Budget 2025, if passed, provides $10 million in annual funding for the Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) to help community-owned Indigenous businesses buy or upgrade the equipment and infrastructure they need to create jobs and contribute to sustainable, thriving communities.
Since it launched in 2014, the ABIF program has supported more than 105 community-owned businesses with more than $58 million in capital grants, helping create almost 1,000 jobs for Indigenous people in Alberta. Between 2022 and 2024, Alberta’s government doubled annual ABIF funding from $5 million to $10 million, leading to a record number of ABIF grants awarded last year.
"The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund continues to be a catalyst for Indigenous business growth, empowering Indigenous communities across the province to take charge of their economic futures. ABIF is not just investing in businesses, it is investing in the prosperity and self-determination of entire communities. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive future where Indigenous businesses continue to create jobs, improve local economies and help Indigenous communities in Alberta lead the way in economic reconciliation.”
One successful recipient was Bear Hills Casino and Travel Resort, which is owned by the Louis Bull Tribe. The grant helped the growing tourism hot spot expand its parking facilities so it can welcome even more visitors to the region annually. In recent years, the complex has undergone vast renovations and seen the construction of a gas station and convenience store. An outdoor market is also being developed for the warmer months, which will feature Indigenous artists and vendors.
“The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund has proven to be an incredible benefit to Indigenous communities across the province, and I'm grateful to Alberta's government for its continued support through this program. Since opening, Bear Hills Casino has created jobs and has helped drive visitors to the area and boost spending in the region. This grant is designed to grow businesses and grow the economy, while also supporting economic reconciliation and meeting the TRC calls to action by fostering sustainable economic development and self-sufficiency for Indigenous communities.”
Another successful business venture that received funding in 2024-25 is an Indigenous-led eco-tourism offering by Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and the Whitecourt Isga Tourism Association in Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park, which will focus on traditional Nakota teachings in a tipi village.
This project is an example of a business idea that took shape with the help of a grant through the Indigenous Reconciliation Initiative in 2023-24 to develop a governance plan, marketing strategy and internal policy. Once the project was shovel-ready, it was eligible for ABIF support and received $538,000 to help acquire the infrastructure and amenities needed to get the business running.
“For years, we tried to access ABIF but couldn't find the right project to meet the criteria. The tipi village is just what we needed. It helps boost socio-economic sustainability within our community and allows families and clans to work in a welcoming, culturally inclusive environment that fosters cultural awareness. Funding provided through ABIF provides economic and social empowerment and supports truth and reconciliation for our Indigenous communities.”
With a suite of programs and initiatives focused on economic development, there are more options than ever before for Indigenous communities, businesses and organizations to find support as they develop and grow.
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenges faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
Related information
- Aboriginal Business Investment Fund
- 2024-25 Aboriginal Business Investment Fund recipients
- Indigenous Reconciliation Initiative
- Bear Hills Casino and Travel Resort
- Whitecourt Isga Tourism Association