Funding and support for Indigenous-led businesses and organizations
Indigenous communities and businesses are important contributors to a strong, diversified economy in the Prairies.
PrairiesCan’s role is to advance economic development through supporting economic growth, innovation and diversification. We are here to provide assistance in developing proposals for funding that creates jobs, develops skills, increases revenue and growth, and that can bring economic benefits to Indigenous communities.
Please contact us to discuss your ideas. There is no need to complete an application form at this time.
If you are an Indigenous-led business we may be able to provide support to:
- Grow or develop your business. This could include building a team with the needed business skills or expertise, attracting workers, increasing production capacity, or purchasing and installing new equipment.
- Increase competitiveness. This could include developing or adopting new products, services, solutions or technologies.
If you are a not-for-profit or an Indigenous community we may be able to provide support to:
- Build service offerings for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs, to grow or diversify a community’s local economy. This could include supports to develop a skilled workforce or specialized business support services such as networking, mentoring and attracting capital to help expansion and growth.
We may also be able to provide guidance to other funding supports, procurement opportunities or resources outside of PrairiesCan.
Contact us
Please contact us by phone or email to discuss your project idea.
Telephone
- Toll Free: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
- Alberta: indigenous.ab-autochtones.ab@prairiescan.gc.ca
- Manitoba: indigenous.mb-autochtones.mb@prairiescan.gc.ca
- Saskatchewan: indigenous.sk-autochtones.sk@prairiescan.gc.ca
Other PrairiesCan support for Indigenous-led businesses
- Indigenous business development services (IBDS)
- IBDS provides early-stage entrepreneurship support for new and existing Indigenous entrepreneurs and business organizations throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Other Government of Canada supports
Please note this is not a complete listing of Government of Canada funding programs and services available to Indigenous businesses, not-for-profits and communities. For more information, please visit the Business and Industry page of the Government of Canada.
- Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)
- The navigator can help connect you with programs and services across different Government of Canada departments and agencies.
- Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) – Indigenous Community Infrastructure
- The Canada Infrastructure Bank lends to new infrastructure projects that are in partnership with, and for the benefit of, Indigenous communities to reduce their infrastructure gap and promote economic participation.
- Indigenous business export support
- Funding and other supports for Indigenous businesses in Canada looking to expand into global markets.
- Indigenous Business Navigator
- The navigator can help you to programs and services across different Government of Canada departments and agencies.
- Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
- Indigenous Services Canada offers a number of funding programs, services and initiatives for Indigenous and northern communities and organizations.
- Business Benefits Finder
- Find the right programs and services for your business.
- Business Development Canada (BDC)
- Business Development Canada can provide access to financing and advisory services to Indigenous entrepreneurs.
- Canada Business App – Your mobile business partner
- This app makes it easier to find government programs and services to help your business.
- Export Development Canada (EDC)
- Export Development Canada is Canada’s export credit agency, offering trade finance, export credit insurance and bonding services, amongst other services.
- Procurement Assistance Canada
- Procurement Assistance Canada, as part of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), is working to make it easier for smaller businesses to bid on federal contracting opportunities.
Additional resources
- Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs)
- Indigenous Financial Institutions are autonomous, Indigenous-controlled, community-based financial organizations. IFIs can provide financial support and business services to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit businesses.