Aboriginal Business Investment Fund

Important dates

Overview

The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) can partially or fully fund capital costs for Indigenous community-owned economic development projects that are shovel-ready within the funding year, meaning they are prepared to begin construction or operations with the necessary planning, approvals and financing in place.

From building new facilities and infrastructure to purchasing essential equipment, ABIF helps communities establish, expand and strengthen business operations. These investments support job creation, business growth and long-term economic sustainability across Indigenous communities in Alberta.

Funding

Aboriginal Business Investment Fund grants are a minimum of $150,000 to a maximum of $750,000 to support capital costs related to Indigenous community-owned economic development projects.

Grants can cover up to 100% of eligible costs, which can include equipment purchases and the construction or improvement of buildings and other infrastructure. The amount of funding requested must be supported by the project activities detailed in the application. An ABIF grant can be combined with other government and industry funding sources.

Funding consideration will be determined by:

• availability of funding and program budget
• alignment to program priorities
• ability of partners to make necessary financial contributions to the project through other means, such as grant funding from other programs

Some projects may not receive full funding as funding is dependent on the program budget and the number of applications received. It is suggested that applicants request the minimum amount required to run the project successfully.

Successful applicants must demonstrate that long-term effects strengthen the economies of Indigenous communities by:

• increasing the number of Indigenous community-owned businesses
• increasing employment opportunities for Indigenous Peoples
• creating or increasing local revenue streams for Indigenous communities

Eligibility

The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund is open to Indigenous communities in Alberta and Indigenous community-owned corporate entities.

Individual entrepreneurs and sole proprietors are not eligible for funding.

To be eligible:

• Indigenous communities must own and control 51% or more of the proposed business or joint venture
• corporate entities must be in good standing
• applicants must be in compliance with the terms and conditions of any previous Indigenous Relations funding

Each Indigenous community should support only one major application per funding year.

Indigenous Relations bases funding decisions on the results of a rigorous evaluation process. Strong applications demonstrate:

• community support, including a formal resolution (a Band Council Resolution, Board Motion) 
• economic benefits, such as job creation and increased community revenue 
• management capacity, including relevant experience and expertise 
• a balanced financing approach, including own-source equity, commercial financing and other funding sources 
• long-term viability of the business opportunity
   

Eligible and ineligible costs

The intent of the ABIF program is to invest in the capital elements of business initiatives. Please see the ABIF Application Guidelines for a list of eligible and ineligible costs. 

How to apply

Step 1. Read the guidelines

Refer to the ABIF Application Guidelines to learn the program’s terms and conditions.

Step 2. Complete your application package

The application package must include:

• ABIF Grant Application Form – Review and fill out the application carefully by clearly defining the business and scope of work, including a detailed breakdown of:
  • estimated costs or funding sources
  • a reasonable timeline for carrying out project activities
  • project milestones
  • project plan if construction is required
• Comprehensive business plan – This is a major part of the application. You may provide your own business plan or complete this business plan template. Refer to the ABIF Application Guidelines for details of the content that needs to be included.
  • Applicants may seek funding from the Indigenous Reconciliation Initiative-Economic Stream if further support is required for business plan development. 
• Community support – All applicants must demonstrate organizational support for their project (Band Council Resolution, Board Motion).
• Supporting documentation – Applicants should include any relevant documents that support the viability of the project, such as feasibility studies, permits, environmental assessments, letters of support, franchise agreements, partnership arrangements and commitments.

Step 3. Submit the application package

Applicants must submit one electronic copy of the entire application package to [email protected].

After you apply

Grants will be given to projects that successfully pass an evaluation based on these factors: community benefits, management risk, industry risk and the financial risk associated with each project.

Evaluation takes place in 3 phases:

1. A cross-ministry panel will review each application.
2. Top-scoring projects that meet all the requirements and demonstrate the potential for financial viability will receive an in-depth assessment.
3. Each applicant will be informed about the final funding decision. Applicants may ask for a debrief session to review the in-depth results of the evaluation process.

Successful grant recipients may use the Alberta signature (logo) to recognize the Alberta government’s funding contribution. The Alberta signature should be clearly displayed in a way that indicates the Government of Alberta is a sponsor, and not a partner that is running the event, program, initiative or involved with the organization. To request permission and for further information, contact: [email protected].

Reporting

Successful applicants must complete post-project reporting, including but not limited to a Final Report and a Financial Verification Report.

The Final Report will include a short narrative summary outlining:

• the project’s significance to the community and how success will be measured 
• relevant results and statistics (such as jobs created and expected revenue) 
• key outcomes, challenges and successes 
• lessons learned

The Financial Verification Report must include details of all revenues and expenditures, along with supporting documentation such as invoices and proof of payment.

For equipment or building purchases, recipients must also provide proof of purchase, payment and photos of the assets.

All funding is subject to audit. Alberta’s government reserves the right to follow up with recipients to evaluate project effectiveness and outcomes.

Successful grant applicants

Visit the Aboriginal Business Investment Fund recipient page for information on recent ABIF grant recipients.

Contact

Connect with staff members to discuss economic and business development opportunities with representatives from Indigenous communities:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]

Related

• Indigenous Organizations and Service Directory
• Capital and financing supports for entrepreneurs
• Export Alberta
• Small business resources