Northern Development Fund

The NDF is a significant funding tool to promote economic development planning and projects in the North. Eligible applicants must be either northern-based organizations, or individuals who have lived at least 10 years or half their lives in the North. The NDF has two components:

1. Loans to primary producers (fishing, trapping, wild rice harvesting); and
2. Grants for marketing, research, business training and youth entrepreneurship.

1.  Primary Production Loans

The NDF Primary Production Loan Program supports individuals engaged in traditional northern production activities. This includes the purchase of capital equipment for commercial fishing, trapping and wild rice production.

2.  NDF Grants

The NDF Grant Program has three basic categories:

• The Youth Entrepreneurship Program supports projects, training, and other opportunities that target entrepreneurial and business skill to residents under the age of 30 in northern Saskatchewan. 
• The Marketing, Promotion, Research and Development Grant Program supports new business development, diversification and business expansion in specific sectors, and preparation of bids. 
• The Business Skill and Organizational Development Grant Program encourages northern residents to strengthen their business knowledge and the skills to manage community development organizations.

3.  Eligibility

The following are eligible applicants:

(a) an individual who:

1. is legally entitled to remain in Canada;
2. has resided in northern Saskatchewan for at least 10 years or one half of his or her life, whichever is less, and
3. immediately prior to receiving any assistance, has maintained his or her primary residence in Northern Saskatchewan;

 (b) a corporation or partnership:

1. more than half of which is owned by persons described in clause (a) who reside in northern Saskatchewan;
2. a majority of whose employees reside in northern Saskatchewan; and
3. that maintains an office in northern Saskatchewan;

 (c) a local government, Indian band or First Nations organization.

For more information, call our La Ronge office toll-free at 1-866-663-4065, or (306) 425-4200.