Afri-North connects Indigenous and immigrant entrepreneurs across Northern Manitoba through shared space, shared capital, and shared skill — anchored by the Friendship Centre & Business Hub in Thompson.
Flexible hot-desk suites and a bookable meeting room — by the day or the week, with no long-term lease required.
Free and low-cost seasonal tax filing support, helping members access benefits and stay compliant year-round.
Practical, cohort-based training in business planning, bookkeeping, marketing, and licensing for new and growing ventures.
A rentable gathering space for celebrations, cultural events, workshops, and civic meetings across Thompson.
Afri-North Economic Development Initiative is a community-driven, not-for-profit organization fostering economic collaboration between Indigenous and immigrant communities in Northern Manitoba.
We believe that the region's newcomers and its First Peoples share more than a place — they share the daily work of starting businesses, raising families, and building futures far from where support usually concentrates. Afri-North exists to put shared infrastructure behind that work: space to operate from, capital to grow with, and skills to compete with.
Thompson is our hub. From there, our programs are built to travel across Northern Manitoba as they grow.
Many African immigrant entrepreneurs arrive in Northern Manitoba with real business experience and no local credit history — a gap that keeps viable ventures from ever opening their doors.
The Member Loan Program is Afri-North's answer: a $250,000 revolving fund, with clear eligibility criteria and a member-led loan committee, that recycles repayments back into new loans so the fund's reach compounds over time.
Ask about eligibilityWhether you're an entrepreneur, an artist, a funder, or a neighbour — there's a place for you at the Hub.