FUNDING
The following are funding links and resources to help guide you in accessing funding for your business in product development and employment opportunities for students. If you are an employer, you can apply for the Young Canada Works and Canada Summer Jobs in January to be awarded in March or April. If you are a student, in order to be included in these summer employment programs, you must register and submit your resumé online so that employers can see your qualifications and be selected.
If you are an Indigenous Artist, you can source your funding through the New Brunswick Arts Board and/or register with the Canada Council for the Arts.
Deadlines for Local Festivals: Building Communities Through Art and Heritage are:
January 31 – for festivals starting between September 1 and December 31;
April 30 – for festivals starting between January 1 and June 30;
October 15 – for festivals starting between July and August 31
Funding Programs for Indigenous Businesses
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital
Ulnooweg Aboriginal Business Financing Program
Strategic Initiatives Fund Market Access Program
Indigenous Innovation Initiative
First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program
First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program
Museum Exhibition Renewal and Museum Activities Grant
Canada Digital Adoption Program
Funding Programs for Indigenous Artists
Canada Council for the Arts
Must create a profile portal for Indigenous Artists or organization and approved before access to funding programs
Canada Cultural Investment Fund
RESOURCES
The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) has produced an Indigenous Tourism Business Toolkit to help operators ensure their business is ready for their intended level of operations, and ready to receive funding.
For those businesses that have started the Accreditation program by completing a program self-assessment, or a full application, ITAC is offering up to $10,000 in support to help businesses achieve or maintain standards within the program, which will enable them to reach higher levels of market readiness and ensure a quality product for our visitors.
To apply, businesses can follow the following link:
Businesses will need to log in to their current itotem account or register for a new one.
To be eligible to receive support through the program, businesses must:
- Be majority Indigenous owned
- Have completed, at a minimum, a self-assessment through The Original Original Support Program
- Identify a need for support that addresses at least one standard within the accreditation program
- Provide a quote or estimate for requested services
