Economic Development Fund: Application Guidelines

Applying for funding from the Economic Development Fund requires the following steps:

Step 1:  Determine eligibility
Step 2:  Submit a project summary
Step 3:  Submit a complete application

STEP 1:  Determine Eligibility

In order to apply for funding, the following criteria must be met:

Eligible applicants

•  A Participating First Nation as represented by the authorized governing body of the
    Nation.
•  An Economic Development Corporation that has delegated responsibility for economic
    development on behalf of the Participating First Nation.
•  Any other entity fully or partially owned or controlled by the Participating First Nation
    which has a Resolution supporting the application.
•  An individual member of a Participating First Nation or business owned by any such
    individual who has a Resolution supporting the application.

Eligible projects

The Economic Development Fund supports environmentally sound and sustainable economic development activities. Priority will be given to projects that have positive environmental or social impacts, direct or indirect.

Examples of eligible activities include:

•  Shellfish aquaculture
•  Fisheries
•  Technology and communications
•  Tourism, including cruises and wildlife viewing
•  Economic development capital corporations utilizing funding standards consistent with
    those of the Economic Development Fund.
•  Mushroom harvesting
•  Non-timber forest products
•  Ecosystem-based management compliant forestry operations
•  Non-nuclear and non-carbon burning energy projects
•  Green building projects
•  Small-scale, non-toxic, subsurface rock, mineral or gem extraction
•  Nutriceuticals

Non-eligible activities include:

•  Activities inconsistent with ecosystem-based management land and resource
    management objectives
•  Activities that are not sustainable, with particular regard to fish and wildlife stocks in the
    Project Area
•  Activities associated with large scale extraction of subsurface resources
•  Fishing licences for stocks targeted for harvest reduction by federal or provincial agencies
•  Open net cage finfish aquaculture
•  Trophy hunting for game
•  Bear and/or carnivore hunting
•  Costs related to the consultation and accommodation or statutory duties of governments
•  Political activities inconsistent with the Income Tax Act
•  Activities inconsistent with the Economic Development Fund’s Constitution
•  Activities inconsistent with provincial laws, regulation, determinations or policies.

STEP 2:  Submit A Project Summary

STEP 3:  Submit A Complete Application

Decisions on Awards:

Once your application is complete, it will be reviewed by the Project Review Committee (PRC) and/or the full Board for decision.  PRC and/or Board approval is required for all applications.