Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program

Overview of the Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program program:

The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) is a grant program (2025-26) that supports Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs who live and operate their business in Ontario. The RAISE grant program processes complete applications on a first come, first served basis until the program's capacity is reached. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be an Indigenous, Black or other racialized individual that owns a small business in Ontario and the business must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. Once admitted into the program, participants must complete business development training and business coaching (including networking), and complete a Business Action Plan that is reviewed by the business coach and validated by the Government of Ontario prior to receiving the grant payment. After completion of the program, participants will be required to submit a report back confirming that they have used the entirety of the grant on eligible expenses related to their Business Action Plan. Participants will also be invited to take part in surveys and other evaluation methods to improve the quality of the program.

Benefits of the Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program program:

• The grant program will provide:
• Business development training
• Culturally responsive and tailored business coaching
• Networking opportunities
• A one-time grant of $10,000

Eligibility criteria of the Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program program:

• To be eligible, a business must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and employ between one and five full-time equivalent employees, or up to ten employees if it operates in the Accommodation and Food Services sector as defined by the North American Industry Classification System. The applicant as the business owner may be counted among these employees. The business must operate in Ontario on September 10, 2025, and at all times while participating in the program. It must have an annual gross revenue that does not exceed $750,000, and it must already be in the market generating sales or revenue, since businesses with only ideas or unproven products and services are not eligible. The business must hold commercial general liability insurance with a coverage limit of at least $2,000,000, demonstrate a clear need for the grant funding, and provide details on the intended use of the funds. The nature of the business must be legal under Ontario and Canadian law, and the business must be in compliance with filing, reporting, and other requirements under the federal Income Tax Act and as established by the Canada Revenue Agency. Applicants must also attest to compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and hate-related provisions under the Criminal Code.
• Certain businesses are ineligible. These include businesses or applicants that have already participated in the RAISE grant program in previous years; early development businesses that are not yet registered with the Canada Revenue Agency; mature businesses planning for exit through sale; franchises, whether individually owned or operated; not-for-profit organizations and charities; Crown corporations, government agencies, public administrations, or political organizations; and businesses involved in illegal, harmful, or sexually exploitative activities. Businesses that process or sell tobacco, firearms, or other weapons and related equipment are not eligible, with the exception of those processing or selling tobacco for traditional Indigenous cultural or spiritual purposes. Property rental businesses, including residential, commercial, or student housing, are excluded, as are quasi-financial institutions, money service businesses, money transfer companies, insurance companies, and financial services companies. Cryptocurrency businesses and traders, fund brokers, businesses handling client funds in trust, collection agencies, businesses raising investment capital for others, publicly traded businesses, and those that restrict membership for reasons other than capacity or regulation are also ineligible. Additionally, businesses with a social media history or other activities inconsistent with the goals of the RAISE Grant Program and Ontarios Anti-Racism Strategy may be disqualified on a case-by-case basis.
• The business owner must identify as Indigenous, Black, or another racialized individual, and this self-identification must be declared in the application. They must be at least 18 years of age, legally permitted to operate a business in Canada, and currently living and operating their business in Ontario. Depending on the business structure, the owner must either be the sole proprietor in the case of a sole proprietorship, hold at least 50 percent ownership if the business is incorporated, or be actively involved in the business and entitled to at least 50 percent of the proceeds if the business is a partnership. Finally, the owner must commit to participating in the training, coaching, and networking components of the program, with a minimum time requirement of 10 hours, and must develop a Business Action Plan aimed at scaling their business.