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Young Entrepreneur Loan - Canada

Young Entrepreneur Loan

Last Update: June 8, 2025
Canada
Loans for youth-led agricultural or food-related business

Young Entrepreneur Loan at a glance

Eligible Funding
  • Max. $1,500,000
Timeline
  • Open Date : November 14, 2019
Financing Type
Loans and Capital investments
Eligible Industries
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
  • Accommodation and food services
Grant Providers
  • Farm Credit Canada (FCC)
  • Government of Canada
Status
Open

Overview of the Young Entrepreneur Loan program

Access up to $1,5 million in loans for your agricultural or food-related business, if you are under 40 years old.

Financing terms and conditions

  • Financing available for up to $2,000,000 for purchasing or improving an agricultural or food-related business.

Eligible projects & activities

  • Starting or expanding an agricultural or food-related business.
  • Purchasing shares in an agricultural or food-related enterprise.
  • Buying an existing agricultural or food-related business.
  • Improving an agricultural or food-related business.
Examples of admissible projects:

$ 150,000

Purchase of advanced irrigation systems for fruit orchard expansion

$ 150,000

Improvement of a community garden and vegetable market

$ 800,000

Expansion of organic dairy farm to include cheese production facility

$ 750,000

Improvement of processing facilities for a seafood company

$ 1,400,000

Acquisition of an organic food store chain

$ 250,000

Purchase of new hydroponic systems for urban farming business

Eligibility criteria of the Young Entrepreneur Loan program

  • The applicant must be under 40 years of age.
  • The business must be involved in the agricultural or food sector.
  • The applicant must have a viable business plan to start, purchase, or improve an agricultural or food-related business.

Who is eligible?

  • Agricultural businesses
  • Food-related businesses

Eligible expenses

  • Purchase of agriculture or food-related assets
  • Acquisition of shares in an agricultural or food-related business
  • Improvement of an existing agricultural or food-related business

Eligibility criteria of the Young Entrepreneur Loan program

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant:
  • Borrower's age must be under 40
  • Submission of a good business plan
  • Business must be agriculture or food-related
  • Ability to establish or expand the business
  • Preference for purchases of agriculture assets

How to apply to the Young Entrepreneur Loan program

1
Contact Local Office (initial engagement)
  • Reach out to your nearest FCC office to express your interest in the Young Entrepreneur Loan.
  • Discuss your business idea with an FCC representative to understand the loan conditions and obtain guidance on the application process.
2
Develop Business Plan (documentation preparation)
  • Create a comprehensive business plan detailing your business idea, market analysis, business structure, and financial projections.
  • Ensure the plan highlights how the loan will assist in purchasing, buying shares in, or improving an agricultural or food-related business.
3
Gather Required Documentation (information gathering)
  • Collect all necessary documents that support your application, such as financial statements, credit history, and personal identification.
  • Include any additional documents suggested by the FCC representative.
4
Complete Application Form (formal application)
  • Fill in the loan application form obtained from the FCC office or their online platform.
  • Verify all information is accurate and aligns with the documents provided.
5
Submit Application (submission process)
  • Submit the completed application form along with the business plan and all supporting documents to the designated FCC office or via their online submission portal.
  • Ensure all components of the application are included before submission to avoid delays.
6
Application Review and Follow-Up (post-submission)
  • Wait for FCC to conduct a review of your application and business plan.
  • Respond promptly to any requests for additional information or clarification.

Additional information

  • AgExpert Bundle included: One year of AgExpert Accounting Premium and AgExpert Field Premium provided (valued at $499).
  • Borrowers can take up to 18 months to make purchases after approval.
  • No loan processing fees are charged.
  • Preferential rates may be available for qualifying applicants.

Documents and links

Young Entrepreneur Loan

Apply to this program

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