What is the First Citizens Fund Business Loan Program?
The First Citizens Fund Business Loan Program is a provincial or territorial program administered by Province of BC, delivered by All Nations Trust Company, serving British Columbia. Business loan capital for Indigenous entrepreneurs across British Columbia, administered through ANTCO.
Funding: Set per application.
How provincial or territorial program funding works
Provincial and territorial programs are funded by that government and generally require the business or project to be located in the province or territory. They can often be combined with federal and private funding in the same capital plan.
How to prepare an application
- 01Confirm the current intake window, eligibility and funding amounts directly with Province of BC, delivered by All Nations Trust Company on the official program page. These change from year to year.
- 02Gather proof of Indigenous ownership, membership or citizenship if the program requires it. Verification can take time, so start early.
- 03Prepare a clear project description, a budget showing every source of funds, and recent financial statements or a forecast.
- 04Line up the rest of the financing. Many programs fund only part of a project and expect the balance from equity, a lender or another program.
- 05Submit before the deadline, keep copies of everything, and report on the project as the funding agreement requires.
Combining it with other capital
Non-repayable funding works best when it is sequenced before debt. Grants and contribution agreements reduce how much a business needs to borrow, which can make the loan that follows smaller and easier to approve. Read why we stack non-dilutive capital before debt, or see how our grants and non-dilutive capital service works.