NTStartups Logo
Access Now
Funding

Female Entrepreneur Grants in Northwest Territories: Empowering Women in Business

In the vast expanse of Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT), a growing number of women are shaping the entrepreneurial landscape. These trailblazing women are contributing significantly to the territory’s economy and communities, but like any business, they need financial support to flourish. This article explores various grant opportunities in the NWT for female entrepreneurs and how they foster women’s empowerment in the business sector.

Content Overview:

Understanding the Role of CanNor in Empowering Female Entrepreneurs

Embracing Opportunities with the SEED Program

The Power of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund

Advantages of Community Futures’ Loans for Women

Exploring the Potential of the BDIC Support for Entrepreneurs

Tapping into Industry-specific Grants and Funding

How NWT Startups Experts can Help

Now let’s dive deeper into each of these topics.

Introduction to NWT Grants for Female Entrepreneurs

There are numerous grants available in the NWT designed to support female entrepreneurs in various sectors. These grants aim to close the gender gap in business, encouraging more women to establish businesses and help those already operating to expand. Grants offer non-repayable funds, which can significantly lower the financial risk associated with starting and growing a business.

Understanding the Role of CanNor in Empowering Female Entrepreneurs

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) plays a significant role in empowering female entrepreneurs in NWT. Through programs like the Northern Aboriginal Economic Opportunities Program (NAEOP) and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), CanNor provides financial support for women-led businesses, particularly those owned by Indigenous women. These programs not only provide funding but also offer a variety of resources, training, and mentoring to ensure the success of these businesses.

Embracing Opportunities with the SEED Program

The Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Program, offered by the NWT’s Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment, provides financial support to NWT residents looking to start or expand their businesses. While not exclusive to women, the program encourages applications from female entrepreneurs and offers several funding options based on the business type and stage.

The Power of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund

The Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund is a national initiative that offers up to $100,000 in non-repayable contribution funding to women-owned and led businesses. The program aims to support women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and facilitate their pursuit of opportunities in markets abroad. Women in NWT are strongly encouraged to apply.

Advantages of Community Futures’ Loans for Women

While not a grant per se, the Community Futures’ loans program is worth mentioning. These loans offer lower-than-average interest rates and flexible repayment options, often making them more accessible for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, Community Futures provides business advice, workshops, and mentorship programs to help businesses succeed.

Exploring the Potential of the BDIC Support for Entrepreneurs

The Business Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC) in NWT offers several programs that can benefit female entrepreneurs. From the Subsidiary Financing program to the Business Intelligence and Networking program, BDIC provides financial and educational resources to help businesses thrive.

Tapping into Industry-specific Grants and Funding

Various industry-specific grants and funding options are also available for female entrepreneurs. Sectors such as tourism, agriculture, arts, and technology often have specific programs to promote growth and innovation. Female entrepreneurs in these sectors should explore these opportunities.

How NWT Startups Experts can Help

Finding and applying for the right grants can be a complex process. This is where NWT startup experts can assist. They can help identify suitable funding opportunities, assist with application processes, and provide advice on business growth strategies. These professionals have in-depth knowledge of the business environment and funding landscape in NWT, making them invaluable allies in your entrepreneurial journey.

The Future for Female Entrepreneurs in NWT

In conclusion, a range of funding options is available for female entrepreneurs in the Northwest Territories. Whether it’s through direct grants like those from Can Nor and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund, or indirect financial support through programs like the SEED Program or the BDIC’s initiatives, women have access to the financial resources they need to succeed.

Moreover, the assistance provided by NWT startup experts ensures that women not only secure funding but also receive the necessary support to make the most of these funds. They offer guidance, insights, and expertise to help navigate the complex business and funding landscapes in the NWT.

The future is bright for female entrepreneurs in the Northwest Territories. With these financial resources and professional support systems, women in business have the tools they need to succeed. It’s an exciting time as we witness more women taking their place in the entrepreneurial landscape, enriching the NWT’s economy and communities. This continued growth and empowerment of women in business is not just good for the Northwest Territories; it’s good for Canada and, indeed, the entire world.

Funding

How to Apply for Government Grants in Northwest Territories

It can be difficult to apply for government grants if you’ve never done it before.

However, there is no cause for alarm!

Here, you’ll find a step-by-step approach to securing the capital your company need for success.

To begin, you must determine which federal funding initiatives you qualify for.

If you own a business in Northwest Territories, you may qualify for one of the many grants and programs offered by the provincial government.

Spend some time researching the many business grants and programs offered by the provincial government of Northwest Territories to determine which ones are the greatest fit for your company’s needs.

