Métis Entrepreneur Equity Program

Overview of the Métis Entrepreneur Equity Program program:

This program is intended to assist Métis entrepreneurs by providing equity through a non-repayable contribution enhancing the applicant’s ability to leverage financing from other financial institutions and agencies. Under this program, CCDF can provide a Métis individual a non-repayable contribution of up to 40% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $99,999. Under this program, CCDF can provide a Métis community owned business with up to 40% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $250,000. Should the business be sold or disposed of within three years of receiving a non-repayable contribution it will become repayable immediately.

Benefits of the Métis Entrepreneur Equity Program program:

• Eligible Costs:
• Leasehold improvements
• Capital costs
• Marketing costs (website, signage, business cards, other)
• Business support costs (legal and/or bookkeeping for the first year only, environmental studies, business valuations of an existing business, training). Other conditions will apply).

Eligibility criteria of the Métis Entrepreneur Equity Program program:

• Guidelines
• Businesses funded under this program must demonstrate viability through a sound business plan.
• Applicants must contribute a minimum of 10% equity to the project.
• Equity must be in the form of cash and must be unencumbered.
• Applicant(s) must be of Metis Ancestry operating a business in Saskatchewan.
• If a married or common-law couple own the business and only one is Metis, the Metis person must be integral to the business and the contribution will be no more than one-half of the maximum for eligible project costs.
• If there is a partnership, the business must be 51% owned by a Metis individual and the contribution will be in proportion to the Metis ownership.
• The Metis applicant must be actively involved in the business full-time.
• CCDFs non-repayable grant, when combined with other Government grants and the clients equity, should not exceed 50% of eligible project costs.
• Costs incurred prior to CCDFs receipt of an application will not be eligible for funding.
• The contribution will not support a business that will significantly harm another business (i.e. a second car wash in a small town that cannot support two).
• No administration fees.
• Funding is approved based on need.
• Repayment
• This funding is a non-repayable grant.