Starting a Business - For People with Disabilities

  • Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
    The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities provides funding for national, regional and local projects that assist people with disabilities in preparing for and finding employment or self-employment, as well as acquiring the skills necessary to maintain that new employment.
  • Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program
    The Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program offers vocational counselling, financial support for training, and job search services to recipients of Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits to help return to work.
  • Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
    The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program provides services to entrepreneurs with disabilities who live in western Canadian communities and who are seeking to start up or expand a small or medium-sized business.
  • Other programs and services:

    • Self-Employment
      The Self-Employment program provides individuals who are eligible for Employment Insurance with income and entrepreneurial support while they develop and implement their business plan.
    • Micro Loans for Small Businesses
      The Micro Loans for Small Businesses program provides loans, through financial institutions, to entrepreneurs for small business start-up or expansion in western Canada.
    • Women's Enterprise Initiative Centres
      The Women’s Enterprise Initiative Centres provide services to women entrepreneurs who are seeking to start up or expand small and medium-sized businesses in Western Canada.
    • Co-Vision: Start-up Financing Program
      The Co-Vision: Start-up Financing Program helps entrepreneurs start up new businesses by providing them with long-term loans as well as consulting services and advice.
    • Seed Capital Initiative
      The Seed Capital Initiative provides repayable, unsecured loans to start, expand or improve a small business.
    • Business Development Program
      The Business Development Program provides unsecured and interest-free loans to small and medium-sized businesses in Atlantic Canada to help them carry out start-up and expansion activities.
    • Women in Business Initiative
      The Women in Business Initiative provides financial support, information and advice to women entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada to help them develop their businesses and increase their competitiveness.
    • Francophone Economic Development Organizations
      Francophone Economic Development Organizations provide services to francophone entrepreneurs who are seeking to start up or expand small and medium-sized businesses in western Canada.

    See all Starting a Business programs and services.