Financing Indigenous-Led Infrastructure: FNBC’s New Land Development Loan Program Supports Infrastructure and Development on Reserve – Woodward & Company LLP
15 October 2025
The First Nations Bank of Canada (FNBC), in partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), has launched a $100 million Indigenous Land Development Loan Program to support community-led infrastructure and land development projects. This initiative offers up to 100% financing—a portion at below-market rates—for land and urban reserve development, subdivisions, housing projects, and community land and building projects such as community centres. The minimum loan amount is $1M.
This program appears to offer a valuable tool for communities pursuing economic sovereignty through infrastructure investment. Critically, the program funds the construction of essential infrastructure that supports development. Such “ground and down” infrastructure can include water and sewer, roads, brownfield remediation, site servicing, and gravel work. Financing programs such as this can support communities in developing the infrastructure needed to facilitate their long-term planning and governance goals. This initiative may be particularly relevant for communities preparing for future development of reserve lands or undertaking large-scale housing projects.
