth and supporting clean energy initiatives within Indigenous communities.
Financing terms and conditions
- Annual program budget of $14.45 million for supporting priority economic development initiatives.
- Additional $12 million per year available until 2027 specifically for regional clean energy projects in Indigenous communities.
Eligible projects & activities
- Identification and development of business and economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.
- Expansion and growth of Indigenous-owned businesses and joint ventures.
- Development of economic infrastructure supporting regional and community needs.
- Community economic development planning and feasibility studies.
- Workforce skills development and training initiatives for economic participation.
Eligibility criteria of the Strategic Partnerships Initiative program
- The applicant must be an Indigenous business, organization, partnership, or joint venture.
- Eligible participants also include Indigenous communities, local governments, academic institutions, or provincial and territorial governments.
- The project must foster economic development, such as economic readiness, infrastructure development, business expansion, feasibility studies, environmental evaluations, community economic development planning, or workforce skills development and training.
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous businesses
- Indigenous organizations
- Indigenous partnerships and joint ventures
- Indigenous communities and local governments
- Academic institutions
Eligible expenses
- Economic infrastructure development costs.
- Expenses related to business expansion and growth.
- Costs for pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.
- Environmental diagnostic and evaluation expenses.
- Community economic development planning costs.
- Workforce skills development and training expenses.
Eligible geographic areas
- Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada
- All Canadian provinces and territories
- Rural and remote communities in Canada
How to apply to the Strategic Partnerships Initiative program
1
Identify economic development opportunity
- Federal partners work with Indigenous communities and partners to identify promising economic development opportunities
- Focus on business, infrastructure, or clean energy initiatives aligned with SPI priorities
2
Review and assess opportunity
- Opportunities identified are reviewed and assessed in collaboration with federal partners
- Projects must address gaps or needs not covered by existing programs
3
Submit for committee approval
- Opportunities are submitted for approval to an interdepartmental investment committee
- Committee evaluates whether the proposed initiatives align with SPI goals
4
Implement approved project
- Upon approval, project implementation begins under the leadership of a federal partner
- Resources and expertise are shared among partners
Additional information
- SPI promotes collaboration among at least two federal departments for each initiative.
- Initiatives are intended to benefit multiple communities and support regional economic growth over several years.
- Additional annual funding is available until 2027 specifically for clean energy projects within Indigenous communities.
- SPI simplifies access to government support through a single streamlined process involving multiple federal partners.
Contact Government of Canada
IPS-SPI@sac-isc.gc.ca
Apply to this program

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