Small and medium-sized businesses in Northern Development's service region (central and northern B.C.)
Services
Northern Development Initiative Trust - Business Diversification and Sustainability
Grant of up to $200,000 (up to 75% of project costs) from a $1.8M envelope to help small and medium-sized businesses in central and northern B.C. invest in equipment, technology and capital projects that diversify operations, expand into new markets, increase productivity and support workforce retention and job creation. Delivered by Northern Development Initiative Trust under Phase 2 of the Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund (RREIF); funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C. Applications open Sep 2 - Oct 15, 2026.
Overview
Grant of up to $200,000 (up to 75% of project costs) from a $1.8M envelope to help small and medium-sized businesses in central and northern B.C. invest in equipment, technology and capital projects that diversify operations, expand into new markets, increase productivity and support workforce retention and job creation. Delivered by Northern Development Initiative Trust under Phase 2 of the Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund (RREIF); funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C. Applications open Sep 2 - Oct 15, 2026.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | grant |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | British Columbia (central and northern) |
| Administrator | Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) |
| Cost share | 75% |
| Max per project | $200,000 |
| Budget | $1,800,000 |
| Deadline | 2026-10-15 |
| Intake status | Open Sep 2, 2026 to Oct 15, 2026 (Business Diversification and Sustainability stream) |
| Non-US bias | Diversification program helping businesses adapt to tariff impacts and expand into new markets |
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must be located in the NDIT service area (Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet, Prince George, northeast and northwest B.C.)
What it covers
Purchase of machinery and equipment
Adoption of new technology
Capital projects that diversify and strengthen operations, expand into new markets, introduce new products or services, or increase productivity
Support for workforce retention and job creation
Market and diversification rules
Projects must diversify and strengthen operations and support market expansion and productivity
Applications accepted Sep 2, 2026 until Oct 15, 2026
How to apply
Review the program details and register for the virtual open house on the NDIT funding program page
Apply through Northern Development's application process (northerndevelopment.bc.ca) before the Oct 15, 2026 deadline
Stacking notes
Funding is part of the Province's RREIF Phase 2; part of a $2.7M package that also includes the First Nations Business Development Capacity program ($75K per applicant, up to 90% of costs)
Notes
Related stream
First Nations Business Development Capacity program ($900K total, up to $75K per applicant at up to 90% of eligible costs, open to Jun 30, 2027)
Part of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction's $5M investment across four streams to respond to tariffs
RREIF launched 2025 through Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement funding
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
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Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
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