What is Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP)?
Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is delivered by ISED / FACE / BDC as a loan. Funding is typically loans of $25,000 to $250,000 (Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund); no direct grants to entrepreneurs. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Loans of $25,000 to $250,000 (Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund); no direct grants to entrepreneurs |
|---|---|
| Cost share | N/A (loan) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Loan |
| Delivered by | ISED / FACE / BDC |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - Rolling |
| Last verified | 2026-10-05 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors
- Eligible activities: Business startup, expansion, working capital, skills development
Watch out for
Non-Black majority ownership
Deadlines & how to apply
Extended with $189M over five years (2024 Fall Economic Statement). Loan Fund administered by FACE with BDC: FACE lends up to $100,000, larger loans risk-shared with BDC; applications of $25,000+ accepted on an ongoing basis via FACE. Other components: Ecosystem Fund (for not-for-profit Black-led business organizations, via regional development agencies) and the Knowledge Hub. Business must be majority (51%+) Black-owned; owners Canadian citizens or PRs, 18+; for-profit only. See also the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF) record.
How NorthGrants helps with Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP)
Most business owners read about Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.