Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI)

What Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) does

Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) is a non-profit Indigenous organization founded in 1995 as a tripartite partnership among the Government of Canada, the Government of New Brunswick, and Indigenous community representatives, with headquarters at 150 Cliffe Street, Fredericton. JEDI's mandate is to foster Indigenous economic development across New Brunswick's 16 Indigenous communities by operating an integrated portfolio of programs across four pillars: Workforce Development (Indigenous Adult Learning & Literacy, a 60-week Indigenous Cybersecurity Training Program co-delivered with CCNB, the Provincial Indigenous Employment Coordinator, the Indigenous Internship Program, Apprenticeship & Trades Awareness including the Trades Trailer, and a Labour Market Information Initiative), Entrepreneurship and Community Economic Development (Incubator and Accelerator Programs, an Aboriginal Development Fund, the Atlantic Indigenous Tourism Study, the Indigenous Business Directory at jedinbdirectory.com, and the Indigeshop e-commerce platform at indigeshop.ca), Reconciliation (the Indigenous Reconciliation Awareness Module (IRAM), Reconciliation in the Workplace, the JEDI Elder Protocol, an Employer Toolkit, Culture & Language Bursaries of $500 each up to 34 annually, and the Cultural Revitalization Fund), and Community engagement (a blog, the Build Your Future podcast, multi-day plenaries, powwow attendance, the IM&M+ program, and a 30th anniversary program in 2025-2026).

JEDI's business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue structure. The core funding base comes from ongoing federal and provincial grants as the designated tripartite partner, supplemented by a multi-year Mastercard Foundation commitment (Digital Acceleration for Indigenous Youth, in partnership with the University of New Brunswick). A secondary commercial stream comes from IRAM training delivered to non-Indigenous organizations (e.g., NB Power, Deloitte, Scotiabank, Bulletproof, Liberty Utilities, McCain, PQA/PLATO Testing, Hayes Farm, Working NB) on a quote-based fee, with 100% of IRAM proceeds contractually directed to the Cultural Revitalization Fund and the Culture & Language Bursaries — creating a self-recycling impact loop. Plenaries (Indigenous Procurement Pathways, Clean Energy, Building Better Together, Indigenous Workforce Summit with Wolastoqey Tribal Council Inc.) and event sponsorship (e.g., Pomerleau) provide additional partnership revenue, while bursary disbursements (e.g., two $3,500 Hayes Farm Regenerative Farming bursaries) draw on plenary sponsorship surplus. Most programs and bursaries for Indigenous participants are free or fully subsidized. JEDI's underlying technology stack is a conventional program-delivery layer rather than a proprietary platform: Squarespace CMS, Squarespace calendar and blog, RSS-hosted podcast, LearnSphere for online course registration, Hopin for virtual plenaries, and CCNB-delivered cybersecurity curriculum. Leadership is headed by CEO Stanley Barnaby, with a small-to-mid headcount in the 11-50 range.

Name

Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI)

Legal name

Joint Economic Development Initiative Inc.

Website

https://jedinb.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JEDI is a non-profit Indigenous organization founded in 1995 as a tripartite partnership between the Government of Canada, the Government of New Brunswick, and Indigenous communities, delivering workforce training, entrepreneurship support, and reconciliation programming to Indigenous individuals and businesses across New Brunswick's 16 Indigenous communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Economic Development Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal Land-Grant Institutions (1994 Land-Grant TCUs) (EDAHANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Bachelor’s–Granting) (EDAHANAB), Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK), Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

Keywords

• Indigenous workforce development
• Indigenous entrepreneurship programs
• Reconciliation training services
• Indigenous business incubation
• Community economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and institutional grants: Core funding from tripartite partners — Government of Canada, Government of New Brunswick, and Indigenous community representatives (founded 1995 as a tripartite partnership). Funding-partner logos appear on the homepage. Funds workforce, entrepreneurship, reconciliation, and community programs.
2. IRAM training fees (Cultural Revitalization Fund mechanism): 100% of proceeds from IRAM deliveries are dedicated to the Cultural Revitalization Fund and the Culture & Language Bursaries, creating a self-recycling revenue loop where corporate training revenue funds Indigenous bursaries ($500 each, up to 34 annually).
3. Event and sponsorship revenue (plenaries, summits, workshops): Two-day paid partner events such as the Indigenous Procurement Pathways Plenary at Delta Hotels Beausejour (Moncton, NB) bring together Indigenous businesses, industry leaders, buyers, and partners. Partner tags (e.g., Pomerleau) indicate sponsor/member contributions.
4. Bursary disbursement funding (Hayes Farm Regenerative Farming internship): Two bursaries of $3,500 each funded JEDI bursaries to Indigenous participants of the 31-week Hayes Farm Regenerative Farming internship — sourced from plenary sponsorship surplus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

