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RAISE grant applications OPEN until October 1st

Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program

Apply for funding: https://www.ontario.ca/page/available-funding-opportunities-ontario-government?fbclid=IwY2xjawM-Wc1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiQk9hZ1lDWmgxZDcwSVQ1AR5wXbJrIeySPb186UyKLa395dLrwkz3yyk0vErW1qXou0WawSea1WbnTY1vdw_aem_yoISeEgHKWKsq3Hc4KvpIQ#section-16

Status: Open

Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism

Deadline: Submit your application by October 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EDT

Description:

The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs 2025 – 2026 (RAISE) is a grant program that supports Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs who live and operate their small business in Ontario. The grant program will provide:

  • business development training
  • culturally responsive and tailored business coaching
  • networking opportunities
  • a one-time grant of $10,000

Eligibility: Eligible business owners must be:

  • Indigenous, Black or racialized (self-identification is required in the application)
  • 18 years of age or older
  • legally permitted to operate a business in Canada
  • currently living and actively operating the business in Ontario
  • (a) the sole proprietor of the business if it is operated as a sole proprietorship, (b) have ownership of at least 50% of the business if it is a corporation, or (c) be active in the business and have an entitlement to at least 50% of proceeds, if the business is a partnership
  • demonstrate commitment to participating in the training and coaching, including networking components of the program (minimum total time requirement of 10 hours), as well as developing a Business Action Plan to grow the business

To qualify for the program, your business must:

  • be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
  • employ 1 to 5 full-time equivalent employees or up to 10 full-time equivalent employees for businesses in the Accommodation and Food Services sector (as defined by the North American Industry Classification System), including the applicant as the business owner
  • be operational in Ontario on September 10, 2025 and while participating in the program
  • have an annual gross revenue that does not exceed $750,000
  • be in the market demonstrating sales or revenue
  • have commercial general liability insurance with a limit of at least $2 million for the business
  • demonstrate need for and intended use of the grant funding
  • the nature of the business is legal under applicable laws in Ontario and Canada
  • be in compliance with filing, reporting and other requirements under the federal Income Tax Act or as established by the Canada Revenue Agency
  • attest that it is in compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and hate-related laws under the Criminal Code

Your business must not be:

  • a business or applicant that participated in the RAISE grant program in previous years
  • early development businesses (for example, business idea only, not yet registered with the CRA)
  • mature businesses planning for exit through sale
  • franchises, including those individually owned and operated
  • not-for-profit organizations or charities
  • Crown corporations, government agencies, public administration or political organizations
  • businesses that involve illegal, harmful or sexually exploitive activities
  • businesses that process or sell tobacco, firearms, other weapons and related equipment:
  • An exemption exists for businesses that process or sell tobacco for traditional Indigenous cultural or spiritual purposes.
  • property rental including residential, commercial and student housing
  • quasi-financial institutions or money service and money transfer businesses (including insurance companies and financial services companies)
  • cryptocurrency (for example, Bitcoin) businesses and traders
  • businesses brokering funds or taking on fiduciary duty handling funds for clients (including investment, insurance and real estate brokers who handle funds in trust for clients)
  • collection agencies
  • businesses with ideas only or unproven products and services are not eligible
  • businesses that raise investment capital for other businesses
  • businesses with shares offered for public sale
  • businesses that limit memberships for purposes other than capacity or regulations
  • businesses with social media history or other activity that is inconsistent with the purposes and mandate of the RAISE Grant Program and Ontario’s Anti-Racism Strategy may be determined to be ineligible on a case-by-case basis

Program guidelines

More information can be found on the RAISE application portal and in the User Application Guide.

Contacts

For questions, email RAISE@ontario.ca. Video Relay Service (VRS) for Deaf and hard of hearing persons is available at 437-538-4850.

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