About
Supporting Indigenous business on Vancouver Island
NEDC has been providing accessible financing and business advisory support to Indigenous clients since 1984.
Success through Relationships
Our Board of Directors represents each of the 14 Nuu-chah-nulth Nations in a unique alliance that promotes the socio-economic health of Indigenous entrepreneurs. Through partnership with other organizations, NEDC is able to deliver the best funding packages available to clients.
Vision
To continue to develop and grow to be the best Indigenous Corporation offering financial, banking and business development services. NEDC will play a major role in helping Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nation communities on Vancouver Island become healthy, wealthy and socio-economically independent by seizing all existing and emerging business opportunities and building on the new economy.
Purpose
The objectives of NEDC are to promote and assist in the development and establishment of new and existing business enterprises on Vancouver Island by:
- Providing commercial financing to Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nation community-owned businesses
- Assisting in the financing of feasibility studies and in the development of a business plan for large projects
- Accessing contributions for individual and tribal enterprises
- Promoting entrepreneurship
- Assisting clients in acquiring and/or enhancing their management skills
- Improving employment opportunities for Indigenous people on Vancouver Island
- Providing clients with ongoing business and financial support
- NEDC also continues to work towards the strategic corporate goals of self-sufficiency and service expansion.
Our Guiding Principles
To assist Indigenous entrepreneurs to achieve socioeconomic independence through financial assistance and business advisory services.
Finance
Provide accessible financing
Education
Provide financial support for business plans and feasibility studies
Economy
Promote entrepreneurship
Finance
Provide non-repayable project funding
Education
Provide access to business advisory services
Economy
Promote employment opportunities for Indigenous people
Stay up-to-date with your NEDC business community
Check out or news, events and success stories for information and inspiration.
Our History
NEDC was incorporated in 1984 as a not-for-profit organization with the vision of assisting the Nuu-chah-nulth to achieve socioeconomic independence through the provision of financial assistance and advisory services to individuals and Nation business initiatives. In 1997 eligibility was expanded to include all Indigenous peoples on Vancouver Island. Uniquely structured as an Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI) and a Community Futures (CF), NEDC is well positioned to provide services to a wide range of entrepreneurs and community businesses.
Our Partners
NEDC partners with several organizations to deliver the best services to clients. Partners include the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC, Indigenous Growth Fund (IGF), Community Futures Association, Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs (IWE), the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), New Relationship Trust (NRT), All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO), Native Fishing Association (NFA), and Ha’oom Fisheries Society (HFS).
Success Stories from our Clients
Gulf Island Seaplanes – Alison and Sean Evans
Tourism | Gabriola, British Columbia
Sean spent many years as a pilot on the West Coast as a pilot for Tofino Air. They started their business in 2014 after buying Tofino Air’s …
SignAge Canada – Roger McKinnon
Professional Services, Retail
Roger says he got his business sense from his father and 3 uncles who owned McKinnon’s Dairy in Port Alberni. Roger went to Malaspina College and the brand …
BC Cannabis Inc – Dr. Michelle Corfield
Health & Wellness, Indigenous Woman Entrepreneur, Retail | Nanaimo, British Columbia
They are ‘growers.’ Michelle has been on this journey since about 2019. And then the pandemic hit! And that sunk everything for a couple of years which …