Young Rural Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program

The Young Rural Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Initiative is designed to support the growth and the development of young rural aboriginal people in entrepreneurial and business initiatives located in rural Manitoba.  In today's economy, many aboriginal people are realizing the needs of the market place and are actively seeking to engage in entrepreneurial activities in primary production as well as other rural based businesses, or to find ways of adding value or capacity to the products and services they are already producing.  The Young Rural Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Initiative will provide these individuals with the skills and resources to participate and profit in these endeavours.

The program will provide financial assistance to:

• Young rural aboriginal entrepreneurs for costs associated with business start up, and
• Community organizations for activities targeted at increasing the participation of young rural aboriginal people in entrepreneurship and business.

The Young Rural Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Initiative will accept applications for extension programs and business activities aimed at young rural aboriginal people less than 40 years of age from community organizations or aboriginal youth submitted in conjunction with their local MAFRI GO team.

The program funding can be used for:

• Costs associated with the establishment of a business
• Activities such as seminars and workshops, educational tours or conferences, and the developoment of resource materials.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants must fit ONE of the following two sets of criteria:

Manitoba Entrepreneur

• Must be less than 40 years of age
• Must be of Aboriginal heritage (Status or Non-status Indian - located on or off-reserve - Métis or Inuit)
• Must be a Canadian Citizen or possess landed immigrant status
• Business must be located in a rural Manitoba community (i.e. Outside the city of Winnipeg)

Community Organizatins encouraging and supporting Manitoa Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship

• Must develop an extension program with a targeted audience of rural Aboriginal youth.
• Program must contain content aimed at encouraging and supporting Aboriginal youth in entrepreneurship or business activities.

Summary

Application Process

All applications must be submitted through the local MAFRI GO team office and must identify a MAFRI staff person as liaison.  An application contribution of 25% of total project costs is required and must come from non-government sources.  This portion of the project costs can be financial or in-kind support.

The program applicant will be mentored by MAFRI staff throughout the process from application of completion of the approved activities.

All Applications to the program will be required to include an evaluation component to assess the effectiveness of activities in engaging young rural Aboriginal people in entrepreneurial and business activities. 

Manitoba Contact(s):
Laurie Crowe
Business Development Specialist-Entrepreneurship
Economy & Rural Development Knowledge Centre
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
1129 Queens Avenue
Brandon, Manitoba  R7A 1L9
Telephone: 204-761-0551
Fax: 204-726-6260
TTY (hearing impaired): 204-945-4796
E-mail: Laurie.Crowe@gov.mb.ca  
Web site: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/programs/aaa36s06.html