An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Open, continuous intake Partly repayable

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital

by Indigenous Services Canada

Also known as: AEP · Access to Capital · Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program

The Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (Access to Capital) is the federal umbrella behind most Indigenous business funding in Northern Ontario. It provides non-repayable equity contributions, up to $99,999 for individual Indigenous entrepreneurs and up to $250,000 for eligible Indigenous community businesses, to start, expand or acquire a business. You don't apply to ISC: funding flows through NACCA's network of Indigenous Financial Institutions, locally NADF (northwest) and Waubetek (northeast). No deadline; contact your IFI.

Amount
Up to $250,000 Individuals up to $99,999; eligible Indigenous community businesses up to $250,000, delivered as non-repayable equity contributions through IFIs/MCCs This award range, $250,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

sac-isc.gc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

eligible Indigenous community businesses may receive up to $250,000

Instrument
Conditional contribution
Status
Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Who qualifies
Individuals Indigenous organizations and communities
  • individual-entrepreneur
  • indigenous-controlled-business
  • indigenous-organization
  • National program, all Northern Ontario districts eligible
  • Indigenous individuals or Indigenous-controlled businesses; Indigenous organizations/associations excluding charitable or religious entities
  • Detailed eligibility varies by delivering Indigenous Financial Institution, consult your local IFI or MCC

sac-isc.gc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Where
Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District · District Municipality of Muskoka11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): eligibleKenora District: eligibleManitoulin District: eligibleNipissing District: eligibleParry Sound District: eligibleRainy River District: eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): eligibleThunder Bay District: eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses Startups & new entrepreneurs Small business, expansion

How do you apply?

Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.

  1. Contact your local Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI) or Métis Capital Corporation (MCC), in Northern Ontario chiefly NADF (northwest) or Waubetek (northeast)
  2. IFI assesses eligibility and application
  3. Funding delivered through the IFI as a non-repayable equity contribution, typically alongside an IFI loan

sac-isc.gc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

There is no deadline to apply.

Common questions

Do I apply to Indigenous Services Canada directly?

No. The program is administered through the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) and delivered by local Indigenous Financial Institutions and Métis Capital Corporations. In Northern Ontario, contact NADF (northwest) or Waubetek (northeast); Métis entrepreneurs are typically routed to a Métis Capital Corporation such as MVDF.

How much funding is available?

Up to $99,999 for individual Indigenous entrepreneurs and up to $250,000 for eligible Indigenous community businesses, as non-repayable contributions.

Is there a deadline?

No, ISC states there is no deadline to apply; intake is continuous through the IFIs.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

Guides that cover this program

Notes on this record

Umbrella program: the local delivery vehicles indexed here are NADF's Business Financing Program (nadf-bfp) and Waubetek's Business Financing Program (waubetek-abfp), apply through them, not ISC. Eligibility details vary by IFI.

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

www.sac-isc.gc.ca