Aboriginal Business Financing Program — Community project
Get up to $99,999 for private projects or $1,000,000 for community projects through a non-repayable grant from SOCCA. This funding helps Indigenous entrepreneurs in Quebec start, acquire, or expand their business, though you must confirm current intake status on the official page.
Before you spend a dollar
Approval must come before you spend; no costs incurred prior to approval will be considered eligible.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, 2-minute read on whether this program fits your business. No obligation.
Check your fit →Is this for you?
- You are a First Nation member, part of the Native Alliance of Quebec, or a band council operating in Quebec.
- You are starting, acquiring, or expanding a business and need help with studies, assets, marketing, or management support.
- You can contribute 10% to 25% of the project cost from your own resources and have already maximized your other borrowing capacity.
Probably not the right fit if
- You operate in excluded sectors such as gambling, sex, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, electronic cigarettes, or cryptocurrency.
- You plan to be a passive investor, since you must be involved full-time in the business.
- You have not maximized other funding sources or borrowing capacity, as this program serves as last resort funding.
How much you'd realistically get
Up to $99,999 for private projects or up to $1,000,000 for community projects, depending on the category and contribution rates.
What may be supported
- Preliminary studies: Business plan, forecast, or assessments.
- Capital costs: Equipment, inventory, leasehold improvements, rolling stock, commercial buildings.
- Marketing activities: Business cards, lettering, advertising, website.
- Management support: Accounting, human resources, marketing, management.
What's excluded or restricted
- Costs incurred prior to approval of the project.
- Businesses involved in gambling.
- Businesses involved in sex.
- Businesses involved in alcohol.
- Businesses involved in tobacco.
- Businesses involved in marijuana.
- Businesses involved in electronic cigarettes.
- Businesses involved in cryptocurrency.
- Passive investments (owner must be fully involved full-time).
- Projects with negative impact on competition.
- Projects where other funding sources have not been maximized (borrowing capacity and down payment must be at maximum).
How applying works
Effort: involvedYou must prepare a comprehensive application including a business plan, forecasts, or assessments, and demonstrate viability and profitability.
- 01Prepare required documents, including a business plan, forecasts, or assessments.
- 02Ensure you have maximized other funding sources and borrowing capacity.
- 03Submit your application to SOCCA via the contact details provided on their site.
- 04Wait for approval before incurring any costs.
Who to ask: Phone: 1 800 241-0972 or 418 842-0972; Email: administration@socca.qc.ca; Address: 2936, rue de la Faune, bur. 200, Wendake (Québec) G0A 4V0
Before you apply
Your application will likely need written quotes
Programs like this usually ask for written estimates for the work before they approve anything, and some require as many as three. BBN Labs works with you on this: we prepare a quote for the work this program funds — scope, costs and timelines you can put straight into your application. Free, no obligation.
Get my quote for this program →Documents commonly required
- Business plan
- Financial forecasts
- Assessments (environmental, valuation of a business or its assets)
- Proof of financial resources (10% to 25% of project cost)
How BBN Labs helps
- BBN builds your professional business website using the marketing funds, giving you a credible digital storefront that attracts customers and works around the clock.
- BBN designs your branding, business cards, and promotional materials with the grant, creating a cohesive visual identity that builds trust with every new client.
- BBN sets up your Local SEO and Google Business Profile with the funding, helping you get found when local customers search for your services in Quebec.
- BBN designs your signage and storefront updates, coordinating with qualified partners to execute the physical work while you focus on running the business.
- Community projects juggle more approvals than most; BBN keeps the funding steps and dates sorted so the application keeps pace with the build.
What to know before you count on it
- This is selective and discretionary; you must present a viable, profitable project with a good credit rating and relevant experience.
- It is last resort funding; you must have considered all complementary sources and have borrowing capacity and down payment at maximum.
- Contribution rates vary by category: up to 75% for preliminary studies and management support, up to 60% for marketing, and up to 40% for fixed assets.
- You must have the necessary financial resources to cover 10% to 25% of the project cost.
What are your odds?
Selection is competitive and discretionary; success depends on the viability of your project, your credit rating, experience, and ability to meet the last resort funding criteria.
Frequently asked questions
Is this grant taxable?
Grants are generally taxable income; ask your accountant for specific advice.
Can I use this for costs I have already incurred?
No, no costs incurred prior to approval of the project will be considered eligible.
What are the contribution rates?
Preliminary studies up to 75%, fixed assets up to 40%, marketing up to 60%, and management support up to 75%.
Do I need to be involved full-time?
Yes, mandatory full-time involvement in the business is required; passive investments are not eligible.
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What you can combine it with
You must have considered all complementary sources of funding and maximized borrowing capacity before applying.
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Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Record last updated ; last verified 6 days ago with the official source. Source: official program page.