JEDI is a non-profit Indigenous organization that delivers workforce development, entrepreneurship, and reconciliation programs to Indigenous peoples and communities across New Brunswick. It runs adult literacy and cybersecurity training programs, business incubation/acceleration, internship placement, cultural awareness/reconciliation training (IRAM) for organizations, bursaries, and the Indigenous Business Directory and Indigeshop e-commerce platform. Founded in 1995 as a tripartite partnership of the Government of Canada, the Government of New Brunswick, and Indigenous communities, JEDI operates from Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Product overview

Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) is not a unified software product but a service-based organization delivering a portfolio of programs, training modules, online platforms, bursaries, and community events across four program pillars: Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship & Community Economic Development, Reconciliation, and Community. Its core offerings span the Indigenous Adult Learning & Literacy (IALL) program, the Advanced Indigenous ICT Training (AIICT) including the JEDI Cybersecurity Training Program, the Indigenous Internship Program (IIP), the Provincial Indigenous Employment Coordinator (PIEC), the Apprenticeship & Trades Awareness program (including JEDI's Trades Trailer and Mind Over Metal welding camps), and the Labour Market Information Initiative. Its entrepreneurship pillar includes the Incubator and Accelerator Programs, the online Indigenous Business Directory at jedinbdirectory.com, the Business Directory Application, the Indigeshop eCommerce platform, the JEDI Aboriginal Development Fund, and the Atlantic Indigenous Tourism Study. The reconciliation pillar comprises the Indigenous Reconciliation Training Series, the Indigenous Reconciliation Awareness Module (IRAM), the Reconciliation in the Workplace training, the Employer Toolkit, the Elder Protocol, and the Culture & Language Bursary, all of which feed into the Cultural Revitalization Fund. Community-facing offerings include the Build Your Future Podcast, the JEDI Plenary series, the IM&M+ Program, the Indigenous Business Directory Contest, the JEDI Community Fund, the JEDI 30th Anniversary event, the JEDI Blog, and a JEDI Events Calendar. Together these programs, online platforms (Indigenous Business Directory, Indigeshop, Business Directory Application), and training products form an integrated service portfolio supporting Indigenous economic and workforce development across New Brunswick.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indigeshop: Indigenous eCommerce website operated by JEDI to support Indigenous-owned businesses.
• JEDI Indigenous Business Directory
• Indigenous Reconciliation Awareness Module (IRAM)
• JEDI Aboriginal Development Fund
• Build Your Future Podcast

