First Peoples Economic Growth Fund — Fonds de contribution d'entreprise ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Indigenous-owned businesses: Enterprises where the majority ownership (>50%) is held by First Nations members in Manitoba - Business stage eligibility: - Start-up businesses (new ventures) - Existing businesses seeking expansion - Business acquisitions - Entity types: Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, cooperatives - Geographic requirement: Business must operate in or be based in Manitoba - Residency: Owners must be members of a First Nations community in Manitoba ### 💰 Funding Details - Grant amount: Up to 40% of eligible project costs (non-repayable contribution) - Grant structure: Non-repayable (does not require repayment) - Matching requirement: Applicant must cover minimum 60% of eligible costs through own resources, loans, or other funding sources - No specified maximum cap mentioned in the description (contact program administrator for limits) - Currency: Canadian dollars ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Start-up costs: Initial business establishment expenses - Expansion activities: Costs associated with growing an existing business - Acquisition costs: Expenses related to purchasing an existing business - Likely eligible expenses (typical for such programs): - Equipment and machinery purchases - Leasehold improvements and facility costs - Working capital requirements - Professional fees (legal, accounting) - Training and skills development - Technology and software systems - Marketing and business development - Inventory for retail/wholesale operations ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Ownership requirement: Majority ownership must be maintained by First Nations members throughout the grant period - Use of funds: Contributions must be applied exclusively to approved project expenses - Reporting obligations: Recipients likely required to demonstrate fund utilization and business milestones - Business viability: Project must demonstrate economic feasibility and growth potential - Compliance: Business must operate in compliance with all federal, provincial, and municipal regulations - Timeline: Specific project completion and fund drawdown