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Frequently Asked Questions

AIOC bridges the gap for Indigenous communities to access capital for mid-to large scale projects that fall within our mandate sectors – natural resources, telecommunications, agriculture, transportation and related infrastructure.

We were created by the government of Alberta in 2019 and operate at arm’s length. We are a crown corporation with a Board of Directors who are accountable to the Minister of Indigenous Relations.

  • AIOC provides loan guarantees and capacity grants for First Nations, Metis Settlements and other Indigenous communities approved by a ministerial order.
  • Industry and organizations that fall under our mandate.
  • Government officials.
  • Centers of Influence – banks, pension funds, lenders, lawyers, etc.

No. We provide a loan guarantee which is money backstopped by the Alberta government.

  • AIOC does not lend any money.
  • Start ups do not fall under our mandate due to our risk parameters.

A loan guarantee with the AIOC is $20 – $250+ million dollars to support Indigenous investment. A loan guarantee is money backstopped by the Government of Alberta to reduce the risk of investment and cost to borrow for Indigenous communities.

  • A capacity grant is money tied to an approved loan guarantee. It is money that Indigenous communities use to access third party advice and expertise for the assessment and development of a potential project.
  • There is $3 million per year awarded on a discretionary basis.
  • It is money to be used for independent, third-party legal, technical, economic support.
  • The purpose is for advisory, negotiation and closing.
  • Does not need to be repaid.
  • Is not applicable for the development of a business plan.

Applications for a loan guarantee may be submitted by a single Alberta-based Indigenous group or a consortium of Indigenous groups. In the case of a consortium, at least one Alberta-based Indigenous group must be included as a participating investor and Alberta-based indigenous ownership must constitute at least 25% of the total investment proposed by an Indigenous consortium. Projects within Canada are eligible for support. Projects outside of Alberta are required to benefit Alberta to be eligible.

Yes. The minimum is $20 million.

  • First Nations, Metis Settlements.
  • Other Indigenous communities with approval by Ministerial Order.

AIOC does not provide any funding. Capacity grants are tied to approved loan guarantees.

  • The project is already built and has a positive operating track-record.
  • If the project is under construction, costs are known and contractually fixed.
  • Technologies used are well known and have been used extensively.
  • Project revenues are predictable and secured by contracts with reputable and creditworthy counterparties.
  • Project inputs or feedstocks are readily available, and costs are predictable and secured by contracts.
  • Third party debt and equity investors are committed to support financing the project on similar terms.

  • First Nations, Metis Settlements.
  • Other Indigenous communities with approval by Ministerial Order.
  • Economic development corps cannot apply for loan guarantees. They also cannot apply for a capacity grant directly, but the approved Indigenous groups with an approved loan guarantee can hire them with their approved capacity grant money.