Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Province of British Columbia

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Four funding programs are currently available under the First Citizens' Fund:

•  Friendship Centre Program
•  Business Loan Program
•  Student Bursary Program
•  Elders Transportation Program

1. FRIENDSHIP CENTRE PROGRAM

Objective:

To assist Friendship Centres with the hiring of Program Directors, who deliver a range of social and recreational programming to Aboriginals living in urban areas.

Program Details:

• Program Directors are responsible for the planning and administering of activities that assist Aboriginals in their transition to urban living.

• 23 Native Friendship Centres and the British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) receive this funding assistance.

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs

PO Box 9100, Stn Prov Govt

3rd Floor, 908 Pandora Avenue

Victoria, BC V8W 9B1

Phone: (250) 356-1796

Fax (250) 356-6662
 

2. STUDENT BURSARY PROGRAM

Objective:

To provide financial assistance to eligible Aboriginal students enrolled in post secondary education programs.

Program Details:

• Bursaries are available to assist Aboriginal post-secondary students who are attending a recognized British Columbia university or college on a full-time basis.

• Applicants for the bursary program must be registered in a minimum two-year academic program and must maintain an average of C+ or 2.5 GPA.

• Bursary levels are determined by the financial needs of each student but the maximum bursary students can receive is $2,000 per academic year, and this is paid only after the receipt of official transcripts. (Students receiving assistance from their Band or Tribal Council are eligible for a maximum of $700 per academic year.)

• BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), under contract with the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, currently administers the bursary program.

BC Association of Aboriginal

Friendship Centres

3 - 2475 Mt. Newton X Road

Saanichton, BC V0S 1M0

Phone: (250) 652-0210

Fax : (250) 652-0210

3. BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM

Objective:

To support Aboriginal economic development through:

• The enhancement of Native business management skills;
• The creation of successful new Native-owned and operated businesses;
• The expansion of existing Native business and employment opportunities.

• Loans are available for the creation, expansion or upgrading of Native businesses. The program is open to all types of businesses but will not provide financing for revolving lines of credit or for the refinancing of existing commercial enterprises.

• The business structure can be a sole-proprietorship, partnership, registered company or joint-venture organization, the only ownership criteria is the business must be a minimum 51% Aboriginal owned.

• The maximum loan amount is $75,000 of which 40% can be forgiven by the Fund. This contribution is disbursed in instalments on a pro-rata basis over the term of the loan.

• All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO) under contract with the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, currently administers the loan program. ANTCO is located in Kamloops and is the only registered Aboriginal trust company in the province.

• ANTCO has several sub-contracts in place with other Aboriginal Capital Corporations. These sub-contractors also provide First Citizens' Fund loans and have helped diversify and strengthen the delivery mechanism of the loan program. These sub-contracts have also assisted in developing the organizational capacity of other Aboriginal organizations.

• The loan approval process considers business viability, loan security, client track record and equity participation, the same as any regular financial institution.

• The term for loans varies between 2 and 10 years, with a 5 year limit on funds for working capital. Interest rates vary between 1% and 5% above prime depending on the level of risk.

• A 2% borrowers fee is charged on all loans which is used to provide advisory services to borrowers.

• Organizations providing advisory services include Burns Lake Native Development Corporation, CFDC of Central Interior First Nations, Ganhada Management Group, Prince George Aboriginal Business Development Association, and Skeena Native Development Society.

• The loan program began in 1988, and approves approximately 70 loans per year (average loan amount approximately $45,000).

• The percentage of loans by business sector is approximately;

19% Agricultural loans 6% Tourism loans

14% Forestry loans 3% Real Estate loans

13% Fishing Related loans 3% Automotive loans

9% Construction loans 2% Manufacturing loans

Contacts:

All Nations Trust Company Tribal Resources Investment Corporation

208 - 345 Yellowhead Highway 217 West 3rd Avenue

Kamloops, BC V2H 1H1 Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L2

Phone: (250) 828-9770 Phone: (250) 624-3535

Fax: (250) 372-2585 Fax: (250) 624-3883

Toll Free: 1-800-663-2959 Toll Free: 1-800-665-3201

Tale'awtxw Aboriginal First Nations Agricultural

Capital Corporation Lending Association

Units 29 & 30, 6014 Vedder Road 200 - 345 Yellowhead Highway

Chilliwack, BC V2R 5M4 Kamloops, BC V2H 1H1

Phone: (604) 824-2088 Phone: (250) 828-9751

Fax: (604) 824-2022 Fax: (250) 372-1595

CFDC of Central Interior Nuu-chah-nulth Economic

First Nations Development Corporation

215 - 345 Yellowhead Highway 5000 Mission Road

Kamloops, BC V2H 1H1 PO Box 1384

Phone: (250) 828-9833 Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7M2

Fax: (250) 828-9839 Phone: (250) 724-3131

Fax: (250) 723-0463

4. ELDERS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

Objective:

To provide partial funding to elders for transportation costs related to heritage, cultural and educational workshops and conferences.

Program Details:

• Grants are available for groups of 2 or more elders, for travel costs up to a maximum of $1,000.

• Only intra province travel and travel distances greater than 200 kilometres (one way) will be considered for funding assistance.

• Applications must be received 60 days prior to the workshop/conference and include, a workshop/conference agenda, and documentation of local support.
• Only one transportation grant per fiscal year may be approved per Band or Aboriginal organization.

• BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), under contract with the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, currently administers the elders' program.

BC Association of Aboriginal

Friendship Centres

3 - 2475 Mt. Newton X Road

Saanichton, BC V0S 1M0

Phone: (250) 652-0210

Fax : (250) 652-0210

5. OTHER

Native Economic Development Advisory Board:

• The Native Economic Development Advisory Board meets approximately four times each year, and advises the Minister and Cabinet of appropriate strategies supporting Aboriginal businesses, cultural, social and economic development.