Products and services

• Indigenous Adult Learning & Literacy (IALL) Adult learning and literacy program helping Indigenous clients obtain a GED, master Workplace Essential Skills, and build computer/digital literacy skills. Includes Train-the-Trainer components and Community Adult Learning & Digital Literacy Labs established in First Nation communities across New Brunswick.
• Advanced Indigenous ICT Training (AIICT) / Cybersecurity Training Program 60-week Information and Communication Technologies training program co-delivered with CCNB, including a cybersecurity stream with 40 weeks of in-class instruction and a 20-week internship with employers such as Deloitte, Bulletproof, McCain, NB Power, and Scotiabank. Awards a CCNB diploma and prepares Indigenous learners for cybersecurity careers.
• Provincial Indigenous Employment Coordinator (PIEC) Employment coordination service connecting Indigenous workers with employers in New Brunswick and providing direct support on best practices for hiring Indigenous Peoples, including support for IRAM delivery and Indigenous inclusion strategies in workplaces.
• Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) Internship program placing Indigenous post-secondary students and graduates into host organizations across New Brunswick, providing mentorship, hands-on experience, and a pathway to full-time employment.
• Incubator Program (Starting a Business) Business incubation program for Indigenous entrepreneurs starting a business, providing training in foundational business operations, including the use of technology to expand brand reach.
• Accelerator Program (Growing an Existing Business) 10-week business accelerator course providing hands-on business development through mentorship and consultation for Indigenous entrepreneurs scaling their businesses. Notable graduates include Down to Earth Productions and IndigenEAST.
• Indigenous Reconciliation Awareness Module (IRAM) Professional, interactive workplace training program covering Indigenous history in Canada (pre-contact, Residential and Day Schools, the 60's Scoop, Enfranchisement, foster care, TRC Calls to Action, Peace and Friendship Treaties, and MMIWG2S), and personal/workplace reconciliation. Delivered to organizations with 100% of proceeds directed to JEDI's Cultural Revitalization Fund.
• JEDI's Indigenous Business Directory Online directory of New Brunswick-based Indigenous-owned businesses (at least 51% Indigenous-owned), with a web application for listing and signing up. Powers the JEDI Indigenous Business Directory Contest and serves as a curated Indigenous supplier-matching asset.
• Indigeshop Indigenous e-commerce website enabling Indigenous artisans and businesses in New Brunswick to sell products online. Launched as a companion to JEDI's Indigenous Business Directory.
• JEDI Aboriginal Development Fund Funding program supporting Aboriginal/Indigenous economic development initiatives in New Brunswick.
• Cultural Revitalization Fund Fund supported by 100% of IRAM training proceeds with five priority areas: Indigenous Language Revitalization and Education, Elder- and Youth-Led Initiatives, Land-Based Learning Initiatives, Elder Gatherings, and Support for Residential/Day School Survivors. Guided by a steering committee of JEDI employees, Wabanaki Elders, and residential school survivors.
• Culture & Language Bursary Bursary program awarding up to 34 bursaries of $500 each annually (2 per Indigenous community in New Brunswick plus 2 for NBAPC Members) to post-secondary students actively working to reintegrate cultural/language practices into their communities.
• JEDI Indigenous Reconciliation Training Series Series of training programs for organizations covering Indigenous reconciliation in the workplace. Comprises the Indigenous Reconciliation Awareness Module (IRAM), Reconciliation in the Workplace training, and the Elder Protocol.
• Elder Protocol Document outlining etiquette, honorarium standards, and best practices for requesting the presence of an Elder or Knowledge Keeper at events. Developed in consultation with 10 Elders from local First Nations.
• Apprenticeship & Trades Awareness Program Program promoting apprenticeship and skilled trades careers to Indigenous peoples in New Brunswick, delivered alongside the Trades Trailer mobile demonstration unit and partner-led camps such as Mind Over Metal.
• Mind Over Metal Welding Camp Five-day welding camp for Indigenous youth ages 13–17 introducing Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), safety, and weld symbols. Co-funded and co-delivered with the CWB Welding Foundation.
• JEDI Indigenous Procurement Pathways Plenary Two-day plenary event bringing together Indigenous businesses, industry leaders, buyers, and partners to explore procurement readiness, partnerships, and supply chain opportunities.
• IM&M+ Program Group-based program for Indigenous participants ages 18–30 designed to help them reconnect with their potential, gain structure, build confidence, and create meaningful change through hands-on support and career development. Open to individuals currently unemployed or on assistance.
• Food Safety & Certification Training One-day Food Safety & Certification course for Indigenous entrepreneurs and food industry individuals; free in-person training with breakfast, lunch, and travel stipends. Participants complete full certification in a single day upon successful exam completion.
• In-Community Business Development Event In-community business development event covering Indigenous taxation, bookkeeping, strategic planning, and business plan development, delivered directly to First Nation communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 of 6 graduates in JEDI's 3rd Cybersecurity cohort secured full-time cybersecurity jobs with Deloitte, Bulletproof, McCain, and NB Power (December 2021).
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of New Brunswick (UNB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-announced the Digital Acceleration for Indigenous Youth partnership (Feb 2023) with multi-year Mastercard Foundation funding. UNB Newsroom covered the launch.
• CWB Welding FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded and co-delivered the Mind Over Metal welding camp at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton (March 6–10, 2023), introducing Indigenous youth ages 13–17 to welding as a skilled trade.
