What is the Northern Ontario Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative?
The Northern Ontario Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative is a sector program administered by FedNor, serving Ontario. Support for Indigenous led clean energy projects in Northern Ontario, including hydro, wind and solar development.
Funding: Project based, limited annual budget.
How sector program funding works
Sector programs fund a specific industry, such as clean energy or tourism. Eligibility depends as much on the project's sector and outcomes as on the ownership of the business.
How to prepare an application
- 01Confirm the current intake window, eligibility and funding amounts directly with FedNor 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.