Funding

The Nisga’a Business Development Fund

Purpose

Our focus is provide Nisga’a business initiatives with an alternative source of business development funds. Our focus is to work with Nisga'a to fund businesses and economic development activities that are financially viable and contribute to the well-being (sustainable employment) and wealth generation of the Nisga'a, leveraging other resources and investors as much as possible.

Under the The Nisga’a Business Development Fund Act, all funding requests will be reviewed in the same manner required by the banks and lending institutions. Each business development proposal will be assessed on its own viability and merits. We also recognize that some planning / feasability is sometimes required to launch a new project.

Eligibility

• Nisga’a Citizens

• Corporations, societies, partnerships or trusts in which Nisga’a Citizens hold a controlling interest as shareholders, members, partners or beneficiaries

• A Nisga’a Village

• Nisga’a Corporations

• A Nisga’a Urban Local, or

• Any other person authorized by regulation Client’s Equity All requests will take into consideration the Client’s cash equity and equipment which may be incorporated into a business proposal.

The equity required is as follows:

• 5% for Nisga'a Youth

• 10% for Nisga'a Citizens

• 20% for Nisga'a corporations, Partnerships or trusts in which Nisga'a Citizens hold a controlling interest as shareholders, members, partners or beneficiaries

• 20% for Nisga'a Societies, Nisga'a Villages and Nisga'a Urban Locals Loan Amounts Loan request will be processed using the criteria set out in the Business Development Act. (the loan portfolio is in development with a designated business development office(s)

• To be administered by designated business development office/s

• To follow the lending policies of the designated business development office(s) Contribution and Grant Amounts A contribution or grant request will be reviewed to determine the business merits. Policy is being developed and will take into consideration the nature of the requests. Funding requests in this area will take into consideration the options of leveraging funds from other sources of funds as well the client’s equity. Loan / Contribution Evaluation Criteria All loan / contribution requests will be evaluated on receipt of a client’s current and completed business plan or detailed proposal.

Evaluation Criteria will be based on, but not limited to

• The financial viability of a client’s business plan

• The economic benefits created by the business

• The amount of money remaining in the Economic Development Fund. Identification of available security to pledged for loan / contribution request

• The client’s equity investment (Equity is “cash or other tangle assets)

• The client’s credit rating and net worth statement;

• The client’s training and relevant credentials for the proposed industry Client’s Resume

• The client’s potential to access (leverage) alternative sources of financing

• Any other relevant information to support the client’s business proposal Loan / Contribution Approval Process

Business plans submitted to the

Economic Development Manager, Bert Mercer, will be reviewed and analyzed for business viability and feasibility. Recommendations to approve or decline will then be made to the Director of Finance. Loan / Contribution Security The Nisga’a Nation must require the person receiving a loan from the business development fund to enter into an agreement with, and to grant any security to, the Nisga’a Nation to ensure repayment to the Nisga’a Nation of the loan, before the loan or loan installment is advanced.

For Information about this contact:

Bert Mercer, Economic Development Manager
Nisga’a Lisims Government
PO Box 231
2000 Lisims Drive Gitlaxt'aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh), British Columbia
Canada, V0J 1A0

Tel: 250 633 3000
Toll Free: 1 866 633 0888
Fax: 250 633 2367
Email: bertramm@nisgaa.net

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