Our Programs
Full-Time Program
A program for starting a new business or expanding an established business that will operate on a full-time basis.*
Project funding is made up of:
60% Loan
30% MEAP Grant
10% Owner’s Equity
Total project costs must be over $20,000.
*Applicants must commit to the business as their sole full-time occupation and may not engage in other employment.
Part-Time Program
A program for starting a new business or expanding an established business that will operate on a part-time basis.
Project funding consists of:
65% Loan
25% MEAP Grant
10% Owner’s Equity
Total project costs must be between $10,000 - $50,000.
Métis Women Micro-Business Program
A program for Métis women to start a new micro-business or expand an established micro-business.
Project funding consists of:
50% Loan
40% Non-repayable Subsidy
10% Owner’s Equity
Total project costs must be between $5,000 - $25,000.
Business Loans
Flexible funding with personalized support for Métis, Inuit, and Non-status Indian entrepreneurs or businesses.
Basic Eligibility Criteria
The applicant must be an Alberta resident, and the business must be located in Alberta.
The applicant must have at least 6 months to 1 year of experience in the business’s industry.
Projects must involve either the start-up or expansion of a business.
The business must generate a minimum annual income of $20,000 for the applicant.
The grant portion of funding cannot be used for passive investments, real estate, houses, or buildings.
Businesses related to cannabis, tobacco, alcohol, or gambling are not eligible.
The applicant must demonstrate that the business is viable and sustainable.