BC Indigenous Business Grants 2026 — 14 Programs for First Nations & Indigenous Entrepreneurs

ABED provides non-repayable contributions to Indigenous entrepreneurs for business planning, startup, expansion, and marketing. This is the primary federal grant program for individual Indigenous business owners. Contributions cover up to $99,999 for eligible activities, and the program serves First Nations (Status and Non-Status), Inuit, and Métis individuals, as well as businesses with at least 51% Indigenous ownership.

Applications are processed through the ISC BC regional office in Vancouver. Processing typically takes 8–16 weeks. A business plan, proof of Indigenous identity, and financial projections are required. ABED can be stacked with AFI loans and provincial programs.

The BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative supports First Nations communities in developing clean energy projects including solar, wind, small hydro, and biomass generation. The program funds feasibility studies, community-scale renewable energy projects, and energy efficiency retrofits for community buildings. Eligible applicants include First Nations bands, tribally-owned development corporations, and Indigenous community organizations in BC.

The initiative operates under BC’s CleanBC plan and is delivered through BC Hydro’s Indigenous clean energy streams and the BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions. Funding varies significantly by project type — feasibility studies may receive $50K–$100K, while construction projects can access much larger amounts.

The New Relationship Trust (NRT) is a BC-specific organization funded from a provincial endowment to support First Nations governance, capacity building, and economic development. NRT programs include capacity building grants for governance training and strategic planning, economic development grants for feasibility studies and community economic plans, education and training scholarships, and youth and Elders programs.

NRT grants are typically smaller than federal programs but have less competitive application processes. All BC First Nations communities and their members are eligible. NRT also provides direct support for community economic development planning, which can strengthen applications to larger federal programs like PacifiCan.

ISET supports skills development and employment training for Indigenous peoples through funding agreements with Indigenous service delivery organizations across BC. The program helps Indigenous individuals access job training, skills upgrading, and employment supports. For Indigenous business owners, ISET-funded organizations can help with identifying and training employees, which reduces your training costs.

In BC, ISET funding is delivered through regional Indigenous organizations including tribal councils and First Nations employment centres. Contact your regional service provider for available supports.

PacifiCan’s Community Economic Development stream provides non-repayable funding for projects that strengthen economic conditions in BC communities. Indigenous communities and organizations are eligible applicants. The stream supports community infrastructure, economic diversification, and capacity building projects. This is distinct from the BSP stream (which is repayable) and specifically targets community-level economic development rather than individual business scale-up.

The BC Employer Training Grant provides up to $10,000 per employee for skills training, covering 80% of training costs for employers with fewer than 50 employees. All BC employers, including Indigenous-owned businesses, are eligible. Training must be delivered by an eligible third-party training provider. This is a non-repayable grant — approved training costs are reimbursed directly.

For Indigenous businesses building a team, this can significantly offset training costs. Apply before the training begins. The application process is straightforward and typically processes within 4–6 weeks.

The Innovate BC Go-To-Market Microgrant supports BC-based companies with technology-driven products or services preparing for market entry. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 and cover market validation, customer acquisition, and commercialization activities. Indigenous-owned tech businesses are eligible and encouraged to apply.

The Innovate BC Ignite Program provides up to $300,000 for BC-based companies working on innovative technology projects. The program supports R&D, prototype development, and technology commercialization. This is a non-repayable grant with a cost-sharing component. Indigenous technology businesses with innovative projects are eligible.

The BC Storefront Security Grant provides up to $5,000 for small businesses to improve storefront security through measures like security cameras, improved lighting, and window film. All BC small businesses with a physical storefront are eligible, including Indigenous-owned retail and service businesses. This is a straightforward, non-repayable grant with a simple application process.

UTIP supports innovative training approaches in the Red Seal skilled trades, with a specific emphasis on increasing participation of underrepresented groups including Indigenous peoples. Projects can receive up to $2 million for developing and implementing training innovations. This program is particularly relevant for Indigenous communities developing trades training capacity or for Indigenous-owned businesses in construction, manufacturing, or resource sectors.