Examples of popular sources of financing are:

Government Grants:

Money from the government is given to private companies, nonprofits, and individuals to assist them meet a specific need.

Research and development, extending into new markets, and product creation are all examples of such aims.

Applicants for government grants are usually evaluated on the basis of their demonstrated merit, or ability to benefit from the grant money.

The various grant categories are as follows:

Non repayable government grants are one of the most common types of grants available.

These grants are given to businesses or individuals without the expectation of repayment, meaning that you don’t have to pay the money back once you receive it.

There are a few different types of non repayable government grants, including:

Grants for small businesses:

Government grants are available to help new and existing small enterprises get off the ground.
These funds can be put toward a number of different endeavors, including the acquisition of new tools or the hire of additional staff.

Grants for research and development: Grants for research and development are offered to businesses that are looking to conduct innovative research and develop new products or services.

This type of grant can be used to cover the costs of conducting research, such as hiring consultants or purchasing lab equipment.

Grants for women entrepreneurs: Women business owners can apply for grants to help them get started or expand their businesses. These grants can be put toward a wide range of activities, including but not limited to the following: establishing a new company, increasing production capacity, or traveling to and participating in professional development seminars for business owners.

Grants for Indigenous entrepreneurs: Natives, Inuit, and Métis business owners who are just getting started or looking to expand their operations can apply for one of many available grants for Indigenous entrepreneurs. These grants can be put toward a wide range of activities, including but not limited to the following: establishing a new company, increasing production capacity, or traveling to and participating in professional development seminars for business owners.

In addition to these, there are startup grants, business expansion grants and skills training grants.

One time and renewable government grants are another type of grant that is available.

One time grants are typically awarded for a specific project or purpose, and are not renewable once they have been used up.

On the other hand, renewable grants are ongoing and can be used for a variety of purposes over an extended period of time.

The most common type of renewable grant is a operating grant, which is given to businesses on an annual basis to help cover the costs of running their business.

Partial contribution grants are another type of grant that is available.

Partial contribution grants are typically given to businesses or individuals who are unable to fully cover the costs of a project on their own.

The Northwest Territories government will partially fund the project, and the business or individual will be responsible for covering the rest of the costs.

Matching grants are another type of grant that is available.

Matching grants are typically given to businesses or individuals who are able to raise a certain amount of money on their own.

The Northwest Territories government will then match the funds that have been raised, and the business or individual will be responsible for covering the rest of the costs.

Government Loans

Loans from the government are essentially loans from the government to private companies or people.

These loans are preferred by businesses because their interest rates are cheaper than those offered by banks.

Several distinct varieties of federal loans exist, including:

Loans for small businesses: these financing options exist to help established enterprises with limited resources grow. New machinery or personnel are only two examples of how these loans might be put to good use.

Startup loans: Lending assistance is available for new firms in the form of startup loans.
Loans of this type might be put for things like business permits and first advertising costs.

Business expansion loans: Loans for business expansion are available for companies who want to grow their operations. These loans can be used to pay for everything from the lease on a larger office to the salaries of new employees.

Skills training loans: Skills training loans are offered to businesses that are looking to provide training for their employees. These loans can be used to cover the costs of training, such as hiring instructors or purchasing educational materials.

In addition to these, there are also loans for specific business sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing.

Remember that government loans can often come in the form of no interest, or low-interest options, as well as government-guaranteed loans.

Government loan programs typically have more flexible eligibility requirements than traditional bank loans, making them a more accessible option for businesses.

The next step

After determining which government funding options are right for, be it a government grant or a government loan it’s time to start preparing your application.

The most important part of your application will be your business plan.

This is your opportunity to sell the government on why your business is worth investing in. Make sure to include detailed information on your business model, target market, and financial projections. If you have any existing customers or clients, be sure to mention them as well!

A good tool to use to develop your business plan is the business plan builder tool. It is created to guide you step by step based on what Northwest Territories government funding agencies want to see.

Once you’ve assembled all of the required documentation, it’s time to submit your application.

The best way to do this is online, through the government’s official website. You’ll need to create an account and fill out all of the necessary information before you can submit your application.

As each funding program/application may have a different application method – be sure to work with an expert to get help with the process.

Applying for government grants can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! By following this simple guide, you’ll be well on your way to getting the funding your business needs to grow and succeed. good luck!

Privacy Settings
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Youtube
Consent to display content from - Youtube
Vimeo
Consent to display content from - Vimeo
Google Maps
Consent to display content from - Google
Spotify
Consent to display content from - Spotify
Sound Cloud
Consent to display content from - Sound
ACCESS NOW