Program information

On this page

• Program objective
• Financial assistance
• What can be funded (eligible activities and costs)
• What cannot be funded (ineligible costs)
• Other funding considerations

Program objective

The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund will strengthen the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem by enabling Black-led not-for-profit organizations to provide incubator/accelerator programming, mentorship, financial planning, and business development and advisory services and training to Black Canadian entrepreneurs and business owners to help them grow their businesses and succeed.

Financial assistance

PrairiesCan contributions for eligible not-for-profit organizations will normally be non-repayable ranging from $250,000 up to $3,000,000 per project. Projects can last up to a maximum of five years and must finish by March 31, 2030.

We consider all other funding sources you may have. Preference may be given to projects that include funding from governments, the private sector, or other partners.

Recipients will not normally receive funding for more than one project.

What can be funded

Eligible activities

An eligible project must address a need in the entrepreneurship ecosystem for Black Canadians in the Prairie provinces, aligning with one of the following program activities:

• Business accelerators and incubators
  • Providing business guidance (e.g., business planning, marketing, hiring) and operational support (e.g., access to office space, specialized equipment to aid product development and market growth)
• Networking, matchmaking, and mentorship
  • Facilitating connections among entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and stakeholders to share knowledge, build relationships, and foster collaboration
  • Strategically pairing entrepreneurs with resources, partners, or opportunities that meet specific business needs—such as funding, talent, or technology
  • Providing entrepreneurs with guidance and support from experienced individuals to help navigate challenges, build capacity, and accelerate growth
• Capacity building
  • Includes financial planning, business development, advisory services, training, and other activity that supports the participation of the Black community in entrepreneurship and the objectives of the BEP Ecosystem Fund

Eligible projects must provide incremental value (e.g., expand/improve the applicant’s existing service offerings).

Eligible costs

Eligible costs under the program are incremental, reasonable, and essential to carrying out the eligible project activities. Eligible costs that may be eligible for reimbursement include:

• cost of labour (e.g., wages and benefits) and material used
• operating costs that are incremental and directly related to the project (e.g., management fees, working capital, translation costs)
• consultancy fees (e.g., professional, advisory and technical services)
• advisory expenses (e.g., planning, business information, counselling advisory services, coaching, mentoring or networking events; workshops or conference fees; fees associated with participation in business training through a business service organization)
• costs related to expanding or maintaining markets
• subcontracting costs
• production and distribution of promotional materials and management tools
• anticipated cost of maintaining the useful life of an asset for a reasonable period (e.g., photocopier maintenance)
• production of management tools
• costs related to specialized services such as testing services, research and development services, technical or innovation services, sector development strategies in all markets and business networking

Costs may be eligible on a retroactive basis for a 12-month period prior to the receipt of a funding request, but no earlier than April 1, 2025.

What cannot be funded

Ineligible costs

Costs that are deemed unreasonable, not incremental, and/or not directly related to project activities will be ineligible for reimbursement. These include, but are not limited to:

• refinancing of existing debts or amortization or depreciation of assets
• infrastructure improvements suchas construction, expansion, or modification of buildings
• the purchase of any asset for morethan the fair market value of the said asset
• land acquisition and goodwill
• entertainment/hospitality expenses
• donations, dues, and membership fees

Other funding considerations

Consult your accountant and/or Canada Revenue Agency to determine the full implications of receiving funding from the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund.