The Community Economic Development Program provides core financial support for First Nation and Inuit communities for public services in economic development. The financial support is intended for community economic development planning and capacity development initiatives, development of proposals and leveraging financial resources, and carrying out economic development activities.
The Community Economic Development Program is expected to lead to community economic benefits including more community employment, greater use of land and resources under community control, enhanced community economic infrastructure, more and larger community businesses, more business opportunities, and a better climate and environment for community economic development.
First Nation Councils, governments of self-governing First Nation and Inuit communities, representative organizations of Inuit communities and other organizations mandated by the foregoing to carry out ongoing activities and projects on their behalf may apply. Funded activities may include:
- community economic planning and capacity development;
- proposal development and leveraging of financial resources; and
- community economic development activities such as: employment of community members; community-owned and community-member business development; community land and resource development; access to opportunities from land and resources beyond community control; investment promotion in the community; and research and advocacy.
Funding is provided through INAC’s regional offices.