Administered by Provincial and territorial governments · Last verified: July 2026
Ulnooweg Development Group is the Aboriginal Financial Institution serving Indigenous entrepreneurs across the four Atlantic provinces, on and off reserve. It offers tiered developmental loans: micro loans up to $5,000, women and youth loans up to $25,000, and general business loans up to $750,000 for individuals. A separate Indigenous women's stream combines loans and grants up to $20,000. Eligible applicants are status, non-status, Métis, or Inuit and operate within Atlantic Canada.
Review times vary by program, from a few weeks to a few months, so check the official page for its timeline. Grant money is usually paid after you sign a funding agreement, and cost-shared programs often reimburse you once you send proof of what you spent.
Take the 3-minute quiz to find out, and see every other Canadian program you qualify for at the same time.
Check my eligibilityUlnooweg Indigenous Business Loans (Atlantic Canada) is generally open to incorporated, self-employed, partnership businesses, in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador. Confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying.
The estimated value is Micro loans up to $5,000; women and youth up to $25,000; general loans up to $750,000. The actual amount depends on your eligible costs, the program's budget, and approval.
1. Confirm Indigenous identity and an Atlantic Canada business 2. Choose the loan tier that fits your project 3. Contact an Ulnooweg business advisor 4. Prepare your plan and projections 5. Submit the loan application
Continuous intake.
Equity investment, typically into the next financing round; NBIF recently deployed about $3.2M across 16 investments
INCENTIVENegotiated; recent rebates ranged from about $115,000 to $800,000 tied to new job creation
INCENTIVELoans, working capital, and lines of credit up to $500,000, with a provincial guarantee up to 90%