Updated March 2026 · Verified against Government of Nunavut — Department of Economic Development and Transportation guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement
Grant Territorial Active

Nunavut Strategic Investments Program — Business Investment Fund

Government of Nunavut — Department of Economic Development and Transportation
Maximum Funding
$50,000 to $150,000
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
75%
Nunavut Strategic Investments Program — Business Investment Fund provides up to $50,000 to $150,000. Non-repayable territorial grants of $50,000–$150,000 for Nunavut-resident-majority-owned businesses to start up or expand in strategic sectors. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. (As of March 2026, verified against Government of Nunavut — Department of Economic Development and Transportation program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Non-repayable territorial grants of $50,000–$150,000 for Nunavut-resident-majority-owned businesses to start up or expand in strategic sectors. Covers business planning, training, marketing, and capital investments yielding measurable economic benefits for Nunavut communities.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Business must be majority-owned by residents of Nunavut
  • Must be operating in Nunavut
  • Eligible: for-profit businesses, municipalities, non-profit corporations
  • Must demonstrate predictable economic development outcomes
  • No outstanding obligations with EDT department
Provinces
Nunavut
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
20h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
$50,000 to $150,000
Type
Grant
Level
Territorial
Co-Funding
Up to 75% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~20 hours
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.
Know your real odds before investing 40+ hours
Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
Consultants charge $500–$2,000 per program. This Playbook is $19.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back
What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Nunavut Strategic Investments Program — Bu... — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back →

Applying for Nunavut Strategic Investments Program? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

Premium
Insider Tip

Start with preliminary consultation at your regional EDT office. Emphasize concrete economic outcomes — jobs, local spending, community capacity. If Inuit-owned, also explore Kakivak Association and Kivalliq Partners for additional stacking.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Success Profile

Nunavut-resident majority-owned business pursuing startup or expansion with clear community economic benefits. Sectors: resource services, construction, tourism, retail, food/hospitality.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Nunavut-resident majority ownership (eligibility gate); economic development outcomes (jobs created/retained, local spending); project viability (credible business plan, market analysis); financial capacity to manage and co-fund project; strategic sector alignment with Nunavut priorities; no outstanding EDT obligations.

Premium See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t waste 20 hours on a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back

Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 7 steps 6 docs

Application Steps

1 Preliminary consultation with regional EDT office Mandatory in practice. EDT officers help shape applications. Contact: Kitikmeot toll-free 1-844-475-1166, Kivalliq toll-free 1-844-737-8627, Qikiqtaaluk/Baffin (867) 975-7800, main EDT: 1-888-975-5999 / [email protected]
2 Download and complete application form Application forms from regional EDT offices or https://gov.nu.ca/edt/programs-services/strategic-investments-program. Complete: ownership declaration, project description, milestone plan, budget breakdown, employment impact projection.
3 Prepare supporting documentation Project plan with milestones; detailed budget with supplier quotes; financial statements (2–3 years for existing business; projections for startup); evidence of Nunavut-resident majority ownership; business registration; description of economic benefits (jobs, local spending); confirmation of other financing if applicable.
4 Submit to regional EDT office Submit by mail, fax, or in person to your regional EDT office. Rolling intake — no fixed deadline. Apply mid-fiscal-year (July–November) for best budget availability.
5 EDT review and approval EDT staff review the application, may conduct a site visit or follow-up call. For large requests ($100K–$150K), senior management review required. Processing: 8–16 weeks from complete submission.
6 Contribution agreement signing If approved, formal contribution agreement is prepared and signed. Do not incur any eligible costs until the contribution agreement is signed.
7 Project implementation and reporting Execute the project per agreed milestones. Keep all receipts. Submit progress reports as required. Submit final report with financial reconciliation upon project completion.

Required Documents 6

✓ Application form from regional EDT office
✓ Project plan with milestones
✓ Financial statements or projections
✓ Evidence of Nunavut-resident majority ownership
✓ Business registration
✓ Economic benefits description

Eligible Expenses 7

  • Capital equipment and machinery (vehicles, tools, processing equipment, fishing vessels)
  • Facility construction or renovation (buildings, storage, processing areas)
  • Business planning and feasibility (third-party plans, feasibility studies)
  • Workforce training directly related to the business expansion
  • Marketing and market development (website, promotional materials, trade shows, packaging)
  • Leasehold improvements to commercial space
  • Start-up costs (licenses, initial setup, limited initial inventory)

Ineligible Expenses 7

  • Expenses incurred before application submission or before contribution agreement is signed
  • Salaries and wages of the business owner or existing staff (except directly hired for project scope)
  • Routine operating costs (rent, utilities, ongoing supplies)
  • Debt repayment or refinancing
  • Personal expenses of the business owner
  • Real estate (land) purchases
  • GST/HST (tax-recoverable amounts)

Intake Periods

Rolling year-round intake through regional offices. Apply mid-fiscal year (July–November) for best budget availability.

Deadline Notes

Rolling intake through regional offices. Contact EDT: toll-free 1-888-975-5999 or [email protected]. Regional offices in Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Baffin.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Businesses majority-owned by non-Nunavut residents
  • Businesses operating primarily outside of Nunavut
  • Organizations with outstanding unresolved EDT obligations from prior agreements
  • Federal Crown corporations
Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 5 partners

Compatible Programs

CanNor IDEANorth Kakivak Association Grants Kivalliq Partners Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (NBCC) Loans CBDC Northern Loans
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 5 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back

How Nunavut Strategic Investments Program — Bu... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Nunavut Strategic Investments Program... $50,000 to $150,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
CanNor IDEANorth (Inclusive Diversifi... $50,000 to $6,000,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
Kivalliq Partners in Development — Bu... Up to $25,000 Easy Reimbursement Open
Canadian Northern Economic Developmen... Varies Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing
Baffin Business Development Corporati... up to $100K Easy Advance Payment Ongoing

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Forgivable Loan

Strategic Response Fund (formerly Strategic Innovation Fund)

Up to $50 million · Federal
 Loan

Black Entrepreneurship Program

Up to $250,000 · Federal
 Grant

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

Up to $1M typical (avg ~$94K) · $10M ceiling for major... · Federal

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Nunavut Strategic Investments Program — Bu...

Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
Yes, sole proprietors qualify if they're Nunavut residents and majority-owned. Must demonstrate economic outcomes like local hiring or community spending. Not eligible if not resident-owned.
What's the typical award amount?
Most grants are $50,000–$100,000. The $150k max is rare; applications exceeding $100k face stricter scrutiny on economic impact.
How long does approval take?
Rolling intake means decisions within 4–8 weeks after submission. Faster if regional office consults early. Delays occur if economic outcomes aren't clearly tied to Nunavut communities.
Do I need matching funds?
No matching required. Funds are non-repayable grants. However, applicants must show how the grant will generate measurable economic benefits for Nunavut.
Can I stack with other programs?
Yes: pair with CanNor IDEANorth for larger projects or Kakivak/Kivalliq for regional support. NBCC loans fill gaps for capital not covered by the grant.

Browse More Funding

Nunavut Grants Explore All Programs Take the Quiz