• CCNB (Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivers JEDI's 60-week Indigenous Cybersecurity Training Program (40 weeks in-class + 20 weeks internship), awarding graduates a CCNB diploma.
• DeloittecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts JEDI cybersecurity interns and has hired multiple JEDI graduates (Dustyn Martin-Ross, Kristian Harn) as full-time Cybersecurity professionals. Bulletproof, now under Deloitte, also serves as an internship host.
• ScotiabankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHires JEDI cybersecurity graduates (Doug Sacobie as Cybersecurity Control and Defense Specialist) and continues to host JEDI cybersecurity interns.
• Hayes FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivers the 31-week Regenerative Farming Internship in New Brunswick. JEDI funds two annual $3,500 bursaries for Indigenous participants (Sierra Perley-Brooks, Louis-Xavier Aubin-Berube). Hayes Farm curriculum incorporates Indigenous culture and food ways.
• LearnSpherecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts RFP-writing and Contract Negotiations workshops with JEDI (Crown Plaza Fredericton, March 27–28, 2017) and is the platform for online course registration (ilearn.learnsphere.ca).
• Pow Wow PitchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPow Wow Pitch (presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard) partnered with the Natoaganeg Traditional Powwow to spotlight Indigenous entrepreneurs in New Brunswick (announced July 15).
• Wolastoqey Tribal Council Inc. (WTCI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the Indigenous Workforce Summit on June 6, 2024, where JEDI launched the Elder Protocol.
• PomerleauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTagged partner for JEDI's Indigenous Procurement Pathways Plenary event (Delta Hotels Beausejour, Moncton, March 18–19, 2026).
• NB PowercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCybersecurity internship host for JEDI's Indigenous Cybersecurity Training Program. Also an Indigenous Student Program partner (NB Power hired Kelsey Bernard in 2017 to recruit Indigenous talent).
• McCain FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCybersecurity internship host for JEDI's Indigenous Cybersecurity Training Program (referenced alongside Deloitte, Bulletproof, NB Power).
• Hayes Farm (Edee Klee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUses Peace & Friendship Treaties as a guide to develop Indigenous-knowledge programs; partnered with JEDI and Future Wabanaki; participated in JEDI's IRAM training.
• Working NBminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce-inclusion partner; participated in JEDI's IRAM and built long-time partnerships with the four NB tribal councils and JEDI.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC): Indigenous-led coalition supporting First Nations participation in major resource and infrastructure projects, including Indigenous procurement and workforce readiness. Comparable to JEDI's Clean Energy Plenary and Indigenous Procurement Pathways Plenary work in brokering Indigenous participation in major economic projects.
• Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative: Indigenous-led organization delivering Indigenous workforce development, mentorship, and education programming across Canada. Comparable to JEDI's Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) and apprenticeship/trades awareness initiatives in placing Indigenous talent with employer partners.
• Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB): National Indigenous chamber of commerce providing business development, supplier diversity, and Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) programming to corporate Canada. Comparable to JEDI's Indigenous Business Directory and Indigenous Procurement Pathways Plenary in building Indigenous-corporate supplier linkages.
• National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA): National network of Indigenous financial institutions (Aboriginal Capital Corporations) providing loan capital and business support to Indigenous entrepreneurs. Comparable to JEDI's Aboriginal Development Fund, Incubator, and Accelerator programming as an Indigenous business financing vehicle.
• Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada (AFOA Canada): National Indigenous-led organization delivering capacity building, financial management training, and Indigenous workforce certification. Comparable to JEDI's IALL, Incubator, and business development programming in providing Indigenous-specific training and credentials.
• Ulnooweg Development Group Inc. Indigenous-led economic development corporation serving the Atlantic region (including New Brunswick), delivering financing, business support, and community economic development programming for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Highly comparable to JEDI in mandate, geography, and target beneficiaries.

Broad incumbents

• Indspire: National Indigenous-led charity funding Indigenous post-secondary education, bursaries, and awards (Building Brighter Futures). Overlaps with JEDI's Culture & Language Bursary program and Workforce Development pillar, but operates at a national rather than provincial scale.

Regional players

• Rupertsland Institute: Alberta-based Métis-led post-secondary and workforce development organization delivering training, bursaries, and employment support. Comparable to JEDI's Indigenous Adult Learning & Literacy (IALL), apprenticeship, and bursary programs in serving as a regional Indigenous training and employment intermediary.
• First Nations Technology Council (FNTC): BC-based Indigenous organization delivering digital skills, cybersecurity, and tech-sector training programs to Indigenous communities. Comparable to JEDI's Advanced Indigenous ICT Training (AIICT) and 60-week cybersecurity program, but serving a different provincial geography.

Others

• Plum Tree Mediation & Counseling: Indigenous consulting firm offering reconciliation training, cultural safety workshops, and organizational development to corporate and government clients. Comparable to JEDI's IRAM and Reconciliation in the Workplace training as a peer Indigenous reconciliation-training provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jedinews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=oxNlSQbjQFc
• Facebookfacebook.com/JEDINB
• Instagraminstagram.com/jedi_nb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI)