Aboriginal Business Financing Program: Community project
Get up to $99,999 for private projects or up to $1,000,000 for community projects through a non-repayable grant from SOCCA. This funding helps Indigenous entrepreneurs in Quebec start, buy, or expand a business. Contact SOCCA to confirm they are accepting applications before you prepare your file.
Before you spend any money
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.
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, the sex industry, 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 in gambling, the sex industry, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, electronic cigarettes, or cryptocurrency.
- Passive investments (the owner must work in the business 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
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)
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.
- This is last-resort funding. You must have looked at all other sources first and used your full borrowing capacity and down payment.
- 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. Costs you pay before the project is approved are not 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.
More funding by what it pays for
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.
Page last updated ; status and deadline checked . Source: official program page.