A new federal funding program is seeking applicants from non-profit organizations that provide support and services to women entrepreneurs growing their business.
The Ecosystem Fund is part of the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy announced in the 2018 Budget. It will provide $85 million over five years nationally, and more than $5 million of that is earmarked for Northern Ontario.
Funding is available through two streams:
National-Multi-Regional Stream: $15 million will fund projects which are national or multi-regional in scope. Priority will be given to national projects that deliver benefits in all provinces and territories. The minimum funding amount that will be considered for a national or multi-regional project is $1 million.
A multi-regional project is one that combines three or more of the following regions: Western Canada, Northern Ontario, southern Ontario, Québec, Atlantic Canada, and Northern Canada.
Regional Stream: $70 million of the WES Ecosystem Fund investment will go toward projects delivered in one of the regions listed above.
Projects must be led by non-profit organizations and be inclusive of the needs of diverse and under-represented women.
The deadline to apply to the fund is Thursday, Nov. 22.
For more information, visit www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/129.nsf/eng/home.
