VICTORIA, British Columbia, Sept. 3 — C$2.7 million (about US$2.0 million) in new grant funding opens Wednesday in northern British Columbia, aimed at helping businesses and First Nations development corporations weather global tariffs. The money, delivered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), flows through Phase 2 of the province’s Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund (RREIF), which launched in 2025. It is part of a C$5 million (about US$3.7 million) investment from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction across four funding streams responding to tariff effects.
The larger of the two streams, the Business Diversification and Sustainability (BDS) program, holds C$1.8 million (about US$1.3 million) in grants for small and medium-sized businesses. Funding covers equipment, technology, and capital projects that diversify operations, open new markets, lift productivity, and support workforce retention and job creation.
Eligible businesses can apply for grants up to C$200,000 (about US$150,000), covering up to 75% of project costs. The application window runs from Sept. 2, 2026, to Oct. 15, 2026.
First Nations Capacity Building
The second stream, the First Nations Business Development Capacity Building program, makes C$900,000 (about US$670,000) available to First Nations development corporations in NDIT’s service region. Each applicant can receive up to C$75,000 (about US$56,000), covering up to 90% of eligible costs for specialized expertise to build capacity, negotiate partnerships, and pursue industrial and infrastructure opportunities. That application window opens Sept. 2, 2026, and stays open until June 30, 2027, or until funds are fully allocated.
The funding comes from the Government of Canada through the employment insurance-funded Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement. Phase 2 builds on RREIF’s initial programs offering labour market research and business advisory services.
Officials tied to the announcement include Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; Patty Hajdu, federal Minister of Jobs and Families; Adrian Dix, B.C. acting Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth; Tamara Davidson, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii; Steve Morissette, parliamentary secretary for rural development; and Ben Campbell, CEO of NDIT. The investments support the province’s Look West strategy.
The figure that matters for applicants: the BDS window closes in roughly six weeks, while the First Nations stream runs on a longer clock. Investors and business owners will note the 75% and 90% cost-coverage ceilings, which lower the bar for capital projects in a tariff-heavy trade environment.
