If you or someone you know is looking for career, training, employment or small business support, there are resources available. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has support programs and services.
Upcoming information sessions on career, employment and training supports
The GNWT is hosting in-person sessions in communities across the territory to help residents learn about available career, employment and training supports. These sessions will provide information about available services and how residents can access them.
Beaufort Delta
Location: Kigiaq Centre 106 Veterans Way, Inuvik
Date and time: July 22, 8:30am – 5:00pm
No need to register. Just show up!
South Slave
Location: Hay River ECE Service Centre, 8 Capital Drive
Date and time: July 29th from 10:30 – 4pm (closed over lunch)
No need to register. Just show up!
North Slave
Location: Main Floor, Nova Plaza 5019 – 52nd Street, Yellowknife
Date and time: July 31 10:30am – 6:30pm
No need to register. Just show up!
Sahtu
Location: Edward G. Hodgson Building 1A Raven Road, Norman Wells
Date and time: August 12 1:00-3:00pm
No need to register. Just show up!
Career, Employment and Training Services for individuals
Career Planning
Summary: Taking time to reflect and plan your next steps can help you choose a career path that fits you.
Access this service: Contact your regional ECE Service Centre.
Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Preparation
Summary: Get help with your job search, including resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, and understanding the labour market. Practical tools are available.
Access this service: Contact your regional ECE Service Centre.
Skills Development Program
Summary: Funding is available for short-term training (up to 52 weeks) to help build skills if you have lost your job or are thinking about a new career.
Access this service: Contact your regional ECE Service Centre.
Self-Employment Program
Summary: Eligible NWT residents can access funding to help with the transition of starting or taking over a small business. You’ll need to commit to working full-time in the business.
Access this service: Contact your regional ECE Service Centre.
Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Certification
Summary: Build a career in one of 43 designated trades or 17 designated occupations. Financial assistance may also be available to eligible apprentices to support technical training and other apprenticeship-related costs.
Access this service: Talk to a Career Development Officer at your regional ECE Service Centre.
Schools North Apprenticeship Program (SNAP)
Summary: Provides high school students interested in skilled trades with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience while completing their high school education and earning work experience credits. It also provides employers with the opportunity to develop young workers in a designated trade, fill their own skill gaps and re-invest in their home communities.
Access this service: Talk to a Career Development Officer at your regional ECE Service Centre.
Student Financial Assistance Program
Summary: Financial assistance is available to eligible NWT residents to assist with costs related to post-secondary education. It’s a chance to explore new career paths and build skills for what comes next.
Access this service: Contact Phone: 867-767-9355, Toll Free: 1-800-661-0793, Email: nwtsfa@gov.nt.ca
Entrepreneur Support
Summary: Funding of up to $25,000 for entrepreneurs and small businesses to assist with startup funding, capital asset acquisition, market and product development and operational support.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Micro Business
Summary: Funding of up to $6,000 over three years for commercial renewable resource harvesters and small businesses to make their projects sustainable.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Tourism Business Mentorship Program
Summary: Mentorship program to help strengthen the tourism industry and increase the business knowledge of tourism operators. Experienced professionals work with new entrepreneurs on-site at the Mentors place of business as well as virtually.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Income Assistance Program
Summary: You may be eligible for assistance based on your current financial situation. It can help cover basic needs and give you space to focus on what comes next.
Access this service: Contact your regional ECE Service Centre:
Career, Employment and Training Services for businesses
Business Intelligence and Networking
Summary: Financial assistance to assist with costs associated with attendance at seminars and trade shows. Aimed at helping applicants create new business partnerships and secure new work contracts.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Sector Support (SEED)
Summary: Funding for businesses to offset the cost of investing in new, or expanded, facilities and equipment; or investing in research and expansion needed to improve their understanding or presence in a sector.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Strategic Investments (SEED)
Summary: Funding to NWT businesses looking to making large investments in their company in order to expand and grow their business.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Tourism Product Diversification and Marketing
Summary: Funding to re-invent, improve or expand a tourism product or service. Funding is available for business planning, product development and packaging, marketing and safety upgrades.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Tourism Training Fund
Summary: Funding for individuals, business and groups to increase the number of skilled and certified people working in the tourism industry.
Access this service: Contact the North Slave Regional office at 867-767-9212 (Yellowknife), 867-446-1049 (Behchokǫ̀), or North_Slave_ITI@gov.nt.ca.
Debt Financing
Summary: Prosper NWT offers flexible financing options to help businesses to start, grow, and thrive. Support includes term loans, standby letters of credit, and working capital guarantees.
Offered by: ProsperNWT
Access this service: Visit ProsperNWT or email prospernwtinfo@gov.nt.ca
Equity Financing
Summary: Prosper NWT provides investment and management support through its venture investment program. It also invests in community initiatives and businesses that create jobs, support local artists and crafters, and/or provide goods and services to NWT communities.
Offered by: ProsperNWT
Access this service: Visit ProsperNWT or email prospernwtinfo@gov.nt.ca
Digital Program
Summary: Prosper NWT helps businesses adopt new digital tools through its Accelerate Digital Adoption Projects for Tomorrow (ADAPT) Fund. Grants are available for projects such as creating or upgrading websites, adding e-commerce, setting up online payments, and building digital inventory systems.
Offered by: ProsperNWT
Access this service: Visit ProsperNWT or email prospernwtinfo@gov.nt.ca
Advisory and Business Support Services
Summary: Prosper NWT provides advice, resources, and free webinars to entrepreneurs and business owners through its Business Service Centre, co-funded with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).
Offered by: ProsperNWT
Access this service: Visit ProsperNWT or email prospernwtinfo@gov.nt.ca