Regional development programs for Indigenous businesses and communities

Ranked programs

22 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Access to Capital (Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program)

   Indigenous Services Canada, delivered by Indigenous Financial Institutions and Metis Capital Corporations

   Non-repayable equity-type contributions and business services for Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous community businesses to start, expand or acquire a business...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $250K
   43

   Strong

2. Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF)

   Ministry of Sport

   $500 million cost-shared program to repair/upgrade existing sport and recreation facilities (Stream 1) and build new or signature facilities (Stream 2).

   OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $10M
   41

   Strong

3. FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP)

   FedNor

   FedNor's NODP funds community economic development, SME business growth and a municipal/First Nation economic-development-officer initiative (CIINO) in Northern Ontario...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $170K
   40

   Strong

4. NOHFC Enhance Your Community Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds community infrastructure projects in Northern Ontario.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $2M
   39

   Strong

5. NOHFC Rural Enhancement Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds quality-of-life projects in rural Northern Ontario communities.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $500K
   39

   Strong

6. NOHFC Community Events Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds events that promote economic development in Northern Ontario.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
   32

   Worth a look

7. FedNor - Build Communities Strong Fund, Local Impact Stream (Northern Ontario)

   FedNor

   Non-repayable funding for shovel-ready community projects in Northern Ontario that deliver public benefits.

   Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $1M
   28

   Worth a look

8. Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund for Indigenous Communities and Organizations

   Ministry of Transportation

   The Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund (ITIF) is an application-based funding program for Indigenous communities and organizations pursuing...

   OpenOntarioGrants
   28

   Worth a look

9. Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF)

   Ministry of Transportation

   Time-limited, application-based funding for up to 5 years to support the start-up and growth of transit services, especially in smaller and rural communities.

   OpenOntarioGrants
   28

   Worth a look

10. Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada

    The Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR) supports the recovery and protection of aquatic species at risk. It funds multi-species, place-based and...

    OpenFederalGrants
    27

    Worth a look

11. Indigenous Participation Fund: Mining Conferences Sub-Stream

    Ministry of Energy and Mines

    Financial assistance for Indigenous communities and organizations to attend mining conferences in Ontario and build relationships and knowledge about the mineral sector.

    OpenOntarioGrants
    26

    Worth a look

12. Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program

    Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA)

    Cost-share for rural economic development: plans, diversification, workforce, events, community infrastructure and rural small business.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $250K
    26

    Worth a look

13. NOHFC Indigenous Workforce Development Program

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Funds salaries for Indigenous interns hired by Northern Ontario organizations.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $53K
    25

    Worth a look

14. First Nation Adapt Program

    Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

    Funds First Nation-led projects that assess climate change impacts and build climate resilience, such as hazard mapping, adaptation planning and community discussions.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    23

    Long shot

15. Northern REACHE (Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity)

    Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

    Funds clean energy projects and related capacity building and planning in northern communities to reduce reliance on diesel for heating and electricity.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    23

    Long shot

16. Indigenous Participation Fund: Consultation Supports (Mineral Development Advisor / Mineral Sector Specialist)

    Ministry of Energy and Mines

    Funds salary and activity costs so Indigenous communities and representative organizations can take part in consultation on mineral exploration and mine development and...

    OpenOntarioGrants
    22

    Long shot

17. Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

    Funds capital technical planning and construction or upgrading of skills training centres through two pathways: SEED (planning project taking a design to 40% design...

    OngoingOntarioGrants
    22

    Long shot

18. Winter Roads Program: Bridges and Culverts Stream

    Ministry of Transportation

    Funding to remote Northern Ontario communities for new pre-engineered bridges and culverts and repairs to existing water crossings on the winter roads network.

    OpenOntarioGrants
    22

    Long shot

19. Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Access to Business Opportunities (group projects)

    Indigenous Services Canada

    Funds group projects that promote Indigenous entrepreneurship and improve access to business opportunities. Not for individual business startups or expansions.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $500K
    20

    Long shot

20. Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program (OSGP)

    Ministry of Transportation

    Reimburses up to half of eligible costs for projects that strengthen Ontario's shipbuilding industry and supply chain, such as building infrastructure, machinery and...

    OpenOntarioGrants
    19

    Long shot

21. Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (formerly Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program)

    Building Ontario Fund (previously Ontario Financing Authority)

    Provincial financial guarantees on loans or bonds that let Indigenous-owned entities buy equity stakes in eligible energy, critical minerals and resource development...

    OngoingOntarioLoans
    13

    Long shot

22. FedNor - Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII)

    FedNor

    Supports Northern Ontario businesses, not-for-profits and Indigenous-led organizations meeting a specific military need in the defence supply chain.

    Intake-basedFederalLoans
    12

    Long shot

Questions

How many regional development programs for Indigenous businesses and communities are open right now?

Of the 47 regional development programs for Indigenous businesses and communities in our database, 19 are open or ongoing and 3 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 3, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $10M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which regional development programs for Indigenous businesses and communities rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Access to Capital (43, Strong), Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (41, Strong), FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (40, Strong). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 19 open or ongoing programs here, 17 are in our Grants category, 1 are loans and 1 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

6 of the 19 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 13 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.