TACC New Relationship Trust (NRT) Community Equity Match Grant

Access to early-stage capital can be a major hurdle for First Nation community-owned businesses looking to get started or move to the next phase. In British Columbia, the TACC New Relationship Trust (NRT) Community Equity Match Grant offers a practical way to strengthen a project’s financial foundation by matching community equity contributions with non-repayable funding. Delivered by Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation, the program is designed to support business initiatives that are important to community economic development.

This grant is particularly relevant for First Nation community business projects that are being established, modernized, or expanded. By providing an equity match of up to about $25,000, the program helps reduce the overall financial risk of a project while demonstrating shared commitment between the community and the funding partner. The funding can be used to support a wide range of business activities, from launching a new enterprise to upgrading operations or expanding existing services, as long as the project aligns with community goals and meets program requirements.

Because the funding is non-repayable and focused on equity matching, it can play an important role in making a business plan more viable and attractive to other lenders or partners. For First Nation communities in British Columbia exploring ways to move business ideas forward, learning more about how this grant works, what qualifies as eligible equity, and how to apply could be a valuable next step.